Compatibility in relationships depends on a wide range of factors, including shared values, interests, communication styles, emotional compatibility, and interpersonal dynamics. These aspects are not solely determined by IQ. Emotional intelligence, empathy, communication skills, and the ability to connect with others on an emotional level also play a more significant role in fostering compatibility.
However, people in the same IQ range are more likely to share common interests and consequently, meaningful conversations. A guy who is interested in monster truck rallies and paintball events is not likely to be compatible with a girl who is interested in Shakespeare and the opera, although it does happen on occasion. There is some research to suggest that people whose IQ’s differ by more than two standard deviations (about 30 IQ points) are not likely to be compatible.
Discussions of complex ideas, philosophical or scientific concepts, and historical trends are usually of interest to those of higher IQ, while discussion of immediate events of the “who did what to whom” variety are usually of interest to those of lower IQ. Consequently, conversations between two people of significantly different IQ are more difficult, usually making them less compatible. However, in some cases the differences attract, so the correlation between IQ and compatibility may be somewhere between moderate and strong.
