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Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

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Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#32

Post by inglor_cz »

darth_avocado wrote: post #23

Im not smart (maybe average), but a lot of my unhappiness starts from just having access to information. And then more I process the information, the more unhappy I become. Smarter people than me probably have more information and are able to process it faster, uncovering effects that are not readily perceived by normal folks like myself.

While my intelligence is ~ constant, my levels of happiness fluctuated during my life and now, at 48, I am maybe twice as happy as I was at 24. There is definitely an upward trend with me...

During the same period, I also absorbed a lot of information, including some ghastly one. And yet my overall feeling of well-being improved.

IDK what happened, I can at best describe it as if "someone slowly changed the lens I am using to view the world for a less cloudy one".

Maybe some sort of hormonal development. It seems to be outside my will, though. Just happened.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#33

Post by inglor_cz »

slowhadoken wrote: post #24

Because we’re social animals and 84% of the population can’t do calculus or understand any meaningful statistics. It makes honest discussion and cooperation with the average person nearly impossible.

My secretary is absolutely clueless about maths and yet every interaction with her improves my mood, she is a lovely motherly 50something person who cheers you up every day.

Her being my colleague definitely makes me happier.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#34

Post by cmiles8 »

I think it’s a combination of:

1. “Smart” people tend to constantly see patterns others are missing. So they’re fretting about problems others are blissfully unaware about. Sometimes these “problems” matter and somethings they don’t.

2. Contrary to popular belief, the smartest people in the room typically despise being the smartest person in the room. They typically are starving for someone to challenge them, to debate them, for them to learn something from others. That lack of stimulation is typically depressing to a “smart” person.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier? (2022)

#38

Post by porkpieshoe »

amatecha wrote: post #28

When people talk about being happy (or not), I always wonder -- why does it matter? I don't expect to be happy, and I don't strive towards it. I DO strive towards making my life better in terms of engaging in enriching and rewarding experiences, spending time around people I care about, perhaps trying to ensure future stability to the degree I can, and generally growing as a person. Never do I consider the pursuit of…

I think your objection may be to a narrower definition of happiness than what was used in the article. The article's measure is a global life evaluation that would be the product of the activities that you "DO strive towards".
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