Why is it that supposedly “intelligent” people are less happy with their lives than a person of average intelligence?
My guess would be that intelligent people understand the things that are wrong in their lives, where a not-so-intelligent guy just plodding along doesn't really know what's wrong. And if you can articulate those problems, the worse you feel. I think it even goes beyond just intelligent/non-intell…
The Short Answer
My guess would be that intelligent people understand the things that are wrong in their lives, where a not-so-intelligent guy just plodding along doesn't really know what's wrong. And if you can articulate those problems, the worse you feel. I think it even goes beyond just intelligent/non-intelligent people. I read a book on the American food system and now buying meat makes me pause; my friend hasn't read this book, and when she goes to buy meat, she doesn't go through the same mental calculations I do. Another friend of mine reads a lot of feminist blogs, but the more she reads, the more frustrated she gets with the whole situation. She's really well-read and very articulate, but she has such a solid grasp of the patriarchy/feminism/etc, that she can't help but see those patterns in everyday life. I can see some of them, but I'm not as well-read and not as frustrated. And so on. Just a guess, though!
Analysis
Key Concepts: Guess, intelligent, people
This explanation focuses on guess, intelligent, people and spans 163 words across 9 sentences. At 140% above the average Psychology explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “My guess would be that intelligent people understand the things that are wrong in their lives, where a not-so-intelligen” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 9 connected points.
How This Compares in Psychology
Ranked #6 of 500 Psychology questions by answer depth (top 2%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why it that supposedly "intelligent" people are less happy with their lives than a person of average intelligence?
My guess would be that intelligent people understand the things that are wrong in their lives, where a not-so-intelligent guy just plodding along doesn't really know what's wrong. And if you can articulate those problems, the worse you feel. I think…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Psychology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 163 words, ranked #6 of 500 Psychology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are guess, intelligent, people.
What approach does this answer take to explain it that supposedly "intelligent" people are less happy with ?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 163 words. It is categorized under Psychology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.