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How Men and Women Badly Estimate Their Own Intelligence

Posted by timothy on from the lake-woebegone-effect dept.

theodp writes "In investigating the question of whether men are smarter than women, British researcher Adrian Furnham came up with some startling results. His analysis of some 30 studies showed that men and women are fairly equal overall in terms of IQ, but women underestimate their own intelligence while men overestimate theirs. Surprisingly, both men and women perceived men being smarter across generations — both sexes believe that their fathers are smarter than their mothers and their grandfathers are more intelligent than their grandmothers. And if there are children, both men and women think their sons are brighter than their daughters."

18 of 928 comments (clear)

  1. If women are so smart . . . by SlappyBastard · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why isn't anyone raving about the Twitter feed called Shit My Mom Says?

    --
    I scream. You scream. I assume that means we're both acquainted with the problem. We proceed.
    1. Re:If women are so smart . . . by negRo_slim · · Score: 3, Funny

      Because old people don't rave.

      --
      On the Oregon Cost born and raised, On the beach is where I spent most of my days
    2. Re:If women are so smart . . . by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

      I was talking to this older couple in their late 40s early 50s.

      Ouch.

      You just spoiled my Sunday.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    3. Re:If women are so smart . . . by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

      on other occasions I'd pretend to be a pilot, and she'd pretend to be a dumb blond stewardess.

      She does that with you too?

      I thought I was special...

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    4. Re:If women are so smart . . . by penguin_dance · · Score: 4, Funny

      You mean man up and post as an anonymous coward like you did?

      --
      If you've never been modded as "flamebait" or "troll," you've never tried to argue a minority viewpoint here!
    5. Re:If women are so smart . . . by akirapill · · Score: 3, Funny

      Women don't really want to be equal partners, and men usually find being the superior partner pleasing. Seems like the only problem is women's bitching--but maybe that means they're happy?

      ahh, now your name makes sense - misexistentialist

    6. Re:If women are so smart . . . by eharvill · · Score: 3, Funny

      . Our kids are "FGs", which means either "Florida Gators" or "F--king Geninuses", I'm not sure which.

      Aren't those mutually exclusive??? ;-)

      --
      At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend I don't care that you're not here with me
  2. Obviously by liquiddark · · Score: 4, Funny

    Clearly this is the case. Men haven't been able to win domestic arguments since clubbing and dragging was considered a valid way to conduct discourse.

    1. Re:Obviously by Falconhell · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ah, the good old days! (-:

  3. Re:They believe it because it's true by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Funny

    But you can't figure out how to log in.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  4. Allegedly... by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Allegedly GWBush has a fairly high IQ (well at least 120+)

    (Allegedly there, I FTFY.) That's alleged by people who allegedly have an allegedly low IQ themselves (well at least 80-, allegedly) and will, I allege, show up shortly to allege otherwise. I'll also allege that I'd like to hear what new alleged topics Bush allegedly had the capacity to allegedly understand.

    They allegedly always allege that Bush was allegedly smarter than Obama (allegedly our new president, although he allegedly has some alleged paperwork problem allegedly involving his alleged birth in the State allegedly of Hawaii- allegedly one of the States which are themselves alleged to be United- that magically [allegedly] transports his alleged birth to the alleged nation of Kenya as if that would allegedly make them alleged victims even if it were allegedly true in the alleged first place).

    Now before anyone allegedly jumps on me, please allegedly remember that I allegedly only alleged these things were alleged, so I'm allegedly sorry.

    1. Re:Allegedly... by acheron12 · · Score: 5, Funny

      If I hear that word one more time I'm gonna jump off allege.

      --
      there is no god but truth, and reality is its prophet
  5. Re:Variance is the key by c_sd_m · · Score: 5, Funny

    IQ tests are mostly multiple choice. Coloring the bubble more darkly doesn't get you extra points if you're right.

  6. Re:They believe it because it's true by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Meaning, an idiot is more likely to be a male, and a genius is more likely to be a male."

    ... and on Slashdot they are likely to be the same person!

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  7. real reason by Kebis · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think the real reason men feel they're more intelligent than women can be summed up in two words: "Twilight Saga".

  8. Re:Also, they don't care by noidentity · · Score: 5, Funny

    Believe it or not, I live with a women and she could care less about an IQ test. I would also like to go on record as saying that she is much smarter than me

    And I don't think anyone would disagree.

  9. Re:They believe it because it's true by Virak · · Score: 5, Funny

    So the evil liberals and their oppressive egalitarian agenda are leading to the downfall of society and the invasion of Muslim barbarians? Did you forget to take your medicine today?

  10. Re:They believe it because it's true by TapeCutter · · Score: 4, Funny

    Reminds me of the old joke: Women are animal lovers, they want a Jaguar in the garage, a tiger in the bedroom, and a jack-ass to pay for it all.

    --
    And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.