Despite their intelligence, highly intelligent people may struggle socially. They may find it hard to connect with others, especially those who have different interests or perspectives. They may also find small talk or networking events challenging, as they may prefer more in-depth conversations.
Interacting with other people can be more difficult for smart people because these interactions don't follow a specific set of rules; they just happen. This lack of control over social situations can easily trigger anxiety.
Smart people are more likely to be loners.
Because of their interests and views on bigger ideas than the average person cares to think about, they don't seek out social validation because frankly, they don't need it. This means that they don't spend as much time socializing because it's just not as important to them.
Highly intelligent individuals may be raised to be more individualistic than others, therefore would have less social experience. Highly intelligent individuals may be traumatized, envied for their intellectual gifts, during childhood and thus resented by their peers.
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
Intelligent people tend to appear quiet because they are natural observers. They are listening and watching what's going on around them. They tend to analyze the situation, breaking it down into parts like a social puzzle, and ask themselves questions to figure it out.
One explanation behind the struggle of smart people in life is because their self-esteem lies only on their intelligence levels. This makes it difficult for them to work with people who are smarter than them. They aren't good at dealing with failed projects and critical feedback.
They're more self-conscious
One of the disadvantages of higher intelligence can be a higher degree of awareness of oneself and one's behavior in social interactions. Highly intelligent people may be super conscious of themselves while socializing.
Throw social commitments into the mix, and there's limited time to be alone and be still with your thoughts and creative process. It's common for people with genius qualities to seek out isolation at times, due to a social anxiety and an excessive need for “me” time, in order to practice mindfulness..
Unlike their less intelligent counterparts, who may have more opportunities to socialize, intelligent people may prioritize their commitments over leisure activities or social events. This can make it difficult to form and maintain friendships, especially with individuals who do not understand their busy lifestyle.
According to Carol Graham, who studies the economics of happiness, people with more intelligence and the capacity to use it spend less time socializing because they are focused on some other longer-term objective. Intelligent people are less social because they are more focused on their life goals.
You're the silent type
You'll find plenty of misconceptions about quiet people, e.g. being labeled as introverts, socially awkward and so on. This isn't necessarily true, and while not all quiet people are necessarily smart, highly intelligent people will often refrain from speaking if they are accessing a situation.
Intelligence and anxiety may have evolved together as mutually beneficial traits, research finds. This may help to explain why people with a high IQ also tend to have higher levels of anxiety. The benefit may be that intelligence allows people to better imagine what might go wrong.
Highly Intelligent People Often Feel They Don't Fit In
Being highly intelligent means you have a degree of overexcitabilities, especially intellectual overexcitability. Through life experience, you have learned that you must edit yourself and not express your innermost thoughts blatantly.
Those who are the most gifted—the people who rank among the smartest 1 to 2 percent—tend to be both introverted and sensitive. “We have found that highly gifted individuals are more likely to be introverted than mildly gifted people,” she told me.
Another common habit of smart people is that they let their minds wander. Research suggests that daydreaming may actually boost problem-solving skills and creativity. Daydreaming is like subconsciously thinking about the issues without directly focusing on the matter.
Key points
Smart people tend to be liked better than their peers, a new study focusing on adolescents found. Smart people tend to like fewer people than less intelligent people, and have a tendency to only like other intelligent people.
Being intelligent has its advantages but can also bring unique problems that only smart people face. From overthinking every situation to struggling with social anxiety, perfectionism, or loneliness – the list of issues that come along with higher levels of intelligence is long.
Studies have also found that higher IQ is associated with more mental illness, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
While they might have high standards and big picture concerns, research shows that people with high IQs are actually more likely to be happy; data from the research showed that people with the highest IQs were much happier than those with the lowest IQs.
Because they spend their time developing their curiosity, intelligent individuals stand out from the crowd. They geek out, ponder, research, and read. Whether the subject is the most recent catastrophic disaster, proper flossing technique, or how words have evolved, they will take the time to go further.
Intelligence can sometimes lead to people being intimidating. This can make people uncomfortable and make them think of you as an arrogant person, even if you are not. You may also experience that concern, leaving you a little uncomfortable.
Talking to yourself, it turns out, is a sign of genius. The smartest people on earth talk to themselves. Look at the inner monologues of the greatest thinkers. Look at poetry!
Quiet people are more likely to be introverts than extroverts and tend to be more creative and sensitive than the average person. They also tend to be private people who don't like being in large crowds or socializing much at all unless it's necessary for work or school.