Why is Intelligence not Making You Happier?

This study examines the association between cognitive ability and happiness and presents three main findings using a nationally representative sample from China. First, there is only a tiny and insignificant correlation between cognitive ability and happiness. Second, cognitive ability is not associated with greater expectations of worldly success or disregarding real life. Third, people with higher cognitive ability have advantages regarding objective physical and mental health, income level, and social status. Still, they tend to underestimate their relative socioeconomic position and have less confidence about their future, which inhibits their subjective well-being. This study contributes to understanding the new human capital theory and explores the underlying causes of perceptual bias in socioeconomic status.