6 Disadvantages of Being a Highly Intelligent Person
The unexpected downsides of being smart — and how to deal with them
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Almost 70% of the global population has an average IQ between 85 and 115. An IQ of 130 or more is considered high intelligence and only 2.2% of people reach these levels.
The average IQ in the United States is 98.
If you find yourself in the 2.2% group, or anywhere above 115, your life is full of benefits. Smart people solve problems better, are adaptable, and learn faster.
Besides this, highly intelligent people are more likely to succeed at work, avoid getting into trouble or committing crimes, and use critical thinking to deal with everyday problems.
However, high intelligence comes with many downfalls as well. Smart people even tend to be more miserable than folks with an average IQ.
The quote from Bertrand Russell explains one of the cons of high IQ,
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”
That’s not everything, though. The following points show 6 other problems highly intelligent people might struggle with every day.
You prefer to be on your own
Scientist Carol Graham mentions that “those with more intelligence and the capacity to use it, are less likely to spend so much time socializing because they are focused on some other longer-term objective.”
It’s simple. When you’re smart enough to set your goals and maintain productivity, it’s hard to interrupt this flow only because your colleagues throw a party on Friday night.
You protect your time and plan your days wisely. Attending a party might break your routine and make it hard to get things done.
Having fun with friends and collecting new memories sounds great. Smart people, however, prefer to spend their time building things that bring them perks in the future.
They postpone instant gratification in exchange for achieving meaningful goals.
