Is there a negative correlation between IQ and the range of behaviors that some might think could be negatively related to IQ?

Note: This is a section of a longer article. To go to the start, click here.

We have asked participants (n = 688) to report on 10 different behaviors for which some might think there  could be a negative correlation with  IQ. We show the correlations (together with their 95% confidence intervals) between IQ and each of these behaviors in the forest plot below.

This time all the correlations were negative, as expected. However, not all were statistically significant from zero, so we will comment on the six that are. The highest negative correlation is between IQ and the frequency of playing lotto, meaning that people with lower IQ play lotto more often than people with higher IQ. Similarly, people that scored lower on our IQ tests report that they find it more difficult to fill out complicated forms. They also watch more reality TV and TV in general and keep up more with celebrity gossip. Finally, people with lower IQ reported that they find it more boring to just sit around and think than higher IQ people.

Takeaways

• People with lower IQ are more likely to report playing the lotto, watching more TV, keeping up with celebrity gossip, have difficulties filling out complicated forms, and getting bored with just sitting and thinking than people with higher IQ

If you'd like to read the full report, of which this is a section, as one long PDF, you can download it here.

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