7 Reasons Why Highly Intelligent People Are Less Happy

7 Reasons Why Highly Intelligent People Are Less Happy

One might think that highly intelligent people have it made. They’re smart, they’re more likely to be successful, and they must be happy. Of course, for the most part, above-average intelligence has all kinds of advantages. It can certainly contribute to success, but it doesn’t automatically mean a better life. As a matter of fact, it is associated with increased life dissatisfaction. In this video, we’re going to explore some of the downsides of being highly intelligent. Here are the main reasons why these individuals tend to be less happy than the average person:

Number 1 - They Have High Standards Highly intelligent people are often perfectionists by nature. They tend to have high standards, and they usually set their goals based on what they think is possible and not necessarily what’s realistic. They’re also more likely to be self-critical because they’re always trying to improve themselves. Any mistake or failure can be devastating for the highly intelligent, especially if it involves something they stake their reputation on. They try to be their best at everything they do and they expect the same from others, including their friends, family members, and colleagues. If those expectations are not met, they easily become frustrated and disappointed.

Number 2 - They Have a Tendency to Overanalyze Everything Highly intelligent people are generally more vigilant in their thinking style meaning, when they are faced with ambiguous situations, they have a more intensive cognitive process. They also tend to experience more stress than others because they think about things more deeply and thoroughly. They analyze situations from multiple angles, so they can identify possible negative outcomes more easily than most people, and this makes them worry about things that others don’t even consider. The biggest problem with this is that they are constantly running through what-if scenarios in their heads, which causes them to overthink and ruminate on things.

Number 3 - They Socialize Less Highly intelligent people are less interested in socializing. They also have fewer close relationships. A likely cause is that they’re typically introverts who prefer solitude over being around others. These folks tend to be more individualistic in their thinking, which makes it harder for them to conform to social norms and make friends with those who don’t share their interests. They’re also more likely to experience social isolation because they don’t want others around them getting too involved in their personal lives.

Number 4 - They Have a Lower Threshold for Boredom Highly intelligent people have a lower threshold for boredom than those who are less intelligent. If something isn’t challenging or stimulating enough, they’ll move on quickly without giving it much thought. Their high intelligence makes them curious about everything around them, so they always want to learn more, do more, and experience new things. The downside is, that this can make them restless and dissatisfied with life because they never feel like they have enough knowledge or experience under their belts.

Number 5 - They Don’t Find It Easy to Settle Down Since highly intelligent people are always searching for new adventures and challenges, it can be hard for them to stay in one place for too long. They tend to have a lot of interests and passions, so they’re also likely to change careers several times throughout their lives. In addition, these individuals often have trouble finding their soul mate because they want someone who can keep up with them and their challenging minds; something most people aren’t able to do. Which is why highly intelligent people often remain single. If they do marry, it’s usually a bit later in life.

Number 6 - They Are Prone to Developing Psychological Issues High intelligence is often viewed as a blessing, but as you can see, it can also be a curse. The same mental abilities that allow a person to excel in school and work, can also lead to problems with attention, self-control, and emotions. In fact, high intelligence is associated with an increased risk of developing psychological disorders. But this isn’t all that surprising since high cognitive abilities often go hand-in-hand with other factors such as perfectionism, and anxiety. For that reason, highly intelligent individuals are more likely to suffer from ADHD, OCD, or Bipolar Disorder.

Number 7 - They Are More Likely to Develop Addictions People with high intelligence are more susceptible to addiction. And while researchers aren’t exactly sure why, they do have a few theories. For one, highly intelligent people are more open-minded in general. Thus, they’re more likely to try new things, including taking drugs or drinking alcohol. Additionally, they’re more likely to enjoy mind-altering substances because their brains process information differently.

And as I touched on it in the previous point, highly intelligent people are more prone to develop depression and anxiety disorders; both of which can trigger substance abuse. The impact the brain can have on a person’s life is immense. There really is no better way of saying it. The mental aspect of our individuality makes up our unique persona, and has a huge influence on everything else we do in our lives. And while intelligence is certainly a boon when it comes to finding success in one’s career, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee happiness in life.

Highly intelligent people are often faced with many challenges. They tend to struggle more than others in their youth and through their adult lives, including in their relationships. If you’re a highly intelligent person, consider this video one way to ensure your best qualities can be used to the fullest extent possible. When you know the challenges you might face in life, you can find ways to overcome them, so that your most valuable skills can shine through.