Self-assessed intelligence, objective intelligence and the higher-order structure of personality

The way people assess their own level of intelligence might have important consequences for many life domains. In two studies (Ns = 232 and 237) we examined the association between self-assessed and objective intelligence and the higher-order structure of personality: two metatraits, Plasticity and Stability, and the General Factor of Personality (GFP). The most consistent finding was the positive association between intelligence (self-assessed and objective) and Plasticity, which reflects Extraversion and Openness/Intellect. Plasticity is characterized by the tendency to explore and seek for novelty, which might theoretically link it with intelligence. People with high levels of the GFP perceived themselves as highly intelligent. We suggested that their beliefs might have various sources, such as actual cognitive ability as well as social desirability and agency associated with self-assessed intelligence. The metatrait of Stability was essentially unrelated to self-assessed and objective intelligence. Our research indicates that intelligence might be primary located close to Plasticity in the personality structure.