why do intelligent people suffer from social anxiety?

[Akira90125]

intelligent people meaning those who are above average in intelligence and know that they are intelligent.

you would think that they wouldn't care about making mistakes or looking stupid every now and then because they know they're not stupid

there's a lot of intelligent people in these forums. maybe yall can answer this

[GnR]

I know I'd trade a few IQ points for some freakin social skills lmao.

[pixies]

I don't think of this like that at all. It's an illness, a mental illness. It's got nothing to do with logic. The human body is great, but it malfunctions sometimes. There are children in hospitals dying of cancer. They never smoked or worked in a power station or something. The body just sometimes gets unwell. Social Anxiety is just when someone's brain is unwell.

[Prakas]

Well we are more introverted, so I suspect that we spend more times hitting the books and doing research rather than partying.

[Perfectionist]

Originally Posted by pixies

I don't think of this like that at all. It's an illness, a mental illness. It's got nothing to do with logic. The human body is great, but it malfunctions sometimes.

This is how I think of it as well. SA can hit any type of person - super intelligent, drop dead gorgeous, great sense of humour, and so on.

A lot of our SA fears are irrational, and we know they are irrational, but that knowledge doesn't stop us from having them. I don't think SA has anything to do with your level of intelligence.

[Jaiyyson]

Intelligent people may be more apt in setting unrealistic standards for themselves; those of which may not be within a reachable scope.

[Breakfast0fChampions]

Because intelligent people are still human beings and susceptible to disorder and illness.

[anomalous]

Originally Posted by Akira90125

intelligent people meaning those who are above average in intelligence and know that they are intelligent.

you would think that they wouldn't care about making mistakes or looking stupid every now and then because they know they're not stupid

there's a lot of intelligent people in these forums. maybe yall can answer this

Because intelligence, the way most of us think of it, has little impact on how we're received by others.

Social skills, personality, and looks are all so much more crucial to "fitting in" socially that it's almost not even worth mentioning intelligence. I guess there are select niche groups and settings where this isn't completely true, but overall...

To be clear, I'm not saying people who possess the qualities I just listed are immune from SA at all. I'm just saying that even if an intelligent person thinks about their situation rationally, it's still quite possible they have legitimate reasons to be insecure and fear negative judgment if they're lacking in other areas.

[millenniumman75]

Originally Posted by GnR

I know I'd trade a few IQ points for some freakin social skills lmao.

That's about how I think sometimes.
I have always been advanced educationally, but the social skills of normalcy. . I think on a different frequency.

....checking my antennae .

[filledwithfear1]

Originally Posted by Prakas

Well we are more introverted, so I suspect that we spend more times hitting the books and doing research rather than partying.

That's not always true... I'm actually pretty good with programming, and that's pretty much the only skill I have. I'm not good with studying unless it involves programming.

[moxosis]

Because there is a fine line between genius and madness.

[Dempsey]

Why do a lot of stupid people have good social skills?

It's simply not related.

[illuminati]

Because the anxiety is an emotional response and not an intellectual response.

[secretlyshecries]

If you seriously think having SA is linked to being unintelligent... damn.

[swiv2D]

Cause we think alot...get it huh get it..cause we think a lot!

[Deathinmusic]

I don't think a high intelligence by itself helps one bit when it comes to socializing. Besides, I'm pretty skeptical that people with SA are any more intelligent (on average) than the rest of the population. Not to say they're any dumber either. Has there been any study on this?

[leonardess]

I....wouldn't know..

[Banzai]

Because intelligent people tend to have very good analysis skills which, although it comes extremely useful in lessons etc, they also tend to use it in social situations. They are also probably quite more likely to "figure things out" about social situations and hence, SA comes along. Or at least, this is what I experience.

Also, intelligent people may also tend to come off as quite arrogant/"show-y off-y" to other people.

Originally Posted by Akira90125

you would think that they wouldn't care about making mistakes or looking stupid every now and then because they know they're not stupid

there's a lot of intelligent people in these forums. maybe yall can answer this

I strongly disagree with this - what often comes with intelligence is "bigheadedness" and big headed people don't tend to like making mistakes. Or rather, people pointing out that they made a mistake.
Also, because they know they are intelligent and so does everyone else, there is more of a pressure to keep maintaining this "intelligent" image/status.

If you were intelligent but you made a mistake, you may begin to question your intelligence and so, lose your self esteem/confidence.

Although, like others have said, there is no link between intelligence and having SA.

[MOTOCASS]

Originally Posted by Deathinmusic

I don't think a high intelligence by itself helps one bit when it comes to socializing. Besides, I'm pretty skeptical that people with SA are any more intelligent (on average) than the rest of the population. Not to say they're any dumber either. Has there been any study on this?

Yes there has been a study, although I don't have documentation on it. I read about it in TIME magazine. The article basically claimed that those afflicted with SA have higher GPA and higher SAT scores compared to those without SA. And like anything, it is probably a result of many factors.

Oh hell yea, we're awesome.

[Logan X]

I'm too ****ing dumb to answer, so I'll let the smarties come up with the best replies.