Psychopathy, often associated with antisocial behavior and character deviations, has aroused interest in both the social sciences and neurosciences. The popular narrative that links psychopaths to high levels of intelligence, represented in historical and fictional characters, is widespread. However, the scientific literature suggests a complex and, in many cases, antagonistic relationship between these two characteristics. This analysis seeks to critically address the intersection between psychopathy and intelligence, using empirical evidence to clarify the phenomenon.
Facets of Psychopathy and Intelligence
Contemporary studies indicate that psychopathy can be broken down into distinct subdimensions, each with potential specific correlations with intelligence. Research by McKeown and Thomson (2019), for example, shows that certain traits of interpersonal manipulation, characteristic of psychopaths who demonstrate refined persuasion and manipulation skills, have a positive correlation with verbal intelligence. This finding was observed in a sample of female criminals with a history of violent behavior. These results are important because they suggest that psychopaths with these characteristics tend to be successful in social control and manipulation activities, which may facilitate evasion of legal punishment. The robustness of this evidence is considered high, since the authors used rigorous methodologies, such as the use of standardized psychometric assessment instruments.
However, other facets of psychopathy, such as impulsive and risk-taking behaviors—generally encompassed under the antisocial factor of the condition—have an inverse relationship with intelligence, especially with the global intelligence quotient (IQ). A recent study by Kim et al. (2023) confirmed this negative correlation, demonstrating that individuals with more pronounced antisocial traits tend to exhibit lower IQ levels, which often leads them to engage in violent and poorly planned acts. These findings are consistent with the literature, reinforcing that impulsivity and the inability to inhibit inappropriate behaviors can impair the development of more complex cognitive skills.
Psychopathy is not intrinsically related to high intelligence
Although some individuals with psychopathic traits may exhibit high levels of intelligence in specific domains, such as verbal manipulation, psychopathy, as a general construct, does not correlate positively with overall IQ. The meta-analysis conducted by Ribera et al. (2019) provides a comprehensive overview of this scenario, showing that psychopathy tends to be negatively associated with general intelligence. This study synthesized data from several population samples and concluded that psychopathy is, in most cases, associated with lower intellectual ability, especially when considering nonverbal intelligence. This finding demystifies the widely held perception that psychopathy and genius coexist.
Furthermore, the research by Ribera et al. (2019) has important implications for understanding phenotypic diversity within the psychopathic spectrum, suggesting that the association between psychopathy and high intelligence is restricted to specific subtypes, particularly those that exhibit characteristics of interpersonal manipulation. The degree of evidence is robust, considering the quantitative nature and size of the sample analyzed.
Emotional Intelligence and Interpersonal Limitations
Another relevant aspect in the discussion about psychopathy and intelligence is emotional intelligence, which encompasses the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions in oneself and others. In individuals with psychopathic traits, there is a significant impairment of these abilities, even in the presence of high IQ. Kot et al. (2022) examined the relationship between psychopathy and emotional intelligence in a sample of incarcerated men and found a negative correlation between psychopathic traits and emotional intelligence. These data suggest that, although cognitive intelligence, particularly verbal intelligence, may be present in some individuals with psychopathic traits, the lack of empathy and difficulty in dealing with emotions undermine their social interactions. The strength of this evidence is moderate, with some limitations regarding the generalizability of the results outside the prison environment.
Conclusion
The widely held idea that psychopaths are invariably highly intelligent individuals is simplistic and misleading. Although some subgroups of individuals with psychopathic traits demonstrate superior cognitive abilities in certain areas, such as verbal manipulation, most scientific studies indicate that psychopathy, in general, is negatively associated with intelligence, especially in nonverbal domains and emotional intelligence. This scenario emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between different facets of psychopathy when assessing their correlations with cognitive variables. Future studies should continue to explore this relationship in a more nuanced way, considering the contextual and genetic influences on the development of both traits.
References
KIM, E.; Xu, C.; NEUMANN, CS Assessment of psychopathy among justice-involved adult males with low versus average intelligence: Differential links to violent offending. Psychological Assessment, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001286 .
MCKEOWN, A.; THOMSON, N. Psychopathy and intelligence in high-risk violent women. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, vol. 30, no. 3, p. 484-495, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2018.1560487 .
RIBERA, OS; KAVISH, N.; KATZ, IM; BOUTWELL, B. Untangling intelligence, psychopathy, antisocial personality disorder, & conduct problems: A meta-analytic review. European Journal of Personality, vol. 33, no. 5, p. 529-564, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2207 .
Kot, E.; GRZEGORZEWSKI, P.; KOSTECKA, B.; RADOSZEWSKA, J.; KUCHARSKA, K. Relationship between psychopathic traits and ability emotional intelligence in a sample of incarcerated males. European Psychiatry, vol. 65, S372-S373, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.953 .
Dr. Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues MRSB holds a post-PhD in Neuroscience and is an elected member of Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Honor Society (more than 200 members of Sigma Xi have received the Nobel Prize), as well as being a member of the Society for Neuroscience in the United States, the Royal Society of Biology and The Royal Society of Medicine in the United Kingdom, the European Society of Human Genetics in Vienna, Austria, and the APA – American Philosophical Association in the United States. He holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in History and Biology. He is also a Technologist in Anthropology and Philosophy, with several national and international degrees in Neuroscience and Neuropsychology. Dr. Fabiano is a member of prestigious high IQ societies, including Mensa International, Intertel, ISPE High IQ Society, Triple Nine Society, ISI-Society, and HELLIQ Society High IQ. He is the author of more than 300 scientific studies and 30 books. He is currently a visiting professor at PUCRS in Brazil, UNIFRANZ in Bolivia and Santander in Mexico. He also serves as Director of CPAH – Centro de Pesquisa e Análises Heráclito and is the creator of the GIP project, which estimates IQ through the analysis of genetic intelligence. Dr. Fabiano is also a registered journalist, having his name included in the book of records for achieving four records, one of which is for being the greatest creator of characters in the history of the press.