Intelligence: Unhappiness?
The rates of suicide, imprisonment and emotional problems is much higher among persons of high intelligence among which are included within the average. Many social, occupational and emotionally complete disaster. Read on to learn why.
"Smart People, while happy, is the rarest thing I've seen." - Ernest Hemingway, writer and Nobel laureate (1899-1961)
"Smart People, while happy, is the rarest thing I've seen." - Ernest Hemingway, writer and Nobel laureate (1899-1961)
Hemingway, who took the life in 1961, knew of two things: intelligence ... and unhappiness. Despite surviving two world wars and the Great Depression, despite having had 4 wives and a countless number of failed love affairs, or all or the large brain that helped him discover how to be happy.
Western society is not ready to host (and nurturing) to children and intelligent adults, just as it does on athletes or sports figures (especially in the most prominent). While some exceptionally brilliant figures like Albert Einstein, if recognized, the fact remains that we have a lot of extremely intelligent people working in occupations that are considered among the worst, and many more in his personal life is a complete mess as could be corroborated by looking at the list of members of Mensa (the club of the most intelligent of the planet).
Education systems in countries whose main interest is the accumulation of wealth, promote the image of movie heroes, war and sport, but not intellectual development. The super intelligent people have the knowledge, but few reach the highest level of social and professional.
Consider the causes.
Our children are educated through four pillars: intellectual, physical, emotional (psychological) and social. In the classroom (and in the street with friends), the smarter kids tend to be excluded by other children in many activities: they simply do not have them. They are "rare", "geeks" social misfits. Put another way: you can not develop socially as well as do intellectual or even physically, because they have no chance.
Emotional development also lags behind that of a "normal person" by not standing up in your life with a series of situations and experiences with you if you often run into other people (dealing with friends, the first relationships, discussions, problems, joys, etc ...)
Our children are educated through four pillars: intellectual, physical, emotional (psychological) and social. In the classroom (and in the street with friends), the smarter kids tend to be excluded by other children in many activities: they simply do not have them. They are "rare", "geeks" social misfits. Put another way: you can not develop socially as well as do intellectual or even physically, because they have no chance.
Emotional development also lags behind that of a "normal person" by not standing up in your life with a series of situations and experiences with you if you often run into other people (dealing with friends, the first relationships, discussions, problems, joys, etc ...)
As if this was also little adults (their parents and teachers) tend to believe that intelligent kids can deal with anything or problem because they are intellectually superior. This includes, inevitably, situations where the intelligent kids have neither knowledge nor skills on which to build. They have no time to spend alone difficult. Adults do not understand that they need help, and the other kids do not want to join them, because the "social leaders" (the "popular") and marked with the label "avoid".
As a result we have a good number of people of great intelligence, but whose social development has progressed much slower than that of other people, and thus have serious problems trying to deal with some stressful life situations on the the rest if they know better cope. It should not, therefore, surprising that the vast majority of prison inmates are socially and emotionally underdeveloped or "illiterate" and also a large percentage of them are intellectually above normal.
As a result we have a good number of people of great intelligence, but whose social development has progressed much slower than that of other people, and thus have serious problems trying to deal with some stressful life situations on the the rest if they know better cope. It should not, therefore, surprising that the vast majority of prison inmates are socially and emotionally underdeveloped or "illiterate" and also a large percentage of them are intellectually above normal.
Western society is the ideal seed to engender social misfits and people with emotional problems. And in regard to happiness, be they who have the harder to reach it.
This may change in the XXI century, as the "geeks" are gaining recognition as a people of great potential, and being role models for society (especially after many of those who make great fortunes today are engaged precisely the world of high technology) [note Javi Moya to be told the two that sold feorros Youtube. Go to 'link' now-fine-speak anything not made in years]. The Geeks, therefore, may end up being more socially accepted now than in the past but will not help unless they received more help with their social and emotional development, without which most will be destined to be unhappy until not achieve the same maturity as other adults.
This may change in the XXI century, as the "geeks" are gaining recognition as a people of great potential, and being role models for society (especially after many of those who make great fortunes today are engaged precisely the world of high technology) [note Javi Moya to be told the two that sold feorros Youtube. Go to 'link' now-fine-speak anything not made in years]. The Geeks, therefore, may end up being more socially accepted now than in the past but will not help unless they received more help with their social and emotional development, without which most will be destined to be unhappy until not achieve the same maturity as other adults.
With all this, people of high intelligence, be they children or adults, they still remain socially excluded in many situations ... are still prejudged, even in such skills as being good partners, couples, lovers and parents.
And finally another problem for the happiness that intelligent people have is that they tend to perceive and reflect more intensely on the tragedies and sorrows of the world in which they live. They are more aware of the evils that surround them, injustice, tragedy of human beings, and their own miseries and shortcomings.
Author:Bill Allin ['Turning It Around: Causes and Cures for Today's Epidemic Social problems']
And finally another problem for the happiness that intelligent people have is that they tend to perceive and reflect more intensely on the tragedies and sorrows of the world in which they live. They are more aware of the evils that surround them, injustice, tragedy of human beings, and their own miseries and shortcomings.
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