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.
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 *