Many people of high intelligence (IQ) also have excellent social skills (EQ). This is generally recognized as relatively common in people in the 125–135 IQ range. Such people are significantly more intelligent than average, but they are close enough to the average to be able to self-reference to understand how others feel. This enables empathy and the ability to connect socially.
However, we do know that many people of extremely high IQ, with IQs of 145 or more, are introverts and are prone to social awkwardness. The difference in their way of thinking relative to the average person makes it more difficult for them to self-reference to determine how others feel in a particular situation. This conundrum has been caricatured in the television sitcom The Big Bang Theory, in which the gifted intellect, Dr. Sheldon Cooper has difficulty relating to others. Real world examples of people of high IQ with some EQ challenges are Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Martha Stewart profiled in: https://www.intelligence-and-iq.com/chapter-8/
Such people are often impatient with what they perceive as sluggishly slow thinking and they respond by insulting others. Steve Jobs almost took glee in confronting others with their limitations and this alienated him from many people. Extremely intelligent people are often so focussed on what’s true that they often come across as brutally honest or blunt. In her book, Extreme Intelligence: Development, Predicaments, Implications, Ph.D. Sonja Falck characterizes two types of extremely intelligent people of low EQ, as “naive child” or “arrogant emperor.”
Among the many anomalies of the “naive child” are behaviours that create unintended offences, violate common rules of etiquette and preclude any engagement in small talk. These behaviours often emerge from the promotion of content focus over social focus, i.e., a preoccupation with the subject at hand rather than an awareness of the emotions of the people involved.
Characteristics of the “arrogant emperor” were evident in Jobs, Bezos and Martha Stewart. These people were quick to challenge co-workers, strongly dominant in imposing their ideas, and reluctant to compromise. Their perception of their own rectitude in most matters is often accompanied by a disrespect for authority and convention. In some cases the “arrogant emperor” type is manipulative in achieving their desired results. For more information visit: https://www.intelligence-and-iq.com/high-iq-and-low-eq-emotional-intelligence/
