To wonder if clever people are less likely to be happy....

[Comedycook]

Maybe clever is the wrong word? Perhaps analytical is a better word. I'm just musing. I think the more you think about life, the more crap it seems. I'm not actively unhappy but I wouldn't say I'm a hugely happy person. I think way too much. So for example, at a party or event, I find it hard to let loose. I can't switch off my analytical musings on what's going on around me and as a consequence, I don't have a huge amount of fun.

Maybe this isn't intelligence as such but over thinking/analysing

Anyone else like this?

DH is very clever and analytical, I’d say he’s pretty content. Grumpy but content. It’s probably a personality thing. I imagine extremely clever people also spend some time in their day thinking about what they are having for dinner or have a sneaky peak at the parking threads. I assume they aren’t walking around having BIG thoughts all the time. You would probably end up clinically depressed.

Yes I agree. There was a post pre-Xmas where the poster said she was so happy and content because she had the washing on, or some sort of mundane chore. It was so depressing.

Yes, I clearly do disagree with you on what clever is. I don’t believe you can become a billionaire without a gross lack of emotional intelligence. At some point along the way, every billionaire has exploited other people (usually staff or customers or both).
The real innovators and renowned scientists I’ve known are smart enough to know when they have enough money and to understand the value of their own time and prioritise their values and principles over the acquisition of wealth and power.

@Spaghetti201 She sounds more emotionally intelligent than you.

I agree. And I also agree with “ignorance is bliss”, which certainly applied to me when I was young and stupid. 😁

Based on decades of observation, I believe societal “norms”, and pressure to abide by those norms, really only happen because the majority want to “fit in”. And so they, often mindlessly and without question, go along with what “is expected” because everyone else is doing it.

Many people who are more clever/intellectual/question everything don’t care so much about fitting in and are happy to do their own thing, without regard to the often detrimental “normal” behavior. But the knowledge that one is “different”, and does not fit in with the majority, can make for less happiness.

This is funny 😆

Great post by @Jimboscott0115 , I agree that overthinking isn't a sign of intelligence, and possibly the opposite if anything.

The intelligent people I know are almost all happy and relaxed, and very pragmatic.

I actually read that introverts are less likely to be happy than extroverts, but that in general they aren't seeking happiness. They are seeking fulfillment. I'd say that's true in a lot of people I've seen.

I'm clever, introverted and can over-analyse stuff but I'd consider myself both happy and fulfilled. I still don't like parties though and minimise my use of social media and news reading.

(fulfillment as in purpose)

I'm pretty sure this is well known

I disagree. The blissfully dim vs gloomy intellectual thing is just a stereotype. I'm prettt academic and analyse and think about things quite a lot. I'm interested in philosophy etc. But I'm also pretty pragmatic and not very emotional, and things don't really tend to get me down. I think life is pretty good. But that's because my life is pretty good.

Look up 5 personality traits. Unhappiness/ depression/ anxiety is linked to trait neuroticism, not intelligence.

I'm not mad on parties or hen do's etc, but that's because I'm an introvert more than anything else. I like parties with people I know, but a pub full of strangers getting progressively louder and more drunk...nah.

I have a PhD, passed the MENSA test, and I'm a Christian, (and I can overthing things at times) but I'd say I'm pretty content with life - and I think contentment is the thing to aim for rather than happiness, which is an emotion just like anger, fear, sadness, and isn't permanent. Contentment, however, is more 'solid' and lasting.... and one can be content in the face of a bad day or crap at work, or so on. Sometimes life is shit, but in the grander scheme of things, overall, I'm content.

Ah pragmatism, I missed that! But yes I agree on this. The best piece of advice I ever got given for work (but applies to life too) is that whatever goes wrong, whether in your control or not, is ultimately a list of tasks you need to complete to resolve it. That was from one of the most intelligent people I've met and has proven safe advice on dozens of occasions.

I'm not sure the correct question is being asked. I am deeply analytical, accused of being an over-thinker, but it's my choice to spend time thinking, analysing. It's my thought processes and how I deal with things and I enjoy it.

What I don't do is do it outside of my downtime at home. I'm an Ambivert, love being at home alone, but also incredibly sociable and an absolute party animal. I would never do it at a party, and find it easy to relax and let go. Your sounds much more highly strung and anxiety ridden. Have you ever had counselling? Might it help?

That might be true to be fair @Citylab I actually did a personality test and scored 96% for neuroticism (but also 93% for conscientiousness). So I might not be intelligent and rather just very weird!

@girlmom21

Eh? I disagree.
MN'ers not clever? I've been here nearly 20 years and I often find some / many MN'ers the most witty clever women ever.

I'm very clever, and miserable as sin.

@Alfiexx1

"The low levels of intellect often shown here is shocking."

Depends. Some are thick as shit.

Some are so clever. Depends with Reggie reading. Have you ever read a really complicated interesting discussion about a very sensitive topic? Have you ever seen the Maya Forstater threads where every single aspect of her legal case was discussed. Very clever posters.

What constitutes ”over thinking”? I honestly love nothing more than thinking about things that fascinate me - philosophy, the fate of the universe, the nature of consciousness. All these things add to my sense of happiness/well-being.

As do not following the news and hardly using SM. My head is firmly in the sand when it comes to current affairs and the insta-lives of my peers.

So maybe it’s about the right kind of thinking and not the amount? 😝

I think introspective people and left wing people particularly those in to activism are more dissatisfied and glass half empty

@2Rebecca I disagree. People involved in activism are rarely that introspective, they are too busy.

I'm both introspective and have been a member of the Labour Party both nationally and at ward level, have served on committees, and I am both satisfied and glass-half-full if you want to put it that way. Sometimes my cup runneth over!

I meant 'have been a member since I was 18'.

If I'm being honest, I'll have to say that I'm a true neurotic introvert at times, prone to severe worry, analysis and ruminating of the highest level.

It's never done me any good and I'm sure it is probably linked to my intelligence... one of my friends from school once described me as "one of the most intelligent people" she knew, although that was entirely ironic as she is far more intelligent than I am. She went to a very academic university and I think my overthinking most likely gives a good impression of what my intelligence is (or what it isn't 😅), and I recall various occasions where I've been called intelligent by different neurologists etc after a short appointment, probably because it was owing to my vast knowledge of medical information gleaned from my OCD research online...

Yes, I'm a worrier, glass half empty, overthinking and a slightly neurotic person... I am trapped in my mind at times and would love the freedom of being able to relax, and not overthink everything. My DD is incredibly intelligent,much more than me and my DH and she seems pretty happy with life. I should take a leaf out of her book and then I might be happier...but I think our life experience and the way we view our world affects our happiness as we get older too somehow.