Differences in the Impact of Intelligence on Marriage Intention: A Perspective Based on Social Expectations

A cross-institutional study in the UK has uncovered intriguing gender differences in how IQ influences marriage rates: for each 15-point increase in IQ, the likelihood of women getting married decreased by 58%, distinguished from the figure for their male counterparts – an increase of 35% in marriage prospects. Based on the above study, this paper, through a comprehensive analysis of IQ, education, culture, and socioeconomic factors, finds that the differences in marriage between men and women could be attributed to the increasing educational level of females, challenges to traditional social expectations about genders, and changes in cultural scripts as women adopt progressive ideologies. This finding reveals the different motivations and influencing factors of men and women in marriage decisions, providing valuable insights into the changing views of marriage in modern society.