Study explores self reported intelligence across genders and ages
Researchers at the European University in Cyprus examined how young men and women rate their own intelligence and how those self assessments relate to other measures of cognitive ability and personal characteristics. The published work appears in Brain and Behavior, reflecting a multinational interest in how perception and performance align in different groups.
The study enrolled 311 participants, including 128 men. Each person rated their perceived intelligence on a scale from 0 to 100. They also evaluated physical health and physical attractiveness on a 9-point scale. Following these self assessments, all participants completed a cognitive task that measures working memory, a key indicator of cognitive control, along with an assessment designed to capture creative thinking. The setup aimed to determine whether self reported intelligence aligns with objective cognitive performance and what other factors might influence one’s self view.
Among younger adults in Greece, the researchers observed higher self reported scores for both IQ and emotional intelligence in men compared with women. For older adults, the pattern reversed, showing higher self reported intelligence in women. The study notes that there have not been observed gender differences in self reported intelligence among older adults in prior work, hinting at possible changes in self perception across the lifespan.
Additionally, the data showed that self reported IQ tended to be higher when participants also reported greater physical attractiveness, better health, and stronger religiosity. Conversely, the analysis did not find a link between the objective measures of working memory and the self reported IQ. This discrepancy suggests that people’s belief about their own intelligence can be influenced by subjective self-perceptions or other personal attributes rather than by direct cognitive performance alone. The researchers caution that self perceptions should be interpreted with care, as they may diverge from objective cognitive indicators.
Cited findings emphasize the importance of considering how personal characteristics shape self evaluation, especially when comparing groups across age ranges and genders. The results contribute to ongoing discussions about how self perception relates to actual cognitive abilities and how social and cultural factors can color judgments about intelligence. The study authors advocate for further research to untangle the roles of age, gender, health, and lifestyle in shaping these self assessments and to explore how such perceptions influence daily decision making and self confidence.
and Behavior; European University in Cyprus; findings discussed within the context of gender and age differences in self reported intelligence and associated traits.