The relations between cognitive ability and personality: Convergent results across measures

Abstract

Several studies have investigated the relations between cognitive ability and Big Five personality constructs. The present study extended previous research by (a) examining these relationships in large samples (total N = 120,014), (b) including several measures of cognitive ability and personality, (c) examining both domain and facet‐level personality scores, (d) expanding the personality domains studied to include Machiavellianism, and (e) correcting the observed correlations for range restriction and reliability to provide a better statistical estimate of the relations between the cognitive and personality scores and constructs. Results were consistent with prior research showing a positive relationship between cognitive ability and Openness and negative relationships between cognitive ability and Neuroticism and Conscientiousness. Negative relations between cognitive ability and Extraversion and Agreeableness also were observed. Machiavellianism, not part of the Big Five was found to have a positive correlation with cognitive ability. Of particular interest was the finding that the relations between cognitive ability and personality were affected by the specific content of the cognitive and personality measures. Cognitive measures with verbal content were more strongly correlated with personality than were cognitive measures with math or nonverbal content for all of the samples. Also, there was considerable variability in the cognitive‐personality correlations for the facets underlying each personality domain. The variability in correlations at the facet‐level implies that cognitive‐personality relationships at the domain‐level will vary as a function of the specific content of the cognitive and personality measures. Overall, the results provide support for cognitive‐personality association at the measurement level.

Conscientiousness and Cognitive Abilities: a Meta-Analysis

“…The results obtained partially supported H2a, as although a positive association between competence and cognitive abilities was observed, it was statistically insignificant. The results are similar to other findings in the literature (e.g., Carretta et al, 2018;. Although we expected the association to be significant, it seems that a person who has higher cognitive abilities is not necessarily and more self-confident.…”

Can You Ever Be Too Smart for Your Own Good? Comparing Linear and Nonlinear Effects of Cognitive Ability on Life Outcomes

“…These examples appear to suggest that high intelligence or cognitive ability causes people to be perceived as aloof, arrogant, or generally antisocial. However, research indicates that cognitive ability is weakly associated with most personality traits (Ackerman & Heggestad, 1997; Carretta & Ree, 2018). In our opinion, the problems encountered by these characters—and their real-world counterparts—are more plausibly explained by other personality traits (e.g., low agreeableness, sociability, or empathy) than by high cognitive ability.…”

The impact of consumer positive personality on the purchase behavior of smart products

“…As proposed by Nica et al (2022), consumers' values generate and lead their cognition and attitudes in the process of shopping decision-making. In addition, previous studies have stated the relationship between positive personality and cognitive ability (Curtis et al, 2015;Rammstedt et al, 2016;Carretta and Ree, 2018). Hence, a hypothesis is presented as follows:…”