- [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers.
Have you ever felt that if you were smarter,
you would have fewer problems in your life?
We've all wished for some more intelligence
when we got a bad grade or made a dumb mistake.
Of course, we'd like to emphasize
that there are multiple different types of intelligence.
But did you know
that high intelligence can cause its own problems?
Here are five struggles only smart people will understand.
Number one: you're prone to imposter syndrome.
Mathematician Bertrand Russell once said,
"The fundamental cause of the trouble
is that in the modern world, the stupid are cocksure
while the intelligent are full of doubt."
Does this doubt sound familiar to you?
Smart people are extremely aware
of how much they don't know yet,
which can lead to imposter syndrome.
Those experiencing imposter syndrome feel
like they don't deserve the success they've gotten
and that they're a fraud who's just been lucky so far.
They're constantly fearful that they're not as talented
as others think and their incompetence will be exposed.
If this sounds like you, don't despair.
Find reasons to enjoy your tasks for their own sake
instead of anxiously wondering whether you're good at them.
Number two: you're often alone.
How many things are on your to-do list right now?
If you're a highly intelligent individual,
this list is probably overflowing.
Research shows that smart people have a greater ability
to solve problems and adapt to new challenges.
As a result, their time is more focused on big goals
that make the most of their capacities.
Unfortunately, this also means they have much less time
to socialize, so they're often alone.
If this sounds like you, don't despair.
The research also finds
that smart people are impacted by loneliness less
because pursuing their goals can be satisfying
in their own way.
Number three: you're stuck in analysis paralysis.
Did you take a long time
to make your last big life decision?
Smart people know the value
of thinking things through, collecting information,
and considering multiple perspectives.
This is a key part of what makes them smart.
But do you also agonize over small decisions,
always unsure about the right choice?
Then you might be experiencing analysis paralysis,
where you overthink a situation and don't take action.
Smart people often find that their intelligence works
against them when they face this problem.
If this sounds like you, don't despair.
Set a time limit to make decisions and then commit
to whatever you've thought of when it expires,
even if it doesn't feel like the perfect choice.
Number four: you're burdened by high expectations.
Have you ever been labeled gifted as a child
or told that you had a lot of potential?
Smart people know this is not as encouraging as it sounds.
They're often burdened by the high expectations
placed on them throughout their lives.
They face constant pressure to excel at everything they do
with no room for failure or mediocrity.
A study by the University of Texas at Austin
asked elderly individuals with high intelligence
to look back on their lives.
The ones who had been labeled gifted as children
had lower psychological well-being and felt
like their lives had disappointed everyone's expectations.
If this sounds like you, don't despair.
Celebrate achievements you're proud of,
rather than thinking about the times you've let others down.
And number five: you can't explain yourself to others.
Do you ever feel like others just don't get you
when you try to explain yourself?
Research shows that smart people suffer
from the curse of knowledge.
This means they know so much that they can't think
through the perspective of someone who lacks that knowledge.
Passion, knowledge, and expertise on a subject
can actually make someone worse at explaining it to others.
As a result, communication between a smart person
and a novice can break down very quickly
when the novice can't properly interpret
what the other is saying
and the other can't understand why the novice is confused.
If this sounds like you, don't despair.
Getting regular feedback
about the other person's perspective
can help to bridge this gap
and explain complicated topics.
So did you relate to any of these points?
Did we miss anything?
If so, let us know in the comments down below.
Remember that intelligence comes in many forms.
It's also not the end-all, be-all.
Intelligence comes with its own problems,
and it doesn't take you far
without hard work and commitment.
Please like and share this with friends
that might find some insight in the video, too.
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All the references used are added
in the description box below, as always,
and thank you for watching.
I'll see you next time.