How can a true genius interact effectively with average person? (personality, college)
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Genius and social awkwardness don't always go hand in hand.
This. "Genius" doesn't mean nerdy, socially inept. Jimmy Carter's IQ is 175, and he's personable, married, had a family, ran a business before he became Prez.
This. "Genius" doesn't mean nerdy, socially inept. Jimmy Carter's IQ is 175, and he's personable, married, had a family, ran a business before he became Prez.
yup it just takes a lot of work to develop ones interpersonal skills. some are willing to work on it, others arent.
you cant blame everyone else for your problems...genuis or no genuis.
This. "Genius" doesn't mean nerdy, socially inept. Jimmy Carter's IQ is 175, and he's personable, married, had a family, ran a business before he became Prez.
He seems like a really nice guy, but IMO , he is proof that a high IQ is no value without a mix common sense.
This. "Genius" doesn't mean nerdy, socially inept. Jimmy Carter's IQ is 175, and he's personable, married, had a family, ran a business before he became Prez.
Not to dispute your point (as I agree with it), but his IQ was not 175. People tend to blow them out of proportion, without realizing the magnitude of difference that 20 points is supposed to reflect.
Terence Tao is a math genius and a teacher at UCLA. He's married and seems very likeable. Genius and social awkwardness don't always go hand in hand.
Correct. There are some very high IQ people out there who are good conversationalists, have solid senses of humor, can connect with a wide variety of people, are decent in situations such as the bar/club scene, hosting a party, managing a diverse workforce, and so on. They also are able to deal with touchy-feely emotional issues, both with themselves and with others. A person can be a genius and simultaneously have a good EQ (emotional intelligence). Such people, despite their smarts, do not come across as elitist or condescending, and thus they are widely liked. They do not flaunt their intelligence. They are able to come across as "just one of the guys".
The reason why some adults struggle to interact effectively with others is because they didn't devote enough time during their formative years to socialization and building bonds with their peers. They never developed empathy. Furthermore they weren't ever taught how to stand up for themselves. Their level of intelligence is largely irrelevant. I don't think being "left-brained" matters all that much, either. Perhaps some of them had sheltered childhoods. Maybe some of the high-IQ ones over-focused on their studies. Maybe some were bullied and retreated into their shells. Education is important, but so is making friends, attending that party, going on a trip, shooting the breeze, developing street smarts, etc. Living a little and learning how to be "in the moment" during your younger years can play a big factor in building self-confidence. Connecting with others face-to-face is one of the cornerstones of society.
Barring certain mental illnesses, I think most people are capable of interacting at least decently with others in general...sufficiently enough so they aren't perceived as socially awkward. That said, some of them may relate noticeably better with say...the analytical or logical types, for example.
If you are familiar with the work of Gardner or Sternberg, you would find a sense of accomplishment and a sense of defeat. Accomplishment b/c you got so far on the wits you have, defeat b/c there are many areas where people are drawing circles around you.
The real mark of intelligence is knowing it and still fitting in. You have put one measure (likely a number) higher than others, and it speaks more of your puffery than true ability. A genius is a brain untethered and alone, an egghead, and often not endearing. A really smart person is able to follow other's leads and interact pretty well, b/c they are aware they don't know everything everywhere. You have to consider: without your number among other numbers, you'd have very little by which to compare your ability. The movie "Good Will Hunting" was quite similar to what you are describing, and Robin Williams excised Matt Damon's notions of abililty with his few well-stated, well-placed questions. Living in books is nothing compared to visiting the Sistine Chapel. My guess is, for you, the movie sucked.
Perhaps I've not met really brilliant persons, but those I've looked up to have been doctors who could work with anyone at any time and NEVER have the conversation or interaction in any way appear 'less than.' Having said that, these individuals brought people up, were enlightening, met individuals where they were, and truly benefited from the interaction, not in knowing they imbued the other with information, but because the interaction broadened their scope of knowledge, and took them in a direction they could have never guessed. Really, who guesses less when you have more?
The most difficult part of your life must be alone-ness. It is not strange that you come on a sounding board like CD to discuss this. It is impersonal, you can exclude, and there is a strong verbal component which feeds your thought of skill and ability. With all your self declared 'brilliance,' you cannot move past that. It's gotta be incredibly sad living in your shoes. I've learned some really amazing stuff from people who had IQ's below 50 and those who were psychotic (not a measure of intelligence, but really off the wall). I can't imagine you could walk in their shoes, let alone interact with any measure of skill at their ability. But isn't that pure genius? Son-of-a-gun, especially in a place where you should be able to dance circles around THEM. Hmmm..........
What do you really add to work? How do others benefit from your presence? One measure of ability is to fit with others. Your dossier must be full of good work. Anything of team benefit? Anything of cooperative advancement? One scale and one measure and the story can't be re-written. Too bad for you. You've 'yes, but-ted' many persons here on CD. Perhaps you should return to the beginning and try something really hard (social interaction and connection) instead of justifying your skills based on your supposed (solitary) expertise.
Another average Joe adding his two cents <clnk, clnk>. You have a d@mn good day, friend.
Although responding to this old posting of yours (from 6 years ago!), I am familiar with the work of Gardner and Sternberg ... if whom you are referring to is Howard Gardner and then, separately, Robert Sternberg. I remember years ago in the mid to later 1980s, I read Howard Gardner's "Beyond IQ: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences". Quite an insightful and impactful book ... and I gather that is still is (to this present day).
IQ is one thing. Deep communication skills, encompassing empathy, are another thing. I had the unfortunate necessity of communicating with a dozen different specialist doctors on the staff of the Mayo Clinic. Each is undoubtedly far into the genius category. Their individual communication skills vary from very good to excellent.
Geniuses are so smart, they can figure out how to talk to anybody if they need to or want to.
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