Why Aren't Smart People Happier?

Modern cognitive science has revealed that we all rely on a powerful form of intelligence called natural intelligence to successfully make sense of and navigate life. W hen our natural intelligence breaks down, it leads to painful psychological states, the inability to think clearly, failing to make sense of things, and much more.

This is why the people who score well on intelligence tests and win lots of chess games are no happier than the people who flunk the tests and lose at chess: well-defined and poorly defined problems require completely different problem-solving skills. Life ain’t chess! Nobody agrees on the rules, the pieces do whatever they want, and the board cove... See more

Daniel Goleman and other writers have contrasted academic intelligence or IQ with emotional intelligence: “abilities such as being able to motivate oneself and delay gratification; to regulate one’s moods and to keep distress from swamping the ability to think; to empathize and to hope.”5 Emotional intelligence is more crucial for happiness than in

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