Incredible facts
If you enjoy spending time alone, you're probably one of the smartest people, says science.
It is known that talking to others gives us a sense of happiness. When we spend time with friends and family, it increases our level of life satisfaction.
However, this is not entirely true if you're a very smart person.
Read also: Woe from wit: 10 side effects of high intelligence
Scientists have found that not everyone gets the same pleasure from communication. Genius people do things a little differently.
A sign of intelligence
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Researchers Norman Li and Satoshi Kanazawa, who published a study in the British Journal of Psychology, found that people with exceptional intelligence are not they are as happy to communicate as others. What's more, they feel happier when they're alone more often.
Scientists surveyed 15,197 people aged 18 to 28 and found that being in a crowd reduces happiness, while spending time with friends increases happiness.
However, this data does not apply exclusively to smart people.
Why? Scientists have several explanations.
Communication doesn't make smart people happier
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The first theory is evolutionary and is related to the “savanna theory”.
Savannah theory is that life satisfaction is determined not only by what happens in the present, but also by how our ancestors reacted to an event.
Evolutionary psychologists have explained that it is difficult for our brains to cope with situations in the modern world because they are programmed to adapt to the conditions in which our ancestors lived.
The difference between the modern world and the conditions in which our ancestors lived is that we tend to spend more time surrounded by more people and less time with friends. Many of us live in densely populated cities, which makes it difficult to build closer relationships.
This can lead to anxiety and depression, but it doesn't affect the brains of very smart people as much. In other words, they're not so much influenced by savanna theory.
Highly intelligent people are more likely to have “unnatural” preferences and values that differ from our ancestors.
People tend to seek friendship and close relationships. At the same time, smart people adapt more easily to the modern world, where the benefits of close contacts for food, shelter and protection are becoming less important.
Another theory that explains why smart people prefer to be alone has to do with ambition.
The smarter you are, the more focused you are on long-term goals, which means spending time with friends is more of a distraction than a help.
People with a high level of intelligence use loneliness as a mechanism by which they are more successful in coping with urban stress. One way to reduce incentives is to limit contact with others.
Read also: Are you a genius? We determine by external signs
This helps to avoid stress and allows more time to invest in long-term projects.
The connection between intelligence and loneliness does not always work the other way around
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If you've read this news and thought you could spend more time alone to be smarter, don't cancel your evening plans right away.
Similarly, just because you enjoy spending time alone doesn't necessarily mean you're a genius.
On the other hand, if you love hanging out and spending time with friends, that doesn't mean you're insane either. This is the first study of its kind, and more research certainly needs to be done.
However, if you like to work, learn new skills and set new goals alone, that doesn't mean you're a recluse or unsociable. Maybe you're just smarter than the rest.