It is said that intelligent people are less social, and interestingly enough, their overall satisfaction seems to be unaffected by their more secluded way of life.
Do you consider yourself a bit of a loner? Are you content with your way of living? Do you feel that the idea of needing lots of people around holds little truth for you? Do you prefer the tranquility of nature over the bustling noise of the city? Would you rather enjoy a cozy evening with your loved one or dive into a good book than attend a loud party? Do your parents worry that you might not have enough friends?
If this resonates with you, there’s no need to worry.
It’s well-known that intelligent people often experience more anxiety and are more likely to have social anxiety because they are more perceptive than the average person.
Interestingly, according to a study published in the British Journal of Psychology, highly intelligent individuals actually prefer their own company, and there’s a fascinating reason behind this.
The study pointed out that evolutionary psychologists have found a connection between frequent social interaction and reduced life satisfaction in generally more intelligent people.
They surveyed adults between 18 and 28 years old and discovered that those living in densely populated areas reported lower happiness levels. The same was true for individuals who socialized frequently with friends.
The study suggests the idea of the “Savannah theory” to explain modern happiness — implying that what fundamentally makes us happy now is similar to what made us happy at the dawn of civilization.
The concept is that smarter individuals are better equipped to manage the challenges of modern life. They are more likely to “leave the group” to pursue their own, more fulfilling lives.
Simply put: Intelligent people prefer to socialize less because they don’t need the feeling of tribal belonging to find meaning in their lives.
They are the ones who, when choosing between belonging and forging their own path, tend to go their own way.
The theory suggests that our hunter-gatherer ancestors thrived in small population groups of around 150 people. Social interaction was critical for survival. An intelligent person back then would have followed their instincts best — today, a superior human is adept at creating their own future rather than just following the group.
This concept is supported by findings that self-reported happiness tends to be greater in smaller towns compared to bigger cities, known as the “urban-rural happiness gradient.”
This could be due to various factors, but it’s likely because people tend to thrive in smaller circles and with more intimate, genuine connections. In a small town, there’s a sense of community and belonging.
In such communities, you greet the same people when you go out, as opposed to feeling lost among the masses in a big city. In smaller towns, the focus is on who you are and how you connect with others, rather than what you achieve or how you appear.
While intelligent people often favor their own pursuits, the key takeaway is this: smart individuals (and happy ones!) thrive on a few close, genuine relationships.
