If you find that you only have a small group of close pals and you feel alienated, you’re not alone. According to studies, highly intellectual people tend to have fewer but closer friendships. Don’t worry if you’re a lone person; it could just mean you’re using your time for introspection rather than overcommitting to a lot of short-term relationships.
Many intelligent people might not identify as introverts, but many do. Spending time alone enables introverts to refuel, and they derive satisfaction from solitary pursuits like reading, meditating, or reflecting on the mysteries of life. Some even accomplish remarkable feats during their alone time, like creating ground-breaking inventions. Aloneness gives smart individuals the clarity and serenity they need to do big things.
A 2016 investigation on the reasons why bright people frequently have fewer friends was published in the British Journal of Psychology. Satoshi Kanazawa and Norman Li conducted research on the effects of contemporary lifestyles on happiness. Their findings show we are still influenced by the social demands of our ancestors. In contrast to the more solitary and congested conditions of modern cities, early people found happiness and security in close-knit communities.
The “savanna theory of happiness,” put forth by Kanazawa and Li, contends that evolutionary factors have an impact on our psychological well-being. The study, which surveyed 15,000 persons in the 18 and 28 age, those who live in densely populated urban regions typically have poorer life satisfaction. It’s interesting to note that, contrary to popular belief, clever people were shown to be less happy the more socialised they were.
The results of the study demonstrated that while frequent social interactions can make many people happier, highly bright people may not necessarily benefit from them. More social interaction with others may actually make them less happy. People who live in small towns or rural areas tend to be happier than people who live in larger cities, according to Kanazawa and Li. This could be the case because, while being less socially active, clever people are frequently happier in settings that support their career and personal objectives.
Intelligent people are not always necessary to have a big social network to be satisfied. Since it helps them concentrate on their bigger objectives and problems, they frequently prefer to be alone. CEOs and other high achievers, for example, might socialise with a large number of people in their working life but have fewer close friendships; they derive greater fulfilment from their work and personal accomplishments than from their social networks.
As a result of our evolutionary past, the majority of people still find enjoyment in close connections. Strong relationships were necessary for survival in the small, close-knit communities where our ancestors lived. We may be having a hard time adjusting to the fast-paced metropolitan environment that is so different from our ancestral origins, which could be the cause of today’s loneliness epidemic.
In short, having close friends is great for many people, but clever people tend to find happiness and fulfilment in spending time alone themselves and concentrating on their work. They handle the intricacies of contemporary living in a distinct way, prioritising the accomplishment of important objectives over the upkeep of a large social network. If you’re happy and have fewer pals, you may be among those who’ve successfully adjusted to the pressures of modern life.
