The question came up when I was wearing my "Intelligence is the best aphrodesiac" t-shirt. I can't remember how it came up, but the friend who was here pointed out that his in-laws were intimidated by his physics degrees, and he completely didn't get it. (Which is one of the reasons I love that friend, frankly - he's confused by an assumption of intellectual snobbery.) I've seen it before in the Page side of the family, particularly one uncle, when I talked about elements of linguistic theory or pedagogy that he was unfamiliar with. He attempted to shoot me down, and the only reason I could see for it was anti-intellectual snobbery; HIS profession didn't take six years of overpriced university to get good at, so he had just as much knowledge as I did! (No, I did not point out the logical fallacies there. I value my relatives, even the ones who don't know a logical fallacy when it slaps them in the face.)

I find it's most prevalent when it comes to math and science degrees, probably because it's culturally acceptable to admit that you're no good at math. That means the people who admit to being good at it, and enjoying it, are immediately seen as "other". It is very much a class distinction; someone who has a degree or two in another field is far less likely to be intimidated than someone who barely finished high school. Education has become the dividing line between working-middle class and (for want of a better term) thinking-middle class.