NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm reading a book on neuro-psychology now, and it's quite interesting. Certian mental disorders have fringe benifits, greatly inproved reaction time, improved mental capabilities, enhanced imagination and artistic skills, among others. If they weren't so disruptive, they'd all be considered gifts. Maybe intelligence itself is a disorder.

People with abnormally high intelligence function differently from others, see the world in a different way, and sometimes have difficulty dealing with "normal" members of society. They are more apt to suffer depression, and also more likely to commit suicide. This puzzles me...

Is intelligence a gift or a curse?

So, would that mean that you're so smart that you're crazy, or that you're so crazy that you're smart?

Metaphysical.

So, would that mean that you're so smart that you're crazy, or that you're so crazy that you're smart?

Metaphysical.

Perhaps. But maybe not... is it better to be talented and sad, or blissful in ignorance?

Perhaps. But maybe not... is it better to be talented and sad, or blissful in ignorance?


I'd go for talented and sad anyday. At least I can be happy with my genetic code.

I'm reading a book on neuro-psychology now, and it's quite interesting. Certian mental disorders have fringe benifits, greatly inproved reaction time, improved mental capabilities, enhanced imagination and artistic skills, among others. If they weren't so disruptive, they'd all be considered gifts. Maybe intelligence itself is a disorder.

People with abnormally high intelligence function differently from others, see the world in a different way, and sometimes have difficulty dealing with "normal" members of society. They are more apt to suffer depression, and also more likely to commit suicide. This puzzles me...

Is intelligence a gift or a curse?

Both.

You might able to better understand things, but you're left with more questions then answers.

Both.

You might able to better understand things, but you're left with more questions then answers.


Yes, and unfortunately, few to answer those questions. But to get back to my original idea, could it be classified as an actual disorder? In history, many people with intelligent, radical ideas were listed as crazy... Could the majority of the people classify them as problems?

Both.
You might able to better understand things, but you're left with more questions then answers.

But at the same time, you'd be driven to find answers to those questions, which would in turn lead to even more questions, with the end result being most likely insanity. Of course, that might seem desirable to a person with high intelligence.

Yes, and unfortunately, few to answer those questions. But to get back to my original idea, could it be classified as an actual disorder? In history, many people with intelligent, radical ideas were listed as crazy... Could the majority of the people classify them as problems?

I don't know, because disorders are seen as a problem to be treated, and that implies that intellectual mediocrity is the most acceptable level of mental health; that's quite obviously something you do not want to encourage.

I'm reading a book on neuro-psychology now, and it's quite interesting. Certian mental disorders have fringe benifits, greatly inproved reaction time, improved mental capabilities, enhanced imagination and artistic skills, among others. If they weren't so disruptive, they'd all be considered gifts. Maybe intelligence itself is a disorder.

People with abnormally high intelligence function differently from others, see the world in a different way, and sometimes have difficulty dealing with "normal" members of society. They are more apt to suffer depression, and also more likely to commit suicide. This puzzles me...

Is intelligence a gift or a curse?It probably could be considered a mental disorder. While your brain and my brain would look nearly identical, Albert Einstein's brain would look considerably different. His brain was 170 grams smaller than the average brain. The densiety of brain cells in the cerebral cortex (the cerebral cortex is thought to be important for planning behavior, attention and memory). Vladimir Lenin's brain has many more cells in the cerebal cortex than the average brain.

I don't know, because disorders are seen as a problem to be treated, and that implies that intellectual mediocrity is the most acceptable level of mental health; that's quite obviously something you do not want to encourage.Vetalia makes an excellent point. While it should not be called a disorder, something different is going on in their brains.

I don't know, because disorders are seen as a problem to be treated, and that implies that intellectual mediocrity is the most acceptable level of mental health; that's quite obviously something you do not want to encourage.

In theroy, yes, you don't. But in reality, we're driven to mediocry. Most people give up when they find they aren't the best in what they like. They become one with the mob, like bees in a hive. Some don't, but you must admit, the ones who come to power are not the brightest in the bunch. The mediocre seem to be the ones in power, and they will remain so.

Yes, and unfortunately, few to answer those questions. But to get back to my original idea, could it be classified as an actual disorder? In history, many people with intelligent, radical ideas were listed as crazy... Could the majority of the people classify them as problems?

Yes, the majority of people could classify the super-intellegent as having a disorder.

It's just one that can be alot of good.

Or it can make you like the UNABOMBER.

Intelligence is something that can cause many problems in people and how they react to society. Intelligent people are to some extent isolated from the rest of the world due to their own intelligence. It is not easy to balance both the simplicity of life along with the complex problems of the world and it would not be surprising if many intelligent people have some levels of narcissism and there are ivory-tower intellectuals who tend to be more concerned with theoretical perfection over practical existence. That being said I think that intelligence is a positive characteristic and view myself as being somewhat intelligent(but probably below genius level)

It probably could be considered a mental disorder. While your brain and my brain would look nearly identical, Albert Einstein's brain would look considerably different. His brain was 170 grams smaller than the average brain. The densiety of brain cells in the cerebral cortex (the cerebral cortex is thought to be important for planning behavior, attention and memory). Vladimir Lenin's brain has many more cells in the cerebal cortex than the average brain.

But Einstien is now thought to have autisim. It explains his personality and behaviors, and also the way he took to mathmatics. Yes, he was extremely bright, but this was a benefit of his disorder, not natural.

In theroy, yes, you don't. But in reality, we're driven to mediocry. Most people give up when they find they aren't the best in what they like. They become one with the mob, like bees in a hive. Some don't, but you must admit, the ones who come to power are not the brightest in the bunch. The mediocre seem to be the ones in power, and they will remain so.

That's because human nature is, all of its philosophical and intellectual covers thrown aside, animal. Mediocrity keeps things from changing, and that's the way the herd animal likes it.

People are driven to conform by that herd instinct, and they like to be told what they want to hear; telling the truth could be uncomfortable or dangerous, and that survival herd instinct kicks in to supress it. Politicians do these things, and that is why they are successful.

However, there are some who buck that trend, and it is those few that have driven our technological evolution.

That's because human nature is, all of its philosophical and intellectual covers thrown aside, animal. Mediocrity keeps things from changing, and that's the way the herd animal likes it.

People are driven to conform by that herd instinct, and they like to be told what they want to hear; telling the truth could be uncomfortable or dangerous, and that survival herd instinct kicks in to supress it. Politicians do these things, and that is why they are successful.

However, there are some who buck that trend, and it is those few that have driven our technological evolution.


Is it really a good thing to advance technology? Of course, not looking at it morally, but realistically, it's hard to tell. Sure, we're comfy, but evolution pretty much is dead. The fit as well as the unfit survive and thrive in our society. If innovation was brought to a halt, perhaps the old, animalistic way would re-surface. This has benefits, as well as major flaws. No one would agree to it, but it more than likely would stop overpopulation. Why I chose to babble this, don't ask.

Is it really a good thing to advance technology? Of course, not looking at it morally, but realistically, it's hard to tell. Sure, we're comfy, but evolution pretty much is dead. The fit as well as the unfit survive and thrive in our society. If innovation was brought to a halt, perhaps the old, animalistic way would re-surface. This has benefits, as well as major flaws. No one would agree to it, but it more than likely would stop overpopulation. Why I chose to babble this, don't ask.

At the same time, however, evolution in humans may not be like that of other animals. Our technology may be our method of evolution; many of its effects advance the same goals as mutation and natural selection do in other species.

Furthermore, humans aren't well adapted to survival with the defenses and instincts we are born with; we'd have been long since wiped out had it nor been for our technological advances during our prehistory, which ensured food, warmth, and the ability to survive in almost any climate. So, based upon this combination of technology's evolutionary benefits and our utter lack of ability to survive in the wild without technology, it seems that is the path for our evolution.

Well, I know I'm at least moderately intelligent, and I have to say that while it's good because it makes it easier to achieve on some levels, sometimes it really does feel like a curse. For example, I have a horrible (and perhaps irrational) fear of forever, which I doubt I would have if I weren't as smart. My opinion on all this is that intelligence is a mixed blessing.

I'm reading a book on neuro-psychology now, and it's quite interesting. Certian mental disorders have fringe benifits, greatly inproved reaction time, improved mental capabilities, enhanced imagination and artistic skills, among others. If they weren't so disruptive, they'd all be considered gifts. Maybe intelligence itself is a disorder.

People with abnormally high intelligence function differently from others, see the world in a different way, and sometimes have difficulty dealing with "normal" members of society. They are more apt to suffer depression, and also more likely to commit suicide. This puzzles me...

Is intelligence a gift or a curse?

A good example of that is ADD. People who have it tend to be more creative and open to intuitive thinki...

OOH! Shiny object! *pounces*