Are you as smart as your spouse?
A few weeks ago Michael and I attended some education seminars at a local university. The key note speaker was a researcher and psychologist, and she spent the first part of her speech talking about how intelligence relates within families.
So for example, often if you have one gifted kid, there’s a good chance the others will be gifted as well.
That didn’t really surprise me. But one very interesting point she made was that spouses were often close in range in IQ. She said that generally spouses were within one standard deviation of each other on IQ – that’s about 15 points according to her chart.
She said people sought out mates of similar intelligence.
I was thrilled by this information. I think Michael thinks he is much more intelligent than I am. (He says this is not so. He knows we are equally intelligent. Cough. Cough.) So I love this idea that we are within one standard deviation of each other.
In college when we first started dating I happened to see his transcript, including his SAT score, and was like “Holy crap. He’s really smart!” However, I graduated with higher honors than he did. So hmm…
So what do you think: Are you as intelligent, more intelligent or less intelligent than your spouse? Does your spouse think you are smarter or dumber? Do you think it’s true that people end up with spouses equal in intelligence?
– Theresa Walsh Giarrusso, ajc.com Momania. I have increased my Twitter activity. I am sending out great stories for moms each day focusing on health, fitness, sex, entertainment, food, travel and obviously parenting! So follow me on Twitter at @AJCMOMania!)
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55 comments Add your comment
Mrs. G
April 26th, 2011
7:58 am
I think that we’re probably about the same (if we were to have our IQs tested)…but we are strong in very different areas. I’m a science person with strong analytical skills, he’s a physical education teacher and basketball and baseball coach with a knack for history. I think that my undergrad GPA was higher than his was, but I don’t think that he tried as hard as I did (we didn’t know each other in college, but rumor has it he was a bit of a party animal). You know…he may be a tad smarter than me. ;) I worked my butt off in college and he says that it was “easy” (and maintained over a “B” average); he went on to get a masters (which I did not) and found that to be easy, too. I do think that we complement each other well, though, because our strengths are so different.
DB
April 26th, 2011
10:09 am
@The Generalizer: Wow — you weren’t kidding when you said you “generalized”! Higher IQ does NOT equal higher income. In many, many cases, those with high IQs are so out of step with ordinary people that they find it difficult to work for others (who they perceive as less intelligent than they are), or they are underemployed because they don’t look at money/life the same way — their goals are different. Having a high IQ is not a guarantee of success. What DOES insure a certain degree of success is education, a willingness to work smart, an ability to creatively solve problems, and an ability to get along with those around you. IQ can help — but it’s no guarantee!
Lucy
April 26th, 2011
12:00 pm
@Enemas.. I think MJG’s comment was one more way to point out that she goes to lunch with people from the blog.
I think it would be nice for someone to be honest and admit that their kids or spouse aren’t the smartest. Everyone always talks about their ‘honor” students. Not everyone on this blog has a bright child.
motherjanegoose
April 26th, 2011
2:34 pm
@ Lucy…we even have a bright dog…LOL.
My husband has been home alone with her for many days in the past few weeks and has taught her to:
sit, dance, shake, high five, roll over, lay down and catch a frisbee.
We are teasing him that if he ever loses his job, he can apply as a pet trainer :).
My point was that I have met several from this blog for lunch and they come from different backgrounds than I do, nonetheless, we can respect our differences and enjoy one another’s company. For instance, I know catlady is organic with food and me not so much but we still like each other. Being aware of differences and respecting them can go a long way to foster a relationship, if one chooses to do so.
Now, I will be honest:
I have really bad bed hair in the morning and my breath stinks too. My purse is a mess and needs to be cleaned out….ditto for my car. I get cranky when I am tired and am typically somewhat impatient. I cannot seem to perfect eggs over easy. I type with just a few fingers and am terrible with electronics.
Is that better?
Kat
April 26th, 2011
7:00 pm
I’m becoming more like “Enemas:” I used to know more happy married people, but it’s becoming slightly annoyed single people as of late. Everyone is divorcing! On the other hand, I see “Enemas” negatives as positives in my own marriage:
I can come and go as I please – Someone cares where I am and is looking out for me
The only rules are my rules – We work together toward shared goals
I don’t have to check in with anyone, nor do I have someone checking in with me – I like caring about, and being cared for by, another individual
I don’t have to buy gifts for someone I don’t know what to buy – I’m in love with my husband and always know what he likes!
I don’t have to tolerate in laws – My in-laws are fine…mostly! :-)