# Is personality disorders on average high in intelligent minds? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 20, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811 "2003-03-20T14:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/1 "2003-03-20T14:49:38Z")
This idea brought on by the Intelligence Being Hereditary thread. Do those with higher intelligence levels have a higher rate of personality disorders? Seems to me, most people that I’ve talk to that have “issues”, whether it be depression, AD(H)D, OCD, etc… or into drugs and alcohol, have a really high level of intelligence. I’m going without any data to prove this, but is it sound to say that maybe, those label as having issues, have a better sense of reality? Maybe they know just a little “too much” and that’s why they’re labeled? Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/2 "2003-03-20T15:04:58Z")
I’m exteremely intelligent. I don’t have any personality disorders…and neither do I. ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/3 "2003-03-20T15:25:05Z")
First things first: Personality disorders are a special class of mental disorders. They are seen as pervasive, relavively unchanging parts of a human. Simply put, the personality is how we respond to the environment. A personality disorder is a rigid, dysfunctional pattern of personality. For instance: Borderline personality disorder is characterized by the inability to modulate emotions, so people with BPD have difficulty with relationships, often either loving or hating intensely the people around them. Nitpicky, but important. As to the OP, do your research, but as a Therapist I can tell you that there are plenty of stupid people out there that are mentally ill. And just as many who are of average intelligence. Drug addictions? nah. Plenty of stupid people use drugs too. Although the drug of choice varies between the classes, actual incidence of addiction really doesn’t, but that really says nothing of intelligence. I think people get drawn in by romantic notions that “there’s a fine line between insane and genius” because they read it in a book or saw criminal masterminds on TV. There’s a certain percentage of the population that’s smart, there’s a certain percentage that’s mentally ill, and sometimes those intersect. ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/4 "2003-03-20T15:33:25Z")
First things first: Personality disorders are a special class of mental disorders. They are seen as pervasive, relavively unchanging parts of a human. Simply put, the personality is how we respond to the environment. A personality disorder is a rigid, dysfunctional pattern of personality. For instance: Borderline personality disorder is characterized by the inability to modulate emotions, so people with BPD have difficulty with relationships, often either loving or hating intensely the people around them. Depression, ADD, substance addictions/disorders are not personality disorders. Nitpicky, but important. As to the OP, do your research, but as a Therapist I can tell you that there are plenty of stupid people out there that are mentally ill. And just as many who are of average intelligence. And no more smart people than stupid enter my office. Drug addictions? nah. Just as many stupid people use drugs as smart people (probably more if you consider ingesting toxins an act of stupidity). I think people get drawn in by romantic notions that “there’s a fine line between insane and genius” because they read it in a book or saw criminal masterminds on TV. There’s a certain percentage of the population that’s smart, there’s a certain percentage that’s mentally ill, and sometimes those intersect. ---
**Author:** ![Pixelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@Pixelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixelle)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/5 "2003-03-20T15:34:35Z")
Firstly I think we ALL have issues. And no, I don’t believe those with higher intelligence are more afflicted by personality disorders. I just think that intelligent people may often have more insight into their problems and find it easier to articulate that. And with problems like depression, it could be said that it’s a bit unsound to suggest that sufferers have a better sense of reality. I would say that their sense of reality is often a bit distorted at times. Also, drug and alcohol problems have little to do with intelligence I think, and more to do with what life’s flung your way so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/6 "2003-03-20T15:35:43Z")
read my second post only, it’s the better version. sorry about that. And Diogenes: that’s dissociative identity disorder you’re referring to, which is not a personality disorder. ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/7 "2003-03-20T15:37:27Z")
although it used to be called multiple personality disorder which might be a little misleading… ---
**Author:** ![Ben\_Hicks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Ben\_Hicks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben_Hicks)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/8 "2003-03-20T16:45:25Z")
For what it’s worth, although I’m reasonably bright and have more personality disorders and neuroses than you can shake a stick at, virtually all my friends (who are all _extremely_ clever) seem completely unafflicted. I wouldn’t say there’s any serious correlation. ---
**Author:** ![regurgit8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@regurgit8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regurgit8)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/9 "2003-03-20T18:16:51Z")
To any paranoid schizophrencis (or whatever) who want to make up for their lack of sanity with the tired old excuse: “Well, I’ve done gone over the edge because I’m so damn smart and realistic; I see things that others can’t see”, I say: Don’t flatter yourselves. Get a job or something, then you won’t have so much time to think. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/10 "2003-03-20T18:22:07Z")
What? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/11 "2003-03-20T18:29:33Z")
Also, OCD is an anxiety disorder, not a personality disorder. ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/12 "2003-03-20T19:03:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Also, OCD is an anxiety disorder, not a personality disorder. \*\* True. I should’ve stated mental disorders in general. My Bad. (Sorry, my fault) Most of the responses seem logical, thanks all. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/13 "2003-03-20T19:21:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yme \* > \*\* Do those with higher intelligence levels have a higher rate of personality disorders? \*\* I think there are some studies that seem to show that people involved in certain professions and pursuits have higher incidence of mental illness. My internet connection is so slow here that I can’t look this up, but I’ll try to do it from home. Perhaps someone else has more information at hand. I write poetry. Many people who write poetry are under the weird impression that being a “poet” means that they are doubly sensitive and prone to all sorts of issues. I think that attitude can crop up with all sorts of people who really want to be “special,” and so they claim the mental illness du jour and then talk about how tragic their lives are. Argh. Julie ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/14 "2003-03-20T20:01:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by regurgit8 \* > \*\*To any paranoid schizophrencis (or whatever) who want to make up for their lack of sanity with the tired old excuse: “Well, I’ve done gone over the edge because I’m so damn smart and realistic; I see things that others can’t see”, I say: Don’t flatter yourselves. Get a job or something, then you won’t have so much time to think. \*\* I’m sure there’s something you know. I mean, I’m sure you’ve been educated about some subject or topic. but you have absolutely no understanding of mental illness or sensitivity. I assure you anyone with schizophrenia neither needs nor should be asked for an excuse to have the disorder. Nor have I ever heard anyone with the disorder use it as an excuse. Now, I have met plenty of people with that disorder claim to be genius or a higher power, or some sort of supreme being, but that’s part of the disorder. ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/15 "2003-03-20T21:06:37Z")
I do believe that it is more than a romantic notion that madness and genius are closely alligned. Someone who is blessed with a Winnie-the-pooh take on reality will be content with the simple life in the Hundred Acre Woods. The more you learn about the nature of reality, the more frightening becomes the amount of stuff you realize that you are clueless about. There is a point where you can pass beyond that fear, but the rational mind cannot get you there. The brain can attempt to process more information than it is capable of, and “burning out,” often resulting in physical illness, mental illness, psychic abilities, and death. (Example: Semele seeing Zeus in him true Divine form.) Many psychic abilities are the side effect of a disability wherein the person lacks certain mental shields that would normally filter out “irrelevant” material, like other people’s thoughts and emotions. Hearing voices can mean that you are telepathic, that you are a “channeler” or “medium,” or that you are going insane. With a discipline like Zen, it may be possible to lose control of the rational mind completely, and yet retain control. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/16 "2003-03-20T21:37:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mothchunks \* > Many psychic abilities are the side effect of a disability wherein the person lacks certain mental shields that would normally filter out “irrelevant” material, like other people’s thoughts and emotions. Hearing voices can mean that you are telepathic, that you are a “channeler” or “medium,” or that you are going insane. With a discipline like Zen, it may be possible to lose control of the rational mind completely, and yet retain control. \*\* Except that there is no such thing as “psychic powers”. I have no facts to back this up, but I would assume that mental illness is just as likely in smart people as it is in the not so smart. The instances where someone has both genius and mental problems like the John Nash or the guy from “Shine” (Shiny McShine?) are notable only for their rarity. ---
**Author:** ![criminalcatalog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@criminalcatalog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminalcatalog)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/17 "2003-03-20T22:03:16Z")
Some of the most powerful minds in history have probably been suppressed by their fear of behavioral taboos. This fear likely leads to a tapering, or sometimes discontinuation of such radical ideals/contemplations. In this way, thousands of potential breakthroughs from such minds have been shot down, never quite maturing into expressible conceptions that accurately represent the powerful human ability to revolutionize the world we live in. It’s a damn shame that wildly erratic people (the type you’re referring to) haven’t the capacities to give distinct structure to their thoughts. At the very least (but still essential to a blooming civilization), these incomplete fantasies could be translated into artistic mediums. Unfortunately the mind can easily be corrupted in various indirect manners. A Thought-In-The-Works is misunderstood when expressed without confidence, too often twisted by unique perceptions of the listener, followed by automatic criticism. Basically, those who feel they are “intelligent” and “misunderstood” must fully understand THEMSELVES, and know how to convey their thoughts on the most general level, so everyone can understand it, without the possibility of misinterpretation. ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/18 "2003-03-20T22:14:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mothchunks \* > \*\*I do believe that it is more than a romantic notion that madness and genius are closely alligned. Someone who is blessed with a Winnie-the-pooh take on reality will be content with the simple life in the Hundred Acre Woods. The more you learn about the nature of reality, the more frightening becomes the amount of stuff you realize that you are clueless about. There is a point where you can pass beyond that fear, but the rational mind cannot get you there. The brain can attempt to process more information than it is capable of, and “burning out,” often resulting in physical illness, mental illness, psychic abilities, and death. (Example: Semele seeing Zeus in him true Divine form.) Many psychic abilities are the side effect of a disability wherein the person lacks certain mental shields that would normally filter out “irrelevant” material, like other people’s thoughts and emotions. Hearing voices can mean that you are telepathic, that you are a “channeler” or “medium,” or that you are going insane. With a discipline like Zen, it may be possible to lose control of the rational mind completely, and yet retain control. \*\* HAAAAAAAAAAAA! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA (inhale) HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA (inhale) HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA (coughing spazm) HA-HA (coughing spazm, inhale) my sides are hurting HA-HA-HA “WHEW!” “good one” have you ever had a class in psychology? ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/19 "2003-03-20T22:37:09Z")
Just for the heck of it, I did a google search, mental illness+intelligence, report after report showing that there is no correlation one way or the other between the two came up. ---
**Author:** ![Shadez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shadez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadez)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811/20 "2003-03-22T07:00:14Z")
I have BPD. I defintely don’t feel more intelligent because of that, I assure you. More _in spite of_. 😛 I highly doubt there’s any link. It’s sorta like saying if you’re a poet, you’re probably depressed and/or suicidal, which isn’t true, we just see more poetry of that nature than of others. /Shadez [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-personality-disorders-on-average-high-in-intelligent-minds/162811.md?page=2)