8 research on intelligence helps discover the mysteries of wisdom

Some argue that the view of intelligence as a single thing is a myth.

>>>"Unexpected" methods help brain wisdom

1. The myth about a single intelligence

According to a recent study of more than 100,000 participants, IQ was actually made up of three components (Hampshire et al., 2012).

Analyzing the results, they found that IQ was divided into short-term memory elements, arguments and words.

In other words: some people may have strong short-term memory but are poor arguments. Or: some people are good at language but have poor short-term memory.

Your overall intelligence is a result of how these 3 subsystems work - and they may not have the same level.

2. Intelligence is related to mental illness

Being intelligent is not always good.

Studies show that a link between intelligence and mental illness may have to return to our evolutionary history.

The high intelligence of 'smart people' was originally a result of gene mutations. However, the price of these mutations may increase the risk of mental illness (Nithianantharajah et al., 2012).

The human brain may be the most complex and advanced object in the universe, but some people pay a heavy price for this gift.

3. Smart people can overcome poverty in life

Intelligence helps you advance, but what happens if you are smart and at a disadvantage? Will your living situation prevent you from succeeding?

A study with 12,868 Americans found that a better foundation helped people start with a better job, then intelligence itself helped them improve from there (Ganzach, 2011).

Yoav Ganzach explains:

'Families can help you develop your career and you have an advantage, but it doesn't help you improve. And once you start working, you can go wherever your abilities take you. "

4. Smart but worried

It is said that ignorance is happiness. This is because people with high intelligence tend to be more anxious than those with moderate intelligence.

Indeed, anxiety may have co-evolved with intelligence - anxiety can give primitive people a survival benefit in ancient history (Coplan et al., 2012).

Unfortunately, it makes intelligent people suffer from higher anxiety disorders.

5. New ideas

Smarter people are more likely to think of new ideas.

Historically, it could mean denying superstition and finding new ways to organize society.

One study suggests that this explains why smarter people are more likely to be atheists and political liberalists (Kanazawa et al., 2010).

This study found that young adults who described themselves as "very conservative" had an average IQ of 95, while those who described themselves as "very free" had an average IQ of 106.

6. The motive for action can beat IQ

Although intelligence can be a great asset that we have, it does not guarantee success.

Take the example of math, the truth is that intelligence will give you a good start, but to achieve real achievement you must be motivated.

A German study with 3,520 children found that after they started learning math, their intelligence became less important than the motivation to learn how to succeed and how much they learned math (Murayama et al., 2012).

7. Smart people go to sleep later

Published evidence shows that smarter people tend to sleep later and wake up later (Kanazawa & Perina, 2009).

The study examined the sleeping habits of 20,745 American youths and found that on the days of the week, the "very stupid" people went to bed at an average of 11:41 and woke up at 7:20.

Conversely, "very smart" people go to bed at 12:29 and wake up at 7:52. On weekends, the differences are even more obvious.

8. Smarter societies are happier

Who is smarter than happier? Overall, maybe not.

Studies have looked for a connection between how happy people feel and how smart they are, and almost no association (eg Veenhoven & Choi, 2012).

However, when you look at countries, on average, smarter countries are also happier.

Thus, intelligence may not bring that person's personal happiness, but it can contribute to everyone's happiness.