How intelligent are psychopaths? Study examines the "Hannibal Lecter myth"

A new study makes a surprising finding on the intelligence of psychopaths, often portrayed as evil geniuses in popular culture.

We tend to think of psychopaths as dangerous, antisocial, lacking in key human emotions like empathy or remorse. Psychopaths can be obsessed evil tyrants like Hitler or cunning and monstrous like the fictional Hannibal Lecter. Now a new study casts a surprising look at psychopaths, finding that whatever qualities they might have, high intelligence is not one of them. In fact, psychopaths were found to be less intelligent than average people.

Keep reading Show less
psychopath study intelligence hannibal lecter psychology anthony hopkins IQ hitler jack nicholson stanley kubrick missouri
popular

The Search for Intelligent Life? Start by Re-Designing the IQ Test

The IQ test is the most widely known measure of intelligence, but are the 'twice exceptional' and other gifted members of society slipping between the cracks?

Most of us know about the IQ test, whether you’ve taken one, read about it, or seen that episode of Seinfeld, it’s part of the lexicon when we talk about intelligence.

Keep reading Show less
Scott Barry Kaufman twice exceptional ADHD IQ intelligence creativity IQ test smart gifted intelligence indicators the imagination institute videos
Videos

24 of the smartest people who ever lived

The smartest humans in history are ranked.

Making a list of the smartest people who ever lived may not be a smart thing to do. After all, intelligence can be measured in a variety of different ways. Some believe in IQ tests, others place more stock in emotional intelligence. There's also something to be said about having accomplishments. Being intelligent is not the same as using that intelligence to create something that no one else can, to somehow advance humanity, to be smarter than everyone.

Keep reading Show less
smartest people ever iq history science
popular