Researchers from University of Western Australia (UWA) believes that being too intelligent and easy going can lower your chances of finding a romantic partner. They surveyed 383 young adults about a series of characteristics that people typically seek in a partner. The four primary characteristics were intelligence, easygoingness, kindness, and physical attractiveness. The subjects were asked to specify how attracted they would be to a potential partner who was more intelligent than one per cent, 10 per cent, 25, 50, 75, 90 and then 99 per cent of the population.
They were then asked the same question across the other personality traits. The study, which was published in the British Journal of Psychology, found that there was a statistically significant reduction in rated attractiveness for a hypothetical person at the 99th percentile for both intelligence and easygoingness, compared to the 90th percentile. Gilles Gignac from UWA said, “Previously published research suggests that elevated levels of intelligence may incite feelings of insecurity in some people, which may reduce desirability. Correspondingly, exceptional easygoingness may be viewed as an indication of a lack of confidence or ambition. So, on average, there doesn't appear to be any gain to being exceptionally kind or exceptionally physically attractive in the context of attracting a romantic partner.”
