Are people with a very high IQ more likely to be socially retarded?

Answer 1

In a lot of cases, yes, they do lack social skills. People with very high IQs also lack common sense many times. I can't explain it, but I have seen it many times among the people that my husband works with - he's a chemist. And, I have seen many of my students have difficulties in the social arena because they are so far above their classmates intellectually that they can't relate to them.

Answer 2

That could possibly be true in a general sense, but then that would be stereo-typing, wouldn't it? My IQ has been measured to be greater than 150, but I have a very good sense of style, social behavior and common sense. However, I don't buy into a lot of the social crap that goes on out there, but I also don't feel isolated from society. One thing that makes me stand out is my abhorrance of organised religion. Although I believe in a Creator, I don't accept all the dogma of Judaism, Christianity and Islam which only serves as an opiate to the masses and creates hate and discontent amongst much of humanity.

Answer 3

I don't believe that its people with a high IQ so much as people who just did really well in school. It doesn't take a high IQ to do well in school, it just takes ridiculous amounts of dedication and study... and most of those people have no time to learn social skills. People with high IQ's don't always base their lives on academic study and have more time to learn about the ways of the world and people and can have excellent social skills as a result.

Answer 4

That's been my observation. But we're talking super high IQ's, not just the above average types.

Now I feel compelled to add a disclaimer - this observation observation is not based on actually tabulating the IQ's of every socially inept person I've ever met, or by forcing etiquette tests on eggheads.

Answer 5

Depends on what you mean by 'socially' retarded. Some with high IQs just don't pay much attention to the farce of social graces etc because they have more important things on their mind.

Answer 6

On the contrary. I think it's the other way around. I just don't think people with low IQ's can relate to them. Also, I think one has to be intelligent to have a sense of humor. The dumb people I've seen never can catch the wit behind a statement. Their minds are too simple. Hence, the word simpleton.

Answer 7

everyone that I've come across who has a high IQ (150 or better) have no personality. They're monotone.. kinda like the guy from the Visine commercials. I'm sure this doesn't apply to all just some

Answer 8

Socially inept, sometimes. Socially retarded? LOL People who are super smart already know enough not to give a crap about social graces...or else they may be somewhere on the autistic spectrum and not understand being social.

Answer 9

No. They may have a hard time being understood by less intelligent social butterflies but in most cases they can tell you the species of the butterfly.

Answer 10

unlikely. they are able to hold forth on any range of topics for conversation. so they are much more adaptive than say your regular joe who knows the batting average for 457 NL players and the number of times the steelers scored on a kick of return in the second half after falling behind by 21 or more points while playing in seattle.

you know, the important stuff.