How A Habit Of Harboring Hate Drags Down Your IQ Levels, Series Of Research & Expert Opinions Prove

Image credit: Imagine AI Art

Many people seem to think that hating other people makes their lives better. But, nothing could be further from the truth.

 Instead, several research finds and authoritative opinions strongly indicate that chronic stress, anxiety, and negative emotions (including hateful feelings) can impair cognitive function and potentially affect IQ.

Here is a quick rundown of findings and expert opinions that support this perspective:

1. In a 2007 publication, the popular neuroscientist Bruce S. McEwen held that prolonged exposure to stress and anxiety can damage the hippocampus, a region crucial for learning and memory.
2. In another 2007 publication, Elizabeth Kensinger, a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Boston College, held that negative emotions, including hatred, can impair working memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities.
3. A 2004 research led by Konstantinos Petrides, a professor of psychology and psychometrics at University College London and published by APA PsycheNet found that emotional regulation abilities, such as managing negative emotions, were positively correlated with IQ.
4. In yet another 2004 publication, Professor Brogdan Draganski of the Centre for Cognitive Disorders -Neurology at the University of Bern, shows how negative emotions can shape the brain's structure and function, potentially affecting cognitive development and IQ.
5. In his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, Dr. Daniel Goleman argues that chronic negative emotions, including hatred, can impair cognitive function and reduce IQ. This book has received so much acclaim that it was on the New York Times Bestseller list for 18 months and has been translated to over 40 languages.
6. In her book, How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life Of The Brain, Professor Lisa Feldman Barrett, a neuroscientist and psychologist, indicates that chronic stress and negative emotions can rewire the brain, potentially affecting cognitive abilities and IQ. It's worthy of note that Professor Barret is a co-director of the Interdisciplinary Affective Science Laboratory at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

While the relationship between hateful feelings and IQ is complex and indirect, the available evidence suggests that chronic negative emotions can have a detrimental impact on cognitive function and potentially affect IQ. It's therefore a great reason to refrain from harboring hateful and other negative emotions like worry, dreadful fear, and protracted anger.

In a future article, I'm going to write on expert viewpoints on managing such emotions.