IQ Does Not Equal Happiness

The British Medical Journal publish an article that IQ does not equal happiness.

Clever people are not happier in old age it found.

The study group of 550 born in Scotland had their IQ test done when they were are about 11 in 1921. The records were preserved and they were able to retest them when they were all about 79.

They expected a link between happiness and cleverness because of the high expectancy society placed on intelligence but this is not what they found.

The found their satisfaction with their lives were unaffected by their mental ability throughout their life.

The report highlights a point I try to make to people obsessed with increasing their IQ score. It’s not in the numbers.

High IQ does not guarantee happiness, or even if you will get the dream job you’re hankering after. Considering there are other people equally qualified test score wise employers must look for other qualities as well. And employers know that fantastic grades alone do not guarantee the person is capable of the job.

High IQ or great test scores may open you to more opportunities and at the same time to more responsibility, commitment and stress.

There are other problems. People are staying in school longer and there is more competition for those jobs, with a glut in the market in many areas. This means that employers can require college diploma for applications to be considered for work that can be done by high school drop-out. People are not using the skills they studied for and they are overqualified for jobs. More here

It seems to me, being qualified and having a high IQ can be a source of misery if the individual does not find employment in line with the perceived value the individual places on.

Higher IQ doesn’t create happiness.