Who would you rather choose for your wife/husband: a person more or less intelligent than you?

Question

And why?

Answer 1

My wife is equally as intelligent as I am.

I don't believe in marrying down and dummying up your kids.

Answer 2

I think the most harmonious relationships are those where the two people involved have the most in common. That being said, if you are a very intellectual person you would be happier with someone on the same level as you. If you were alot more intellectually inclined than your partner you would become very bored and irritated. This sense of superiority to your partner would cause alot of tension in the relationship. You feeling a sense of anger, irritation, and possibly disgust by your partner's lack of intelligence. In turn, this would make your partner feel ashamed, stupid, and unworthy of your affections.
So, as you can see it would be a grave mistake to attempt a relationship with someone who is not intellectually compatible one way or the other. Opposites attract, but only for a short time. Once the new wears off all the things about them that intrigued you will start to annoy, because you find that your interests and dislikes clash with theirs.
Just remember the old saying...birds of a feather, flock together!!!!!
Good Luck!

Answer 3

The same level of intelligence, but in different areas than you are. For example, I'm big on literature, social sciences, humanities - husband is more practical with sciences and math. Similar smarts, but varied areas - so it's a great mix!
Would never go for "less" intelligent - then there is no challenge and true interest there. Now this doesn't mean who has more degrees or certificates - the book learning! Life experience brings wisdom as well!

Answer 4

Neither, I would rather have a husband who was about the same intelligence as I am.

However, real intelligence rarely works that way. For example, my husband is much smarter than I am regarding technology while I am smarter than he is in terms of personal finance. Sure, some people are smarter or not as intelligent over all but I think most people have their talents and areas where they are not so talented.

Answer 5

Intelligence without emotional intelligence factored in, is not a criteria upon which I would base my choice of partner. It simply doesn't matter. A person can be intelligent and cruel, waspish, cynical and cold. A person may be less intelligent but thoughtful, kind, loving and loyal. It is rather like the saying ""Truth without love is brutality but love without truth is sentimentality" My wife has a higher IQ than me because her understanding of space and patterns (she is an artist) is 100 times mine. So on IQ tests she will regularly hit 140-148. I am usually around 138 - 140. But she can't park the car or do math. So although you did not get an either / or answer I hope this goes some way to explaining why.

Answer 6

Definately smarter or the same. I have above average intelligence with an extensive education. I'm usually actracted to the working man type. Too often though some can't carry on a conversation about many things I'm interested in. Also some do not think about things and don't care why an engine works, it just does.

I want a man I can learn from, not one that I am constantly explaining things to when I can tell he could really care less anyway.

Answer 7

I would say more intelligent so they are not intimidated by my own intelligence. Happened in my last relationship and it made life very difficult. The person doesn't even have to be more intelligent, but if he has a personality that compliments mine in a different way. Like my husband - he is not exactly book smart like I am, he is street smart and has excellent people skills. This compliments my personality because I tend to be withdrawn around people and now I am not like that anymore. While I used to like to be alone to read, now I interact with people more and that has changed me a lot. I am not saying he is not more intelligent than me, just smarter about different things than me. It is not good to be with someone too much like yourself because then you cannot grow as a person.

Answer 8

I would rather (and did) choose the man that I loved. Intelligence not withstanding if you are compatible it really will not matter whom is more book smart or whom is more "life smart".

You should both compliment each other. I think that a couple should strengthen each others weaknesses.

In our marriage I may have a college degree and my husband does not but I could not go to his work and do what he does just as he could not go and do what I do either.

He had to learn his trade by doing it where I had to start most of mine in school and finish by doing what I had already learned.

Who is to say which is easier or harder? We both work full days and love each other to the best of our abilities. I think that is what is the most important.

When in doubt be kind and loving.

Answer 9

Definitely more intelligent.

Because I consider myself a smart person, so of course I don't want to be the smartest of the two. If he's smarter than me, then we're pretty set.

Intelligence isn't necessarily just book smarts. A person can be college educated and not have much common sense or make very sound decisions. Smart people know how to get the most out of life and how to deal with life's problems.

Answer 10

More intelligent because that person could engage my mind and motivate me. That person could be resonable about things I couldn't. I'd have a better problem solver on my team than myself. This person wouldn't be simply a "yes person" but someone with an opinion. When we agreed on something, I'd be confident it was a well though out intelligent decision. Her reasoning would be a great asset when interpersonal conflict arised as well. I'd definitely choose someone more intelligent if I had a choice.

Answer 11

I truely believe thart intelligent is an abstract, something you can not quanitfy. Each person is intelligent in his or her own way. The reason people would do much better on a particular thing Vs another is because they made it a priority and worked hard for it. There are no smart and stupid, there are hard working and lazy people. A university professor would find it really hard to cheat the system, but a high school drop out is a master in it because he made it his focus!