English subtitles for clip: File:8 Struggles of Being a Highly Intelligent Person.webm

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Hey Psych2goers! Welcome back to another Psych2go video.

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So...what IS intelligence, really?

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We know it isn't as simple as an IQ score,

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which is something even Stephen Hawking thoroughly denounced

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(and we can likely agree that Mr. Hawking was quite intelligent...).

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Intelligence is a complex, multi-dimensional construct, that can mean a variety of things

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for a variety of different people.

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So, it can be hard to put into words what it all means.

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But no matter what definition you may adhere to, there's one thing all of us can agree on:

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you KNOW intelligence when you see it.

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A highly intelligent person is someone who's gifted at analyzing concepts

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and building upon them to form a better understanding of the world and those around them,

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how everything is connected and why things are the way they are.

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These people often have remarkably high IQs, academic achievements,

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and go on to become successful leaders and trailblazers in their fields.

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Wondering if you're one of them? Let's look at 8 struggles ONLY highly intelligent people will understand.

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1: You get bored with small talk.

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If you've ever heard the quote:

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"Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.",

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this is what it means:

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Highly intelligent people aren't drawn to what they consider the unimportant details of life.

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Chatting about the game or the neighbors newest lawn flamingo,

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isn't something they see as a must-talk-about item.

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Rather, they enjoy discussing ideas and concepts, in anything from art to science.

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They think in ways of the deep: the abstract, and the thought-provoking!,

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meaning small talk feels exhausting... and time-wasting.

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2: you're careful with your words.

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Do people around you often describe you as reserved or overly serious?

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Many smart people tend to think more than they speak.

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This means that if they choose to share something, it's highly likely they've considered it from every possible angle,

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with rationale and logic to back up the conclusions they've come to.

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All this preparation, though, can mean long silences while they construct the thought,

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which then gives the impression of being reserved (or overly serious), which leads to the next struggle...

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3: you're socially awkward.

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Here's where the common movie trope of "the awkward nerd" comes in.

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You've seen it: the wide-eyed stare as a smart person realizes their response...

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is awaited in silence.

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Or their cringe-inducing statement, made at exactly the wrong time, earned them the disgust of the popular kids forevermore...

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Ok, we admit it, the media displays this in an exaggerated manner.

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However, they aren't ALL wrong.

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The awkwardness is even backed up in research.

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A study by Davidson, in 2015, showed the people who have a high IQ

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tend to have a lower EQ (or emotional intelligence quotient),

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which is what helps us form relationships and hone our social skills.

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Life, it's all about trade-offs.

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4: you struggle to make good friends.

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Is making true friends and finding YOUR crowd somewhat of a challenge for you?

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Some people are highly intimidated by intelligence, and the perception that someone is "too smart" for them.

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They feel like they can't relate or, perhaps, they're not smart enough.

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People don't generally like to feel this way, so their response is to simply not befriend the smart person...

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The highly intelligent person is still a person, and people get lonely.

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If you relate to this, you may think: if it's my intelligence that drives people away, then, should I dumb it down for acceptance?

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Well, ideally, you're drawn to other people in the same intelligence sphere as you.

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They may be rare, but they're out there.

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5: you don't get out much.

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If you're highly intelligent, you'll most likely struggle in social situations:

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you aren't so good at small talk, and find it hard to make friends.

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What effect does this have on the bigger picture?

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It could mean you don't get to go out much,

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so you focus heavily on academics, throwing yourself into work, work, work.

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Even if you generally enjoy academic pursuits, the severe life imbalance between work and social integration

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eventually leads to overwork, unhappiness, and (possibly) low self-esteem.

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6: you're overly analytical.

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Have you ever heard of paralysis by analysis?

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Well, this is a common struggle for the highly intelligent person.

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It happens when you're crippled by always needing to know the correct answer, or the most correct answer... or making the best decision.

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You always struggle with indecisiveness,

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just like how you think thoroughly of all the angles before saying something in a conversation...

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you do the same thing before you make a decision or give an answer.

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You also tend to be able to find so many angles, pros, and cons, that it can end up making you more indecisive.

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There is so much input that it clogs your output.

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7: your mind constantly craves exercise.

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Being a highly intelligent person means you enjoy and need constant intellectual stimulation.

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In short, your mind has the munchies.

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You always want to do something that engages your brain skills, dips you in a new discovery, or lets you stretch your thinking muscles.

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This means simple everyday tasks are already solved problems, feeling like a drag.

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Pretty soon, so many things feel "been there, done that" that the search for the next thing becomes arduous.

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8: you're always feeling pressured to succeed.

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If we may paraphrase the late great Uncle Ben:

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"With great intelligence comes great expectation".

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If you're a highly intelligent person,

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you've probably felt that somewhat indirect pressure to succeed.

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From who?

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From everyone!

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Yes, much of it comes from within, however.

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Every time your friend -casually- says "So, another 4.0 this semester?"

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or "drinks on you for being Employee of the Month again, right?",

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a little part of your mind nudges you, saying: "This is your place. You NEED to be here.

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Always."

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So you end up pushing yourself to constantly prove your intelligence,

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leading to exacerbated perfectionist tendencies and an unhealthy,

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disproportionate fear of failure.

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Do you relate to any of the struggles mentioned in this video? Let us know in the comments below!

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We get it, feeling a bit of victory by knowing things others don't sounds so incredibly good.

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However, there are always many sides to a thing, and being smart isn't always a piece of cake.

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Others might try to define you by your intelligence:

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seeing you simply as a brain, or an IQ score.

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Still more, many may never get past that. So they never try to get to know you, maybe even villainizing you out of jealousy.

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This can leave you lonely, and feeling disconnected.

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Truth is, there's nothing wrong with you for being who you are.

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In the end, others don't validate or create who you are, only YOU do.

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We'd love to hear YOUR intelligent and thought-provoking comments below. Please like and share. We'll see you in the next video!