Intelligence is often seen as a desirable trait, and stupidity is something to be avoided or even mocked. While being super smart certainly has its benefits, like academic success, self-reliance, career progression, and problem-solving abilities, it also comes with a unique set of challenges. Here are 19 clear disadvantages of being very intelligent.
Loneliness
Brilliant people may find it challenging to connect with average people who don’t share their enormous intellect, leading to social isolation. They may feel disappointed when they cannot share their complex thoughts or ideas and be understood, and there is a significant correlation between intellectual ‘giftedness’ and social anxiety, particularly in high school settings.
Perfectionism
The drive to excel and a personally high bar for achievement can result in perfectionism. While taking pride in your work and being neat is beneficial, excessive perfectionism can be paralyzing and prevent risk-taking and progress for fear of failure. A study published by ResearchGate found that having exceptionally high standards was negatively correlated with life satisfaction.
Overthinking
The ability to analyze information deeply can be a double-edged sword. Intelligent people often overthink situations, dwell on potential negative outcomes, and struggle to make decisions. This can lead to indecisiveness, over-thinking, and anxiety about past and future events. It may make it difficult for intelligent people to enjoy what they have and live in the moment.
Hate Small Talk
While smart people are adept at engaging in deep, meaningful conversations, mundane small talk or discussions lacking intellectual stimulation can feel tedious and unfulfilling. This can make small talk and other polite requirements of social etiquette feel like a chore and limit their success in social situations, potentially exacerbating social exclusion and loneliness.
Sensitivity to Criticism
Smart people can be guilty of ‘taking life too seriously’ and failing to ‘lighten up’ because of their capacity for deep thought and a tendency to overthink things, making them poor at accepting criticism. Constructive feedback may be misinterpreted as a personal attack, leading to offense or defensiveness, even when the comment was well-meaning or feedback was actively requested.
High Emotional Intensity
The Davidson Institute remarks, “Just as gifted children’s thinking is more complex and has more depth than other children’s, so too are their emotions.” Although this can manifest as passion and empathy, it can also make it difficult for high-functioning people to manage strong emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness. They may overreact or experience excess mental suffering.
Greater Awareness of Problems
It’s easy to pretend that everything is okay and ignore the world’s problems, but intelligence often brings heightened awareness, making things like political hypocrisy, social injustices, and existential threats hard to ignore or accept. This awareness can be overwhelming and lead to feelings of constant helplessness, unnecessary anxiety, or lingering despair.
Being Misunderstood
Very intelligent people may find themselves misunderstood by those with lower cognitive abilities. Complex ideas or a dry (or dark) sense of humor might not be appreciated by everyone, leading to feelings of alienation and social exclusion. Many studies have found that gifted individuals frequently feel ‘different’ and struggle to find like-minded peers.
Pressure to Succeed
If you’re constantly told that you’re meant for greatness and especially ‘gifted,’ you may feel immense pressure to succeed and live up to expectations—both your own and those of family members, friends, and teachers. This pressure can be stressful and lead to feelings of inadequacy or disappointment if lofty aspirations and specific benchmarks of success aren’t achieved.
Mental Health Issues
There’s a strong correlation between high intelligence and certain mental health conditions. A study published in the NIH reports that smart people are more neurotic and, therefore, more susceptible to major depressive disorder. The reasons behind this are complex but involve perfectionism, overthinking, and a tendency to negatively contemplate existential worries, like the meaning of life.
Burnout
The constant mental strain of complex thinking, striving for excellence, and having ambitious goals can lead to burnout. This causes mental and physical exhaustion, cynicism, and a lower sense of accomplishment, even if an individual maintains their performance. Studies show that professions requiring high intelligence (e.g., doctors and lawyers) have higher rates of burnout.
Imposter Syndrome
Despite being clever and capable and achieving a high standard, brilliant people may struggle with imposter syndrome. They doubt their own impressive abilities and fear they’ll be exposed as frauds. This syndrome results from overthinking and consistently high (sometimes unrealistic) expectations and can seriously hinder professional and personal growth.
Difficulty Finding Love
Finding a compatible romantic partner can be challenging for people with higher-than-average cognitive abilities. Their desire for intellectual stimulation and deep conversation can be near-impossible to fulfill, significantly limiting the dating pool. This effect is especially potent for clever women, who often complain that finding an intellectual equal in their social circle is difficult.
Hypersensitivity
Intelligent people are more sensitive to their environment, including bright lights, loud sounds, and other stimuli that others may not notice. Psychology Today agrees that sensitivity is a common trait among those with high IQs. Due to sensory overload, they can easily become overwhelmed in busy, intense environments, potentially resulting in social anxiety and avoidance of such spaces.
Boredom
Imagine only being able to access toys and games made for babies and children—that can be what it feels like for super-smart individuals! The feeling that nothing on Earth is genuinely stimulating or challenging enough can lead to a lack of motivation and purpose, otherwise known as ‘existential boredom.’ Society and life in general can simply feel too basic and ‘beneath’ them.
Inaction
The ability to see issues from multiple perspectives can make it difficult to hold strong moral convictions either way. The complexities of some ethical considerations can lead to feelings of ambiguity and a lack of action. Studies show that individuals high in cognitive reflection (overthinking moral dilemmas) tended to make fewer choices that led to positive change.
Susceptibility to Addiction
While the reasons are not fully understood, research suggests a strong link between high intelligence and addictive behaviors. This may be due to their susceptibility to mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, leading to unhealthy and destructive coping mechanisms. Big thinkers may wish to ‘dull’ their thoughts for a brief respite from all that overthinking.
Hopelessness
Bright individuals typically have more than a healthy dose of cynicism because they see the world and all its ills clearly and never sugarcoat problems or ignore the negative aspects of life. This can lead to excessive feelings of hopelessness. Although they see what’s wrong with the world around them, they also know that such things are difficult or impossible to change.
Greater Awareness of Mortality
While everyone is mortal, intelligent people tend to have a heightened awareness of their own finite lifespan and are less able to ‘forget’ about dying and simply enjoy life to the full. Contemplating death and the impermanence of life can be a source of anxiety and existential dread for such overthinkers and can even lead to excessive stress and fear.
Up Next: 17 Places in the U.S. Where Even Truck Drivers Won’t Stop
Truck drivers tend to be hardy souls—well-seasoned travelers who aren’t often afraid to rest up or refuel in risky locations. However, there are certain U.S. locations that even the most road-weary trucker refuses to stop at for fear of criminal activity or natural dangers. Here are 17 such locations that even experienced truck drivers approach with trepidation (or not at all).
17 PLACES IN THE U.S. WHERE EVEN TRUCK DRIVERS WON’T STOP
17 Things Guests Actually Notice Right Away About Your House
Inviting people into your home is a big deal. You may be very house-proud or house-conscious, and if you are either, you’ll likely get anxious about hosting. If this sounds like you, stop worrying and focus on the following 17 things that guests actually notice right away about your house.
17 THINGS GUESTS ACTUALLY NOTICE RIGHT AWAY ABOUT YOUR HOUSE
The 17 Unhappiest States in America
The US has hit an all-time low position in the World Happiness Index, tumbling to 23rd in 2024. However, it’s important to remember that location is an important factor; many US states are very happy, unlike the following 17 US states that appear to be the most unhappy.