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Why aren't smart people happier?

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Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#41

Post by bodge5000 »

I'm not sure theres such a thing as smart people to begin with. Plenty of people know their own domain very well, but it seems only a few domains are arbitrarily chosen as intelligent ones. Seeing as we're still struggling to define what intelligence even is, I don't see how we can start labelling people as intelligent or not.

At that point, the question is just "why aren't people happier". I doubt theres any one answer, but a lot of the responses in this thread seem to point to some of the possible reasons.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#42

Post by mantas »

voganmother42 wrote: post #14
mantas wrote: post #4

Ignorance is a bliss. We as society shouldn't focus so much on being „happy“. Happiness by itself is not worthwhile. What are you going to tell on your deathbed and how will your relatives remember you? Oh, he never did anything, but he seemed happy all the time!

Hmm, living life for its own simple satisfaction seems like a worthwhile option and no small legacy. Being happy and lifting up the spirits of those around you is no small contribution - and is certainly not exclusive with “doing something”. I wonder about optimizing your life around your deathbed, obituary, or your contribution to society…if it makes you happy I guess;)

Given how complicated life is, „living life for it's own simple satisfaction“ frequently involves freeriding on people around you.

Being happy, possible with substances involved, is not exactly inspiring to people around. And, usually, people try to keep away other people from such... inspiration.

Of course, you can be „simply happy“ and a productive member of a community. But usually happiness comes as a byproduct then. And there're lots of other emotions aside from „being happy“.

Maybe it's worth to optimise around reducing misery around or being a net-positive on society where the life satisfaction will eventually come. But happiness may be out of reach due to stuff you can't unknow.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#43

Post by WithinReason »

hestefisk wrote: post #25
hestefisk wrote: post #16

I think the answer is that intelligent people tend to suffer from depression more than “simpler” people. Insecure over-achievers, “introverts”, and the like.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016028961...

Criticism of that article in the comments: https://pubpeer.com/publications/2F26A22D54A2032B460B3037AF2...

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#44

Post by dusted »

robviren wrote: post #33

I've never much enjoyed "intelligence" as a way to box groups of people. Everybody knows something I don't, can do things I cannot, solves problems in ways I would not think to. I would not call a math professor who does not know how to fix a car dumb. For me, the line between a lack of skill and a supposed lack of intelligence is too blurry. Of course all of this may be some sort of cognitive dissonance about myself…

You can be really intelligent without knowing much, and you can know tremendous amounts without being intelligent, at least up to a point.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#45

Post by saiya-jin »

mantas wrote: post #4

Ignorance is a bliss. We as society shouldn't focus so much on being „happy“. Happiness by itself is not worthwhile. What are you going to tell on your deathbed and how will your relatives remember you? Oh, he never did anything, but he seemed happy all the time!

Those who achieve a lot professionally/outwardly are more often than not lacking seriously in some personal aspect. Most often messed up childhood with wrong/missing father figure, unhealthy competitive. I am sure everybody knows them - never staying at one place too long, never happy with anything they have/achieve, always chasing next challenge... no, thank you. Life ending in regrets later on is practically guaranteed.

Long term happiness is an art these days, being too smart is definitely not a prerequisite (more like the opposite of it). Also, I think we lack proper definition for it so people take it as some sort of nirvana levitating a meter above the ground type.

For me personally, living life that I will judge positively and without regrets on the proverbial death bed is form of long term happiness.

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#46

Post by necovek »

Everyone seems to have missed one subtlety: the article only states (with references) that smart people are not happier.

At no point does it say that smart people are less happy (it does mention two studies where in one "lowest scoring" were a tiny bit unhappier, and in another "highest scoring" were happier): the overall tone is that they are equally happy regardless of their intelligence.

And then it wonders why the familiar trait of intelligence does not translate to those people setting their lives up for happiness?

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#48

Post by dusted »

alberth wrote: post #39

Shouldn’t the real question be “why aren’t more people happy”. Lack of happiness isn’t relegated only to “smart people”. My observation: managing stress related to ever growing amount of responsibilities (as comes with age), finances, and spouse can have a disproportionate impact on one’s happiness. None of which are tied to intelligence.

I don't think our society has any focus on happiness, it's not easily measured or produced and there's little proof that it'd benefit the economy..

I mean.. What if people suddenly discovered that enough food and shelter is available, that they could do maybe a days work a month and just walk around to smell the flowers the rest of the time?

Re: Why aren't smart people happier?

#49

Post by jraph »

willcipriano wrote: post #9

Being smart isn't enough, you have to be wise. Intelligence can help you climb to the highest positions in business and academia, wisdom allows you to understand that it isn't really worth it.

> wisdom allows you to understand that it isn't really worth it

Ah, what a relief. Phew!

(I'll choose to believe you, short of understanding this, but this is probably enough to be happy)

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