Intelligence and Procreation

I'm not really sure this belongs in SD, but I don't think it's really just chit chat either. If it doesn't belong here feel free to move it. Anyway...

I've been reading around some random papers lately about Human procreative habits and I've noticed an odd and almost universal believe that I was unaware of. Supposedly more educated intelligent people procreate less. If that is the case, then why? Why would people who are more intelligent and can completely fathom the importance of something like procreation and the preserving of the human race choose not to. Or perhaps they do not choose as such. Perhaps the reason for this lies within the traditions of relationships between two and only two people. If one feels inferior due to whatever reason then maybe procreation is less likely. I have seen a few situations myself where one person in a relationship unintentionally speaks down to the other due to their differing intelligence. Now, I want to clarify that when I say intelligence I'm not speaking directly about I.Q. scores. I have own feeling on the I.Q. system that are not relevant to this. So, why do you think it's possible that intelligent or more educated people procreate less?

Originally Posted by sage_of_fire

Why would people who are more intelligent and can completely fathom the importance of something like procreation and the preserving of the human race choose not to.

Because real intelligent people realize that's not all it's about?

intelligent people have better things to spend their time on and are smart enough to know that the population of the Earth is not likely to stop increasing whether or not they procreate.

Maybe they're having fewer children because they're more focused on the careers that they went to school for? I know, it's a complete shot in the dark, but it makes sense.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

Because real intelligent people realize that's not all it's about?

What IS all of it about? Procreation and just plain fun? Connection? Spiritual gain? It could mean a hundred different things to a thousand different people.

Originally Posted by sage_of_fire

What IS all of it about? Procreation and just plain fun? Connection? Spiritual gain? It could mean a hundred different things to a thousand different people.

Do they really have to have a reason that you should know about?
They just don't want to. I mean, man.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

Do they really have to have a reason that you should know about?
They just don't want to. I mean, man.

Not neccessarily no. It's more or less just an idle curiosity on my part.

Well, reproduction is no longer a serious necessity. In ages less fortunate, where we don't have medical care or even the most rudimentary knowledge of medicine, it was favorable to have as many children as possible; only half of them were going to survive anyways, what with the diseases and the wars roaming about, and another child meant another pair of arms in the fields - which was the occupation that the majority of the populace undertook to feed their families. Having around ten children back then was seen as a blessing. Nowadays, our economy is no longer agriculture-based, and children dying is more of a tragedy than it is a normal part of life. Nowadays, having two children was preferable, three was too much, and four is a financial disaster. So humans are no longer bound by necessity to have children, which already removes a great deal from the equation.

Originally Posted by The Great Panda

Maybe they're having fewer children because they're more focused on the careers that they went to school for? I know, it's a complete shot in the dark, but it makes sense.

This is exactly what I was going to put. The educated go to school, graduate and then started on a carrer. They end up getting married later in life leaving less time to have kids and when they decide to finally have kids its either to late or they feel that they are to old to have three maybe even two kids and then they have one if that.

I think they're more...intellectual, if you will. Intellectuals tend to value their intellect over most things, even things such as emotions. They could be less developed (or immature) emotionally.

That, or they're waiting for someone special, or they're not really socially open...or they feel the world is overpopulated as it is. Could be plenty of reasons.

They could have simply developed their intellectual skills to the point that they've missed out on other skills. Some may not realize it. Other people that are very emotional can be the same - they've delved deeply into something and missed out on something else.

Myself, I prefer to be somewhere in the middle. I want something significant intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Perhaps that isn't possible, but if I must fail to find out, so be it. Obviously I can't be perfect, but I want try it all and see what I'd like in the end.

But yeah , my point still stands about the topic.

Originally Posted by WillZ4E

I think they're more...intellectual, if you will. Intellectuals tend to value their intellect over most things, even things such as emotions. They could be less developed (or immature) emotionally.

That, or they're waiting for someone special, or they're not really socially open...or they feel the world is overpopulated as it is. Could be plenty of reasons.

They could have simply developed their intellectual skills to the point that they've missed out on other skills. Some may not realize it. Other people that are very emotional can be the same - they've delved deeply into something and missed out on something else.

Myself, I prefer to be somewhere in the middle. I want something significant intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Perhaps that isn't possible, but if I must fail to find out, so be it.

This is about what I've come up with as well. You see the nerd stereotype that lacks most social skills in popular media quite often. This stereotype does hold some strength though. I can't tell you how many time's I've seen people, not myself personally, who are what some would call "overly intelligent" say something that to most people would sound condensending, but to them it's just a simple observation.

More important question; how come it's only the ugly chicks that get knocked up when they're 15, despite them obviously not being the ones getting the most sex?

I guess if you've failed the social expectation of going through school, getting a good job, and becoming financially able, you have to fall back on the other social expectations; getting married and having kids. What runs our society? Money and love, baby, money and love. The intelligent ones get the money, everyone else gets the love. Except the intelligent ones also get the love, because we're cool like that.

Originally Posted by Sam

More important question; how come it's only the ugly chicks that get knocked up when they're 15, despite them obviously not being the ones getting the most sex?

Hehehehe... you clearly don't know the way things work, do you?