The Downfall of Highly Intelligent People (and how to avoid it)
Modern society idealizes intelligence. The idea of being a genius is more popular now than at any time in history, largely because the connection between intelligence and success. The smarter you are, the faster you can think and learn and the more you can produce. Our dependence on technology makes it seem as though the world is more or less created by an elite group of engineers whose massive IQs continue to invent all of the cool gadgets of our era.
In short, the smarter you are, the easier it is for you to succeed, right?
A closer look at this assumption shows that intelligence is a mixed bag. On one hand, it is true that having a higher IQ does help an individual in a number of cognitively demanding tasks. However, IQ is not necessarily linked to ability to manage stress, emotional intelligence or social savvy.
The study of gifted children show that many kids who are highly intelligent struggle to adapt to “normal” life. Kids who are smart beyond their years are bored in class, are able to succeed with little effort and are otherwise not engaged in education. By the time they are in college or graduate school and actually have to try in order to succeed, they have not yet learned the valuable skills necessary to study and practice…
