Hemingway, who took his own life in 1961, knew his share of both intelligent people and of unhappiness. He lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, four wives and an unknown number of failed romantic relationships, none of which would help him develop joy in any great degree. As Hemingway’s views arose from his life experience, I will base the following on my own, though in my case both personal and professional (sociologist). Not enough research exists to quote on this subject, but it appears that western society is not set up to nurture intelligent children and adults as it does athletes and similar figures, especially the outstanding ones. While we have the odd notable personality such as Albert Einstein, we also have many extremely intelligent people working in occupations that are considered among the lowest, as may be seen from a review of the membership lists of Mensa (the club for the top two percent on intelligence scales). Education systems in countries whose primary interest is in wealth accumulation encourage heroes in movies, war and sports, but not in intellectual development. Super intelligent people may cope, but few reach the top of the business or social ladder.

 

Children develop along four streams: intellectual, physical, emotional (psychological) and social. In classrooms, the smartest kids tend to be left out of more activities by other children than they are included in. They are "odd," they are the geeks, they are social outsiders. In other words, they do not develop socially as they do intellectually or even physically. Their emotional development, characterized by ability to cope with risk or stress especially over long periods of time, also lags behind that of the norm. Adults tend to believe that intelligent kids can deal with anything because they are intellectually superior. But intelligent kids often have neither the knowledge nor other developmental equipment to match their intellect.

 

Smart kids go through tough times alone. Adults don’t understand that they need help, while other kids don’t want to associate with those stigmatized by social leaders as outsiders. As a result, many highly intelligent people are deficient in social graces or understanding and have trouble coping with common stressors. It should come as no surprise that the vast majority of prison inmates are socially and emotionally underdeveloped or maldeveloped, and we therefore find that a significant percentage fall high on IQ charts. Western society provides the ideal incubator for social misfits and those with emotional problems. When it comes to happiness, people who are socially inept and who have trouble coping emotionally with the exigencies of life would not be among those you should expect to be happy. This may be changing in the 21st century as geeks gain recognition as people with great potential, especially as people who might make their fortune in the world of high technology. Geeks may be more socially accepted than in the past, but unless they receive more assistance with their social and emotional development, most are destined to be unhappy as they mature in the world of adults. People with high intelligence, be they children or adults, still rank as social outsiders in most situations, including their skills to be good mates and parents. Moreover, they tend to see more tragedy in the world than the average person whose primary source of news and information is comedy shows on television. Tragedy seems easier to find than compassion, even where compassion exists in greater abundance.