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Does intelligence boost happiness? Smartness of all pays more than being smarter than others

Published Online:December 5, 2012pp 5-27https://doi.org/10.1504/IJHD.2012.050808

Abstract

We invest much in maximising intelligence and we get ever smarter: But does this make us any happier? The relation between intelligence and happiness is explored on two levels, at the micro-level of individuals and at the macro-level of nations. At the micro-level, we looked at the results of 23 studies and found no correlation between IQ and happiness. At the macro-level, we assessed the correlation between average IQ and average happiness in 143 nations and found a strong positive relationship. Together these findings mean that smartness of all pays more than being smarter than others.

Keywords

happiness, life-satisfaction, intelligence, cross-national, research synthesis, IQ

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