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

Authors: Ruut Veenhoven; Yowon Choi

Addresses: Erasmus University Rotterdam, POB 1738, 3000DR Rotterdam, Netherlands; North-West University, South Africa. ' Center for Happiness Studies, Seoul National University, Kwanakgu Kwanakro-1 220dong 643ho, South Korea

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: individual happiness; happiness of nations; life satisfaction; intelligence; cross-national study; research synthesis; IQ; intelligence quotient; smartness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2012.050808

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2012 Vol.1 No.1, pp.5 - 27

Received: 20 Dec 2011
Accepted: 21 Feb 2012

Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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