Are very intelligent people lacking in something?

Question

I work in IT and some of my colleagues know more than Bill Gates or at least seem too, but they have very little social skills or are unable to take instructions or multi task! Do very intelligent people have some form of autism?

Answer 1

it's a fact that humans don't use the entire brain, some people use a certain part to the best of it's ability and have trouble with the other parts. it's rare to have a well rounded person whose equally as talented in all areas.

Answer 2

Some are some aren't. People with certain forms of autism, particularly Asperger's Syndrome, are often extemely intelligent and may be very high functioning with only mild impairment of certain types of social interaction, but that by no means implies that all highly intelligent people have Asperger's Syndrome or other autism spectrum disorders. Many highly intelligent people have excellent social skills and multi-tasking abilities, and others do not, just like people of any other intellectual ability.

You might want to consider reflecting a bit on your own behavior as those who feel the need to find fault with others often have very low self-esteem.

Answer 3

No, they don't. BUT... people who thrive at IT types of jobs and other math and science-based positions do tend to have the type of personality that relies heavily on personal space, individualism, strong focus, and independence. That is a generalization, however, and many do not fall under that stereotype. Much of what you call lack of social skills is simply focus at work that does not necessarily translate into their personal lives. For those that do have a lack of social skills, it is usually caused by distrust brought on by years of being discriminated against by people who felt threatened by their intelligence. Autism, though, is a completely different can of worms.

Answer 4

as a very intellegent person i don't belive we have low interaction skills, the only reason some of us demonstrate theese behaviors is that some of us think we're better than others. i dont though. also some of us want a real conversation not just about who justin timberlake is dating...
and the instruction part, we have independent minds. And the multi tasking has something to do with gender, females can multi task better than males, its fact. hope this helps...

Answer 5

Of course everyone is different but in my experience very intellegent people tend to not have social skills and/or common sense but not autism. Perhaps when they were buried in their books the rest of us were developing social skills. Their friends are probably also very intellegent and so they seem to not have patience for those less educated than them. Or, they think they are so intellegent that their way is better so they feel they don't have to take instruction or guidance from others.
Only my opinion. :)

Answer 6

Stupid people just act--they do not analyze their own behavior or consider their options or the consequences of their options.

The more intelligent a person is, the more they tend to weigh lots of different matters. This slows down their responses in situations they have not preconsidered. This slowness is perceived as awkwardness or "social autism" in those of only average intelligence or below average intelligence.

Answer 7

Hahah, I can't speak in their name (for I am not one of those brilliant coleagues of yours:) but I don't think they have a form of autism. They're just shy and socially inexperienced..they were probably shy/introverted as kids and for them, it was a lifetime of reinforced shyness. If they never really got out of the shell, they just learned to stay there...but don't worry, anybody can bloom and become socially skilled IF you nurture them. They might not know they're blunt, rude..to them it may just be a defense mechanism or just a super-frank way of expressing their opinion.

So, try to build some trust, to help them let the goard down. Be FRIENDLY to them even though they might be rude initially, don't hurt their feelings, encourage them to interract, to speak their mind, support them, acknowledge their opinion and value to the company. Have office pot lucks, Happy Hours (loosens anyone up), team lunches.. Don't expect results in a few days...it takes time to build trust!!!!

Remember that it's because of these very intelligent people that the IT world moves forward. We depend on them for things, they depend on us for others..And we all can LEARN sociall skills, at any age, slowly but surely.

Answer 8

A person who spends a lot of time alone in study will be different from one with an active social life.
They have not practiced social skills, as most people have ignored math.

Answer 9

It is a stereotype but there are many on the autistic spectrum that can be extemely focused and gifted in an area but lacking in others (like people skills). These people are usually diagnosed with Asperger's which is on the autistic spectrum.

Answer 10

I have to agree with you on that. Little social skills, and sometimes hard to have a conversation with. They act like they know everything.