Before, acting dumb was cool. Things have changed today. Being smart is the new sexy. High IQ is a sought-after and highly valued quality a person can ever have.
From acquiring an in-depth insight into the world to showcasing talents in pub quizzes, there are multiple advantages of being mentally advanced.
But having a high IQ can have some downsides as well.
In this article, we will dig into the advantages and disadvantages of having a high IQ. Keep reading for more information!
Advantages of Being a Genius
Brain Fitness and Performance
Athletic performance is the result of intensive and targeted training. The brain is no exception.
Similar to other muscles in the body, the brain is a physical organ. For this reason, it can be trained to be more efficient and fitter.
A high IQ is not just a person’s ability to solve problems, as there are other cognitive benefits. You can be more focused and attentive. Your learning capacity would be wider than ever. You could easily recall new words, historical events, and other pieces of information.
A lot of people believe that IQ is fixed. But that is not how it works. Neuroscientists believe that adults can change their IQ. Since our brain composes of muscles, we can take its fitness and performance to a different level with mental exercises. Playing chess is useful.
A study in Venezuela, participated by children, indicated an improvement in IQ among participants after taking chess classes for 14 weeks.
Another research conducted by Flinders University in Australia jumped to the same conclusion.
The participants who played chess show a bit of improvement with their IQ levels.
Aside from playing chess, experts encourage everyone to learn a new language as it makes the brain grow. Since we navigate another set of complex rules, it leads to cortical thickening, according to neuroscience.
In other words, you challenge the brain’s language centers to expand. Over time, you can perform other language tasks, from problem-solving to negotiating.
It Serves as Cognitive Capital In Our Knowledge Economy
We live in a cognitive economy where a high IQ is a prerequisite, according to Jerry Muller’s article entitled Capitalism and Inequality.
The ability to apply a complex pattern can play a crucial role in our knowledge-based economy.
In this type of work setting, skilled professionals with a high IQ can solve new problems with confidence, expand their knowledge, adapt to different work settings, and be competitive despite the new trends.
It Counters Cognitive Aging
As we get old, we change physically—our skin sags. We get wrinkled. Our brain is the same thing.
As we turn to 40s and beyond, our cognitive performance declines, more specifically, our reasoning ability, problem solving skills, and spatial ability are affected.
Also, our memory becomes short-term. This means we begin to forget information, including dates, names, events, things, and more. Plus, we can only recall details in the short-term run.
Common symptoms of cognitive decline include less efficient learning, distractibility, forgetfulness, and less flexibility in problem solving.
Exercise is the most popular solution to slow down cognitive decline. Some studies indicate that engaging in a regular exercise can improve cognitive function in patients who suffer from memory problems.
Exercise may also be advantageous for individuals who carry the APOE4 gene variant.
Aside from a workout routine, active mental engagement, including crossword puzzles, writing, card games, reading, playing music, and group discussions, can help fight against fast cognitive decline.
It Overcomes Attention Disorders
Whether you notice some signs of inattention, disorganization, forgetfulness, procrastination, or distractibility, it’s a sign you are suffering from attention disorders. With memory capacity training, both the attentional and executive control mechanisms are strengthened.
As IQ increases, one can be easily attentive and focused. You can perform different tasks, detach attention from something irrelevant, manage any distractions, and reduce the symptoms of attention disorders.
Pick up New Concepts Faster
For an average person, learning a new concept is a long process. But for an individual who has a high IQ, it would be easy to pick up on something different and unique. The retention and recall are long-term as well. You could apply your learning in real-life situations, and you could think immediately. You could create something incredible within a minute or two.
A High Paying Job
Most high paying jobs require a high level of intelligence, expertise, and experience. Common examples include surgeons, college professors, electrical engineers, lawyers, scientists, material & design engineers, IT professionals, finance, real estate, and more.
Disadvantages of Having a High IQ
Being smart also has some drawbacks. A few of them are highlighted below. Read on for more details.
The Level of Patience is Not as High as You Have Expected
Have you ever experienced repeating something a couple of times, but your friend didn’t hear it? How was the experience? It’s irritating, right?
People with a high IQ feel the same way whenever they talk to others who can’t understand. If someone doesn’t figure out what you mean, it drives you insane.
It’s Hard to Notice Little Achievements
People with a high IQ have greater expectations of themselves. Generally, they have higher goals than average individuals. But when they fail to make their dreams a reality, they feel negative right away.
What smart people don’t know is that they achieve something. Although it’s not what they expect in the first place, they accomplish a small chunk of their objectives.
Sometimes, intelligent people are hard to please. They have high standards and expectations, too.
Complacency
Instead of going beyond your limits, you might not put any effort into a task at all.
While others need to exert extra effort and time in getting something done, you can complete it without a complicated preparation.
When you were in high school, there were many instances you only put minimal effort.
Perhaps, you reviewed an hour before a major exam. Possibly, you handled recitations a few minutes after the discussion.
It’s great to deal with things without pressure and stress. But you get complacent with your achievement. While there’s no harm in doing that, the lack of effort can become a habit. This becomes dangerous in the long run.
Imagine, you encounter something that’s complicated. Since you get used to giving less effort in completing a task, you might struggle this time.
People with an average IQ who are not afraid of taking a challenge can handle another problem with ease and comfort.
Mental Disorders
Many people claim that intelligent people have a higher life expectancy. Still, it needs more pieces of scientific evidence.
When it comes to anxiety disorders and other mental health issues, research implies the opposite.
In a research performed by Mensa members, they found that anxiety and other psychological disorders are prevalent to 2% of the population with a high IQ.
This means highly intelligent people are more susceptible to anxiety in the work setting because they better understand the gravity of a situation.
Worse Social Relationship
As you grow older, your friends diminish. Don’t worry! It’s part of the process. In fact, everyone experiences the same thing.
Surprisingly, intelligent people have a troubled relationship with other social groups in adult years.
A study conducted by Stockholm University found that smart individuals encountered some trouble when adjusting to adulthood in terms of social relationships.
Also, they are less likely to be satisfied with life as they get older.
They are Less Financially Responsible
Research at Ohio State University found a relationship between high earnings and IQ scores.
The study showed that individuals with a high IQ are more likely to be in financial trouble than the participants with lower scores.
Unable to Confront their Biases
When it comes to irrational beliefs, many would think that people with low intelligence are more susceptible to these sets of ideas.
Smart individuals, on the other hand, do not believe in things that are not based on logic and reason.
Some studies, however, show that people with greater cognitive abilities don’t bulge from their positions when another viewpoint is given with multiple facts.
Get More Overwhelmed Under Pressure
Modern workplaces are tough, and the ability to perform under pressure is a crucial trait for many. Studies show that most people really excel in high-stress situations. But those are average individuals, according to experts.
This means high intelligent people easily crumble under pressure. This is especially true when goals are performance-related.
They get more anxious about the results than others as they don’t exert much effort.
Being Intelligent Leads to Sleepless Nights
Smart individuals complicate things. They analyze every word of a specific conversation in the past, assess outcomes of situations in the future, and panic about politics. Then, they can’t stop thinking, affecting the quality of their sleep.
You tend to be a Grammar Nazi
When individuals with a high IQ listen to wrong facts, they are dying to correct them. It’s natural, so don’t be surprised.
While social media platforms are getting a massive popularity, active users include captions in their photos.
If you have been using Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, you see comments with grammar errors, and you feel eager to leave a comment.
