As shown in the graph below, the prevalence of violent behavior dropped steadily with increasing IQ: 16.3% of individuals with IQs in the 70-79 range reported violent behavior, compared with just 2.9% of those with IQs of 120-129. The link held even after controlling for demographic factors, childhood adversity, substance use, and mental health.
I would note that the graph does not go to zero, as far as we know. That even smart people sometimes fight someone suggests that sometimes it's a good calculation. Even Jesus beat the moneylenders out of the Temple.
Among the possible reasons mentioned, I would add that in the emergency psych biz we would note that less intelligent people could not articulate their complaints as well and got frustrated by this.
How about: less-intelligent people are not as good at predicting the consequences of their actions?
ReplyDeleteI think it's more the frustration of being surrounded by crowds that function better than the individual does, because of their intelligence. When there's no way to win, violence is the only solution.
ReplyDeleteI have often noticed that groups of highly intelligent people, like the children at private schools, eschew violence. That's a weakness to which they fall prey, sometimes; it's how you get a a Lenin, then a Stalin. Violence is a skill backed by the virtue of courage; it's not wisely set aside just because it's unpleasant to experience.
ReplyDeletePiggybacking on Grim, younger people with graduate degrees support political violence but are unlikely to engage in it themselves (though more likely than 20 years ago). There is an uncomfortable air of encouraging other people to do the dirty work and take the risks.
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