Introversion can be linked to high intelligence. Several studies have shown this in the past and a new study, published in the journal .
Here’s a perfect excuse to decline an invitation next time! And if you are told that you are antisocial, take it as a compliment! Indeed, the character trait “antisocial”, can be linked to a high intelligence. Several past studies have shown this, and new research published in the “British Journal of Psychology” confirms it: the most intelligent people are not particularly sociable, but they report higher levels of happiness.
Evolutionary psychologists Satoshi Kanazawa and Norman Li even believe that this correlation goes back to prehistoric communities of human beings. In this new study, scientists assessed the population density in an area as well as the frequency of social contact. They found that while socialization is generally linked to higher levels of happiness, this is not the case for people with higher intelligence: the latter report being happy while being less sociable.
But how is this observation linked to our distant ancestors? In the distant past, happiness was linked to survival, for which it was essential to live in groups. However, smarter people had better survival tools, both then and now. Therefore, they did not need the company of many partners for hunting, for example, to survive and find meaning in their lives.
So, if you prefer the company of a good book or movie to that of a large group of friends on a night out, it could be a sign of high intelligence. So don’t hesitate to savor these moments alone!