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Sunday, August 7. 2016

6 surprising downsides of being extremely intelligent

You might think life would be easier, happier, and infinitely more fulfilling if only you could rack up a few more IQ points.


But that's hardly the case...


Ordinary-bright (120-130) people adjust more easily to life. It is Darwinian.

Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in Psychology, and Dr. Bliss, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 14:42 | Comments (13) | Trackbacks (0)

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I didn't see it directly mentioned in the article but the super intelligent usually seem to be deficient in social skills, whether it is a lack of a sense of humor or picking up on the body language of others, or being undiplomatic in their responses. The article did mention always correcting people even when it is not in one's best interest to do so.

Yeah. The little people can have these problems as well but the super intelligent seem to have the problem in spades.

Don't know why that is but I have always found it curious.
#1 feeblemind on 2016-08-07 16:13 (Reply)
Yes, over 155 people seem to begin to lose social skills.

Unless they learn to fit in, they have life challenges: https://www.quora.com/Are-high-IQ-people-socially-awkward
#1.1 Bird Dog on 2016-08-07 16:21 (Reply)
Scott Adams built the Dilbert strip around this very thing, and is still mining it every day.
#1.2 BillH on 2016-08-08 09:13 (Reply)
Dang! I'm over the line.
#2 Sam L. on 2016-08-07 17:14 (Reply)
"When you know that someone's just said something completely inaccurate, it's hard to stifle the urge to clarify. "

I never cease to be amazed at intelligent people who aren't smart enough to keep quiet, or even come in out of the rain.
#3 Mike Anderson (Link) on 2016-08-07 17:44 (Reply)
uhh, the real research contradicts that academic bastion of knowledge "business insider." in reality, the higher the intelligence, the better - tho a few complain-y outliers insist high IQ is a handicap. please envision a scatterplot with x & y axes: for most folks, the higher the IQ, the better their social skills, the higher their motivation, etc. there's a positive (but not a PERFECT) correlation. that's what research with groups pretty much always says. but some individuals COULD be high IQ, low social skills, etc. thanks!
#4 schweinerei on 2016-08-07 17:57 (Reply)
I think that's pretty much bullhs*

I have a lot of high-iq friends (Masters and PH.Ds in physics, engineering, math and careers that align with being able to use that stuff), and most of them can be perfectly socially adept. You just don't notice those guys as being "high IQ" until YOU get them into a discussion of GPS guided UAVs (a buddy of mine helped build one in the 1990s that used GPS signals for pitch and yaw control), or the now high frequency trading works etc.

It's the high-iq aspies that get all the attention because they're the tall nail, the squeaky wheels.
#5 William O. B'Livion on 2016-08-07 19:03 (Reply)
The linked article looks like a take-off on this eBook:

https://www.amazon.com/Curse-High-IQ-Aaron-Clarey-ebook/dp/B01BG9VV1U/ref=cm_cr-mr-title#navbar

The author would add that those with high IQ also have to deal with envy FROM other people and boredom WITH other people.
#6 Whitehall on 2016-08-08 07:45 (Reply)
I think that most people miss the simple idea that there are high IQ people on the normal scale who can have any and all of the faults and imperfections as well as the charm and personality of more normal or average people. But then there are ultra high IQ people who are NOT 'normal' and these not normal traits flow over into their personality and social skills. Just as numerous tattoos and neck tattoos are tells of mental illness and social issues the ultra high IQ individual's tells are social ticks and personality issues. They go hand and hand. SOME ultra high IQ people can and will recognize this 'disability' and consciously adapt. Most cannot.
#7 SweetPea on 2016-08-08 10:55 (Reply)
The worst part of being smart is that you are surrounded by so many people who are stupid
#8 bgarrett on 2016-08-08 10:59 (Reply)
Yes - lots of stupid people and stupid systems.
Everywhere around are organizations and people that are massively inefficient - but maybe that's not an iq difference - maybe something else.
#8.1 Steve Adams on 2016-08-08 23:32 (Reply)
Oh goody! I get to be a victim too since my IQ is so high.

Poor ol' pitiful me.
#8.2 Whitehall on 2016-08-09 02:12 (Reply)
There may be downsides to be extremely intelligent, but the article got most of this wrong. Let's start there.

As for not knowing enough to shut up and not correct people, why should we stop? I don't pick on unarmed people, but allowing untruth to stand is not good for the tribe. If it is a disadvantage to me personally and people don't like it, so what?

Would you prefer a world where foolishness is never opposed?
#9 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2016-08-11 01:17 (Reply)

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