We’ve all definitely been up till ridiculous hours in the morning, watching Netflix/freaking out about a deadline the next day/doing panic Pilates. Now we can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that people who stay up late are more intelligent. And it’s proven. With SCIENCE.
According to a study done by evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa and Kaja Perina, editor in chief of Psychology Today, they’ve found that circadian rhythms, or biological clocks, can be affected by one’s IQ status, and that people with higher IQs tend to be more nocturnal.
The study followed the sleeping habits of over 20,000 teenagers from 1994 until they were between 18 and 28 years old. The respondents were divided into IQ groups: Very Dull (IQ<75), Dull (75<IQ<90), Normal (90<IQ<110), Bright (110<IQ<125) and Very Bright (IQ>125). It found that Very Dull people on average go to bed at 23:41 while Very Bright people turn in almost an hour later on weeknights.
On weekends, everyone goes to bed about an hour later than usual, but Very Bright people call it a day more than an hour after Very Dull people.
On another note, we are now terrified to test our IQs lest we end up Very Dull.
The study also found that while ‘individuals who work longer hours go to bed earlier and wake up earlier on weekdays, students go to bed later and wake up earlier.’ We can already hear the agreeing grunts students everywhere. Work hard, play hard, kids.
Another interesting fact about night owls is that they tend to be more ‘likely to acquire and espouse evolutionarily novel values and preferences than less intelligent people.’ Simply speaking, it means later-gators are more likely to hold and embrace liberal views, and be atheists.
Also, ‘more intelligent men (but not women) are more likely to value sexual exclusivity,’ which is a good thing if you’re really into monogamy.
We’re glad to know that all those late night TV binges and DIY projects aren’t for nought.
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Here’s How You Can Get More Sleep Tonight Without Doing A Thing
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Picture: Eylul Aslan
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.