There is a discussion about whether the higher an individual's intelligence, the less likely they are to participate in social activities. Questions arise whether happiness is linked to rejecting social commitments or if the very idea of social events causes fatigue, suggesting that such behavior may be a result of high intelligence.
An investigation conducted in 2016, published in the British Journal of Psychology, sought to understand the influence of intelligence, population density, and friendship on contemporary happiness. This research analyzed data from 15 thousand participants, whose ages ranged between 18 and 28 years old.
The researchers identified two main trends. Firstly, it was found that individuals residing in regions with lower population concentration show higher levels of life contentment compared to those living in more densely populated areas. Secondly, it was observed that, generally, people report greater life satisfaction when maintaining social contact with friends more frequently.
However, there was an important caveat to the second trend. The researchers noted an exception: people with higher IQ scores indicated feeling less satisfied with life when dedicating more time to friends.
Carol Graham, a happiness economist who did not participate in the study, commented to The Washington Post at the time that the findings suggest that smarter individuals capable of utilizing this ability have a lower propensity to dedicate much time to socialization, as they are focused on distinct long-term goals.
The Happiness Savannah Theory
In this study, scientists introduce the Happiness Savannah Theory. This theory posits that humans experience satisfaction and happiness in primary circumstances similar to those experienced by their ancestors in the African savannah.
The basis of this theory lies in the premise that the human brain, like any other organ, evolved under ancestral environmental conditions and, consequently, may be adapted to the situations faced by ancestors, and not necessarily to those of the modern world.
This implies that specific psychological mechanisms would have developed to manage routine past activities, such as social interactions, childcare, and other frequent occurrences in ancestral life, moments when individuals felt pleasure. However, over time, general intelligence evolved, allowing humans to solve 'non-recurring adaptive challenges.'
Examples of these challenges include solving mathematical problems, interpreting complex texts, or developing elaborate projects. Although scientists recognize the relevance of these tasks for survival and reproduction, they emphasize that such challenges are relatively recent and nonexistent for ancestors.
The crucial point is that smarter individuals are better equipped to execute these new adaptive challenges, which may result in a lower degree of happiness when performing those more primitive tasks. In simpler terms, smarter people would not need the community in the same way as others, meaning group interaction might not generate the same level of contentment.
Important Considerations
It is essential to clarify that this study does not establish that 'less intelligent people are happier' nor that 'intelligent people do not like socializing'; the text does not state this. On the contrary, scientists make it clear that there is still insufficient proof to establish a causal link between being intelligent and not wanting to socialize; there is only a statistical association. Therefore, more studies and tests are needed to deepen the understanding of the topic.
Another study, conducted in 2024, investigated this relationship, following 403 adolescents with an average age of 12.4 years and classified among the top 10% in cognitive ability. This new study adopted a qualitative approach, seeking to understand why more intelligent individuals might exhibit greater isolation.
This investigation revealed a wide range of factors that can influence the social interactions of an intelligent person, indicating that many variables are at play to consider. Studies on the subject are still far from conclusive, given the multitude of elements that can affect something as abstract as happiness.