ANN ARBOR, MI—We all like to think we're pretty smart. Some people like to share articles in an attempt to prove just how smart they are. But, according to new research, if you're sharing articles about personality traits that prove intelligence, you're probably not as smart as you think you are.
The research, conducted by a team at the University of Michigan, was two fold: it looked at actual intelligence and perceived intelligence. It found that people who share articles about the "Big Five" personality traits—neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness—are less likely to score above average on an IQ test and more likely to be seen as less intelligent by their peers.
In the first study, participants who had shared articles about the Big Five personality traits were invited to take an IQ test. Across the board, not one single participant scored above average, with most actually scoring below average.
The results of the second study showed that those same people who shared articles about these traits were rated as less intelligent than those who didn't share any.
So, why does sharing articles about personality traits prove you're not intelligent?
The researchers believe that people who share these articles are trying to prove how smart they are, either to others or themselves. Either way, it seems to be a turn-off for most people of above average intelligence.
So, if you're looking to impress your friends with your intelligence, it's best to just post long diatribes on obscure subjects with large words. Studies have shown that most people scroll past them without reading while assuming the content was coherent.
