r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 20d ago

Neuroscience Twin study suggests rationality and intelligence share the same genetic roots - the study suggests that being irrational, or making illogical choices, might simply be another way of measuring lower intelligence.

https://www.psypost.org/twin-study-suggests-rationality-and-intelligence-share-the-same-genetic-roots/
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u/caffa4 19d ago

I’m not gonna claim to be highly intelligent/have a genius IQ, but I’d say my intelligence is one of my strengths. I also have bipolar disorder and have acted quite irrationally. Even based on delusions I experienced. And I think the element of impulsivity leads to irrational actions as well, not just delusions.

I spent thousands of dollars I didn’t have. I knew I didn’t have it and I had no way to pay it, I just did not care. I overdosed on dozens of pills when I had delusions of grandeur and believed I couldn’t die—say I was acting on my delusions, does that make it rational to do something that surely isn’t healthy either way? I booked a flight to NYC for less than 12 hrs later, less than a week after having ankle surgery. The trip alone could simply just be impulsive, but doing that right after surgery kind of pushes it into irrational territory. I showed up absolutely drunk to a bunch of exams my senior year of college, no delusions involved, but simply not rational. Honestly I could keep going on but I’m sure you get the point.

A rational person considers consequences. When I’m in an episode, it’s like that part of my brain is just gone.

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u/SimoneNonvelodico 19d ago

Saying two things correlate though doesn't mean they are 1:1 present together. Being a man correlates with greater upper body strength, but if I played arm wrestling with the women's weight lifting champion I'd get destroyed.

As I said, I think the main reason for this correlation is actually quite simple: being intelligent is a requirement to even know what the rational decisions are. It's not enough to ensure that you make them, but it's the bare minimum necessary. If you're too dumb to realize the consequences of your actions, you couldn't be rational even if you tried.

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u/caffa4 19d ago

That makes sense! I was just providing additional context in how people with mental illness still might not act rationally and that there’s more to it than a rational/irrational response to delusions.