If I'm reading this correctly, the study looks at crime statistics in males between ages 15 and 21? I wonder how linear the relationship would be in older males, at ages 25 or 30 when executive function skills are more fully developed?
Crime is lower in that age group. My guess, though, is that the IQ-crime relationship would still be fairly linear - but with the line shifted downward as people become more law abiding.
One reason for expecting that is that the probable causes of the effect - e.g., differences in self-control, foresight, and opportunities - would still be present.
That makes sense. The angle I was considering is that in younger children and adolescent I often see the effects of poor attention and poor impulse control with giving answers - anything to get the boring testing situation done! - negatively impact standardized test scores like IQ. I've sometimes seen significant negative impacts that seem to lesson as the child matures and the executive function and even motivation to do better improves. I'm not sure how significant those numbers are or how much they would impact overall trends in research like this though
Interesting! Yeah, I think factors like attention and impulse control must affect people’s ability to do intelligence tests to the best of their ability. Presumably, the tests are more accurate at older ages, and thus more predictive.
That said, I’m not sure there’s a huge difference in the accuracy of IQ measured at around 18 (as in this study) vs. measured in the mid-twenties. As I recall, by the teen years, measurement becomes pretty accurate.
Do you think smart people commit less crime statistically because they are simply "better"? Or is there something we’re missing?
How much of a difference can be attributed to the ability to avoid getting caught? Could intelligence be correlated with certain types of crimes? For example, are there fewer crimes associated with impulsivity and more crimes that don’t require direct involvement (e.g., white-collar crime), which are more difficult to detect? Are people with higher IQs morally superior? And if so, why?
Instead, I think it’s related to factors like self-control, a greater capacity to think about the long-term consequences of their actions, and having more opportunities in life, which makes crime a less appealing options.
"Smarter people get away with it" sounds like a plausible explanation for part (not all) of it. I broke the law thousands of times before marijuana was legalized without being caught. Some of my less bright friends had a different experience.
Do you think it‘s because intelligent people are simply „better“? Or is it something we‘re missing?
How much difference can be attributed to the ability to avoid getting caught? Could intelligence be correlated with the types of crime? F.e., less crimes associated with impulsivity and more crimes that don’t get your hands dirty (e.g., white-collar crime) and is more difficult to detect. Or are people with higher IQ morally superior? And if so, why?
Other studies suggest a fairly a weak association between intelligence and major personality traits, so I would expect the same of moral goodness. If this is caused by something like moral goodness, I’d be less inclined to think it had something to do with morals and more to do with a specific risk factor like the probability of sociopathy, but that’s just a hunch.
If I'm reading this correctly, the study looks at crime statistics in males between ages 15 and 21? I wonder how linear the relationship would be in older males, at ages 25 or 30 when executive function skills are more fully developed?
Crime is lower in that age group. My guess, though, is that the IQ-crime relationship would still be fairly linear - but with the line shifted downward as people become more law abiding.
One reason for expecting that is that the probable causes of the effect - e.g., differences in self-control, foresight, and opportunities - would still be present.
That makes sense. The angle I was considering is that in younger children and adolescent I often see the effects of poor attention and poor impulse control with giving answers - anything to get the boring testing situation done! - negatively impact standardized test scores like IQ. I've sometimes seen significant negative impacts that seem to lesson as the child matures and the executive function and even motivation to do better improves. I'm not sure how significant those numbers are or how much they would impact overall trends in research like this though
Interesting! Yeah, I think factors like attention and impulse control must affect people’s ability to do intelligence tests to the best of their ability. Presumably, the tests are more accurate at older ages, and thus more predictive.
That said, I’m not sure there’s a huge difference in the accuracy of IQ measured at around 18 (as in this study) vs. measured in the mid-twenties. As I recall, by the teen years, measurement becomes pretty accurate.
Do you think smart people commit less crime statistically because they are simply "better"? Or is there something we’re missing?
How much of a difference can be attributed to the ability to avoid getting caught? Could intelligence be correlated with certain types of crimes? For example, are there fewer crimes associated with impulsivity and more crimes that don’t require direct involvement (e.g., white-collar crime), which are more difficult to detect? Are people with higher IQs morally superior? And if so, why?
There’s some evidence that smarter criminals are better at evading arrest than less-smart one: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2017.10.003
But this doesn’t explain the pattern in full. Smart people do seem to commit fewer crimes. See, e.g., https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0021-843X.97.3.330
I don’t think it’s because they’re inherently more moral. There’s essentially no relationship between IQ and facets of Big Five Agreeableness related to morality. See https://www.stevestewartwilliams.com/p/personality-and-intelligence-are
Instead, I think it’s related to factors like self-control, a greater capacity to think about the long-term consequences of their actions, and having more opportunities in life, which makes crime a less appealing options.
"Smarter people get away with it" sounds like a plausible explanation for part (not all) of it. I broke the law thousands of times before marijuana was legalized without being caught. Some of my less bright friends had a different experience.
Yep, that seems to be part of it. But not all of it. See, e.g., https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0021-843X.97.3.330
Hi Steve, do you only increase subscription costs for new subscribers, or do you also increase them for existing subscribers?
Hi ABC - the price increase is only for new paid subscribers. Existing subscribers will continue paying at the rate they signed up for.
Concerning crime and IQ:
Do you think it‘s because intelligent people are simply „better“? Or is it something we‘re missing?
How much difference can be attributed to the ability to avoid getting caught? Could intelligence be correlated with the types of crime? F.e., less crimes associated with impulsivity and more crimes that don’t get your hands dirty (e.g., white-collar crime) and is more difficult to detect. Or are people with higher IQ morally superior? And if so, why?
Other studies suggest a fairly a weak association between intelligence and major personality traits, so I would expect the same of moral goodness. If this is caused by something like moral goodness, I’d be less inclined to think it had something to do with morals and more to do with a specific risk factor like the probability of sociopathy, but that’s just a hunch.