New research revealed that people with higher IQ (Intelligence Quotient) could make more accurate and real predictions about their future.
According to Psy Post, the study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people who have higher IQs tend to make more realistic and exact predictions about their lifespan as compared to the people with low IQs.
Chris Dawson, a professor at the University of Bath, conducted this research to find if smarter people are better and more “calibrated” at predicting uncertain events compared to other people.
He told PsyPost, “There is a huge amount of research looking at how people deviate from rational thinking models. However, little evidence has focused on people’s ability to assess the probabilities of uncertain events, a central input into rational decision-making.”
After analysing the data, the researchers found that people with higher intelligence are closer to truth and more consistent about their estimates that help them in making more accurate projections.
Dawson explained, “Estimating probabilities accurately leads to better decision-making and therefore better outcomes for individuals. For instance, if you overestimate the probability of a business idea succeeding, you may waste all your resources starting a business destined to fail.”
“If you underestimate the probability of dying from lung cancer, you may decide not to quit smoking. Being realistic is important, and people should try and be realistic in all aspects of decision-making,” he continued.
The study also highlighted a key connection between intelligence and decision-making by revealing that higher-IQ individuals are more accurate most of the time because they perceive reality clearly.
