Wired for Solitude: How Evolution Shaped the Social Lives of Highly Intelligent People

How our ancient brains explain why highly intelligent people thrive with less social interaction — and what this means for reimagining human happiness in the modern world.

Have you ever wondered why some of the most brilliant minds throughout history seemed perfectly content with minimal social interaction? From Einstein’s love of solitary walks to Tesla’s preference for working alone, a recurring pattern emerges among highly intelligent individuals: they often thrive in solitude. Recent groundbreaking research by Satoshi Kanazawa from the London School of Economics and Norman Li of Singapore Management University are evolutionary psychologists who published their research in the British Journal of Psychology, suggest this isn’t merely a coincidence or stereotypical introversion — it may be rooted in the fundamental mismatch between our evolved brains and modern society.

The Surprising Science of Intelligence and Social Satisfaction

Data collected from over 15,000 adults shows that individuals with higher IQs actually report decreased life satisfaction when spending excessive time with friends. For every 10-point increase in IQ score, researchers found that approximately 38% less social time is needed for…