Do smart people better manage their romantic relationships? Researchers showed that general intelligence and specific cognitive abilities lead to better skills in navigating romantic relationships as well as mitigating undesirable relationship problems, such as infidelity and partner-directed violence. Does intelligence make a difference in love?
The Effects of Intelligence on Relationships: What Earlier Research Showed
Previous research has shown that the general intelligence of partners can play a role in their romantic relationships. Higher general intelligence is linked to lower divorce rates and other positive outcomes in relationships. Some studies from the past have shown that certain cognitive skills, like problem-solving and memory, can help couples work out their differences more easily. For example, people with good working memory can remember their partner’s point of view during arguments, which can help make relationship problems less serious (Baker, Kane, & Russell, 2020; Baker & McNulty, 2020; Kanazawa, 2004, 2014).
However, other studies showed the more nuanced effects of intelligence on relationship behaviors (Baker, Kane, & Russell, 2020; Baker & McNulty, 2020; Kanazawa, 2004, 2014). In particular, individuals with higher general intelligence are often less likely to form long-term relationships (Kanazawa, 2004, 2014).
Research showed evidence that individuals with higher intelligence may be better equipped to understand and manage their emotions, leading to more constructive responses in relationships. Therefore, they better self-regulate their behavior in a relationship and lessen the intensity of negative behaviors toward their romantic partners (Cuncic, 2023; Vance, DeLecce, & Shackelford, 2025). These personal qualities may translate into fewer harmful impulses in relationships, providing a greater ability to manage emotions and behaviors, potentially leading to more positive relationship dynamics.
Smart People Better Manage Romantic Relationships: A New Study Revealed
A recent study confirmed that intelligence might affect how people act in romantic relationships. Gavin S. Vance and his colleagues investigated a possible effect of men’s intelligence on such behaviors as sexual coercion, insulting their partners, and investing in their relationships (Vance, DeLecce, & Shackelford, 2025).
The researchers revealed some interesting new findings. They found that intelligent men are more committed and less hostile in romantic relationships. They found that men with higher general intelligence are more likely to exhibit positive behaviors and less likely to exhibit negative behaviors in romantic relationships. Furthermore, a study showed that more intelligent men display fewer psychopathic traits, fewer aversive behaviors, and fewer cost-inflicting mate retention strategies.
How Intelligence Can Help in a Relationship
All these positive and effective strategies of behavior resulted in better quality of relationship and in relationship satisfaction. Men who are smarter said they invested more in their relationships overall. In this way, their intelligence may help them remain committed to romantic relationships over time. These people are more likely to be happy with their relationships and put high value on keeping them. This evidence suggests that intelligence may help people have long-term, stable relationships.
What about the effect of women’s intelligence on their relationships? Unfortunately, it appears that the research sample included only men. Future prospective studies may illuminate this curious question.
References
Baker, L. R., Kane, M. J., & Russell, V. M. (2020). Romantic partners’ working memory capacity facilitates relationship problem resolution through recollection of problem-relevant information. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 149(3), 580-584. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xge0000659
Baker, L. R., & McNulty, J. K. (2020). The relationship problem solving (RePS) model: How partners influence one another to resolve relationship problems. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 24(1), 53-77. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868319881243
Cuncic, A. (2023). How to develop and practice self-regulation. Updated on May 05, 2023. URL: https://www. verywellmind. com/how-you-can-practice-self-regulation-4163536. Retrieved on 30 March 2025.
Kanazawa, S. (2004). General intelligence as a domain-specific adaptation. Psychological Review, 111(2), 512-523. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.111.2.512
Kanazawa, S. (2014). Intelligence and childlessness. Social Science Research, 48, 157-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2014.06.003
Vance, G. S., DeLecce, T., & Shackelford, T. K. (2025). Men’s general intelligence and heterosexual romantic relationship outcomes. Personality and Individual Differences, 233, 112902.