Intelligence research links cognitive ability to lifestyle and voluntary learning

Recent psychological research explores how high intelligence manifests in lifestyle choices and voluntary knowledge acquisition.

According to studies by Satoshi Kanazawa of the London School of Economics, highly intelligent individuals often exhibit specific behavioral patterns despite knowing they may be unhealthy. These include a tendency toward alcohol consumption, staying up late, and engaging in less physical activity. Kanazawa attributes this to the ‘Savanna Theory,’ suggesting that intelligent brains adapt more readily to modern technological and social environments, often leading to more moderate or liberal values and greater openness to new experiences.

In a separate study published in ‘Intelligence & Cognitive Abilities,’ researchers Maximilian Krolo from Saarland University and Timothy C. Bates from the University of Edinburgh examined whether intelligence predicts deep expertise in non-mandatory subjects. Using wine knowledge as a case study—a field that offers neither academic requirement nor financial incentive—the researchers investigated if intelligence drives voluntary learning in complex, culturally significant areas where socioeconomic status and professional necessity are not primary motivators.