Why people who boast about their IQ are losers

Abstract

Individuals who boast about their IQ scores often do so because their actual achievements fall short of what their IQ would predict. IQ scores can serve as a proxy for intellectual potential, particularly in youth, allowing individuals to signal their intelligence before accumulating a substantial record of achievement. However, as individuals mature, actual accomplishments become more relevant indicators of intelligence and ability. Prominent figures like Stephen Hawking need not mention their IQ because their significant contributions to their field speak for themselves. Boasting about IQ becomes a compensatory mechanism for those whose achievements are less remarkable, allowing them to maintain a semblance of intellectual superiority despite underperformance. – AI-generated abstract.