Accurate intelligence assessments in social interactions: mediators and gender effects
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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
Published on: February 25, 2011
Nora A Murphy1, Judith A Hall, C Randal Colvin
1Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. n.murphy@neu.edu
Abstract:
Research indicates that people can assess a stranger's measured intelligence more accurately than expected by chance, based on minimal information involving appearance and behavior. The present research documents behavioral correlates of perceived and measured intelligence and identifies behaviors that mediate the relationship between perceived and measured intelligence. In particular, when judges rated targets with video and auditory stimuli available, responsiveness to conversation partner, eye-gaze, and looking at partner while speaking were each significant mediators in the accurate assessment of intelligence. Each of those behaviors, as well as the percentage of looking at partner while speaking as a function of the target's own speaking time, were significant mediators in the video silent condition. Additionally, judge and target gender contributed to accurate intelligence assessments.
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