Every person has different characteristics and abilities that distinguish them from many others from the moment they are born and throughout their development. For example, some people are more talented than others in a certain field, or some people have a defect that most people do not have. These characteristics, abilities, and defects accompany people throughout life with a temporary or permanent effect, starting from birth or later. In short, there is always a difference that distinguishes one person from other people. One of the factors that create these differences is IQ level. Depending on whether their IQ level is high or low, people become better or worse than most people in certain skills. Parents sometimes want to understand their children’s intelligence levels by consulting a specialist and having their child’s IQ level measured. So what is IQ?
What Is IQ And What Do IQ Tests Measure?
IQ can be expressed as the score obtained as a result of intelligence tests (Atmaca & Tan, 2022). In the 19th century, some experts defined intelligence as the ability to solve problems and to produce products that are valued in one or more cultural environments (Atmaca & Tan, 2022). Today, there is no definitive definition of intelligence, but IQ Tests are designed to measure cognitive abilities such as logical thinking, memory, problem solving, and mathematical skills (Eleman.net, 2025). Through these tests, a person’s IQ level is determined, and according to these tests, scoring criteria are named as the possibility of intellectual disability, below average, average, high intelligence, and Superior Intelligence. Depending on each age group and conditions, this level and numerical pattern may vary.
Looking at this result, not everyone has the same IQ level. Although the average covers the majority, there are inevitably people who are gifted among individuals. For example, Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci are among the most well-known individuals said to be gifted, and both of them made contributions beneficial to the world and proved themselves. Today, there is always the possibility that gifted individuals may emerge. For this, they do not have to achieve universally recognized successes; we can understand whether a person is gifted through their behavioral patterns. Of course, it is still difficult to determine this directly through observation, and therefore additional observation by specialists always provides a healthier result.
General Characteristics Associated With Gifted Individuals
Still, as a result of research, several characteristics have been identified: curiosity, broad range of interests, high energy level, strong memory, ability to learn quickly, advanced language skills, extensive knowledge base, observational power, analytical power, ability to reason, ability to solve problems, ability to use thinking skills, ability to think abstractly, academic success, broad imagination and imagery, creativity, ability to work independently, advanced sense of humor, superior performance in a particular talent, ability to establish relationships between seemingly unrelated things, ability to express oneself, enjoyment of learning, self-confidence, high motivation, enjoyment of innovation, self-awareness, ability to control oneself, empathy/ability to put oneself in someone else’s place, risk-taking, enjoyment of exploration, enjoyment of being alone, aesthetic sensitivity, strong intuition, leadership, ability to form intense relationships, constant desire for development, and advanced moral values are among their general characteristics (Eleman.net, 2025). In short, gifted individuals include people who are developed in mental, social, moral, and empathic areas. When discovered, these people become well-liked individuals in society and are remembered with many achievements.
Is There A “Bad Version” Of Superior Traits?
So, is there no bad version of these superior characteristics? Unfortunately, just like every coin has another side, this also has a bad side. The possibility of this bad version is very rare, but there are cases claimed to have been seen in time. Since there is no specific test available today, this situation exists only as a theory. High-IQ psychopaths…
What Is Psychopathy?
As for what a psychopath is, a psychopath is a person who has the most severe form of antisocial personality disorder, and this condition is called Psychopathy (Sophos Akademi, 2025). Psychopathy is characterized by a lack or absence of empathy, and psychopaths generally do not feel remorse, are emotionally cold (hypothermic), and merciless toward others (Sophos Akademi, 2025). They also tend to act impulsively and have a strong desire to meet their own needs; that is, they act ruthlessly to achieve their goals and may appear charismatic, open-minded, and friendly in daily life (Sophos Akademi, 2025). However, this sincerity is often just a tool; they have a manipulative nature (Sophos Akademi, 2025).
Many genetic and environmental factors play a role in the emergence of this condition, but the most well-known is that the brain structure of psychopaths is different from that of other people. Abnormalities in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, which are parts of the human brain, make a person prone to psychopathy (Ün et al., 2019).
The “High-IQ Psychopath” Claim And Popular Narratives
These individuals pose a danger to society, but there is also a claim present. According to claims found on social media or in some sources, some serial killers known in the past (Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, etc.) were psychopaths and were not caught because they had superior intelligence. Although this theory may seem somewhat plausible at first glance when considering the clever behaviors they displayed in their murders, the fact that they were not caught for a long time, and their manipulation abilities, there is no definitive evidence regarding this.
What Does Research Say About Intelligence And Psychopathy?
Boutwell and his team conducted a meta-analysis of 187 previous studies on the relationship between psychopathy and intelligence, involving more than 9,000 participants, some of whom were in prison and others working in successful jobs (Düşünbil Portal, 2017). The researchers found that psychopaths scored lower on intelligence tests (Düşünbil Portal, 2017). In addition, it can be said that the intelligence level of psychopaths is generally at an average intelligence level. However, there is also no definitive evidence regarding whether it is possible for a person to be both highly intelligent and a psychopath.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when all these findings are considered, research and theories related to psychopathy and intelligence are highly controversial. While this situation prevents us from reaching a definitive judgment, it also shows that the human mind has dark sides that we cannot see. These unseen sides continue to exist in today’s life with many question marks and maintain their mystery.
References
1- Atmaca, F., & Tan, S. (2022). What is IQ? What is it not? International Journal of Applied Social Sciences, 46, 99–105.
2- Düşünbil Portal. (2017, May 16). How intelligent are psychopaths? The Hannibal Lecter myth.
3- Eleman.net. (2025, August 20). What is an IQ test? What are the most well-known intelligence tests?
4- Sophos Academy. (2025, February 28). Ways to identify a psychopath: Signs, strategies, and warnings.
5- Ün, M., Akbaş, Y., & Erbaş, O. (2019). Psychopathy. Istanbul Bilim University Florence Nightingale Medical Journal, 4(4), 225–228.