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Lumifer comments on Thermodynamics of Intelligence and Cognitive Enhancement - Less Wrong Discussion

8 Post author: CasioTheSane 03 April 2014 11:17PM

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Comment author: Lumifer 04 April 2014 02:49:35PM *  3 points [-]

But intelligence is generally appreciated in potential mates

That depends. First, it depends on the sex (some males actually prefer dumb blondes) and second, females usually like successful males -- while intelligence is clearly correlated with success, it's just a correlate and a signal, not the terminal value itself.

Also, if the floor of survive-and-breed is lowered enough (as is the case in the developed countries), the evolutionary pressures to wash out low intelligence become much weaker.

P.S.

LOL. Here is a study the abstract of which says:

We used static facial photographs of 40 men and 40 women to test the relationship between measured IQ, perceived intelligence, and facial shape. Both men and women were able to accurately evaluate the intelligence of men by viewing facial photographs. In addition to general intelligence, figural and fluid intelligence showed a significant relationship with perceived intelligence, but again, only in men. No relationship between perceived intelligence and IQ was found for women.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 04 April 2014 04:55:59PM 1 point [-]

I've wondered whether successful "dumb blondes" are actually unintelligent, or pretending-- beautiful blondes aren't common, but they're still up against a fair amount of competition.

Comment author: Lumifer 04 April 2014 05:04:42PM *  3 points [-]

I've wondered whether successful "dumb blondes" are actually unintelligent, or pretending

Don't think it matters much here -- the point is that there are guys who prefer not-smart women. If some women feel it necessary to pretend to be stupid, that just reinforces the point.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 04 April 2014 07:35:05PM 0 points [-]

It might hint that men not caring about women's intelligence doesn't have a dysgenic effect.

Comment author: chaosmage 07 April 2014 12:07:54PM -1 points [-]

some males actually prefer dumb blondes

For having kids with?

Comment author: Lumifer 07 April 2014 02:51:32PM 0 points [-]

For having kids with?

I think they would formulate it as "for bearing them kids". Boys, preferably.

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