Study: People Can Predict How Intelligent A Man Is Based On His Face

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Men, take note: People may be able to predict your IQ just from looking at your face.

In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers say they used 40 static photos of men and women to test the link between measured IQ, perceived intelligence and face shape.

What they found is that both women and men could predict a man's level of intelligence relatively accurately based on a photo of his face, but interestingly, the same didn't hold true for women.

"No relationship between perceived intelligence and IQ was found for women," the researchers write, hypothesizing that may be because women tend to be judged based on their attractiveness. "The strong halo effect of attractiveness may thus prevent an accurate assessment of the intelligence of women."

Furthermore, while people feel certain facial features indicate intelligence (a longer face, larger nose and wide-set eyes, for example), researchers say they found no correlation between those types of faces and actual intelligence, leading them to believe those beliefs are merely cultural stereotypes.

To read more on the study, click here.