We all know a few people who excel in cognitive abilities and intelligence. Smart individuals often begin displaying their intellectual capabilities early in life, showing tremendous potential to shape and improve the world for everyone. However, being highly intelligent can come with certain drawbacks. Intelligence does not always correlate perfectly with general health, social success, or financial stability. In fact, many knowledgeable individuals face various challenges, including physical ailments and psychological issues like stress, anxiety, and socialization difficulties.
1. Smart people have a higher likelihood of developing mental health issues.
A 2018 article titled High Intelligence: A Risk Factor for Physical and Psychological Overexcitabilities summarizes research where participants self-reported both diagnosed and suspected mental health disturbances, such as mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study revealed a notably high relative risk for these conditions among the Mensa group (2015 data), compared to the national average, indicating that people with high IQs are more susceptible to developing affective disorders, ADHD, and ASD.
2. Intelligent people tend to overanalyze.
Highly intelligent individuals often engage in excessive self-analysis and scrutiny of the world around them. Psychologists have theorized that this is due to the “hyper-brain/hyper-body” theory, proposed by Karpinski and colleagues, which suggests that smart people respond to stimuli with heightened excitability. This can cause them to dwell on others’ words, seeking hidden meanings and motivations beyond what most people would consider.
3. They are exhaustingly perfectionistic.
Continue reading on the next page
Sharing is caring!
