Correlation between the level of education and the number of friends

[Spathi]

I have heard, that a study was performed, maybe in Brazil, and it showed that a correlation was found – more educated people have less friends. I was unable to google this work. Maybe somebody here knows it?

I found only the following:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293045439_Country_roads_take_me_home_to_my_friends_How_intelligence_population_density_and_friendship_affect_modern_happiness

Here the authors studied double correlations and found, that among people with very high IQ, those who have more friends are less happy than those who have a small amount of friends; among people with low IQ, the trend is opposite (those who have more friends are less happy).

It’s a pity that this study do not pay attention to the level of education – I think it is a more important descriptor, than the IQ.

 

[mcastillo356]

Hi, @Spathi, the study focused on quantitative or qualitative relationships ?.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Are you asking us to help you find the paper? Or are you asking us to discuss a partially remembered and possibly misremembered fact?

In any event, let me say that correlation does not imply causality, and also say that two variables may be correlated because of a third variable. ("People with advanced degrees work longer hours, and people who work longer hours have less time for friends.")

 

[gleem]

I googled "do more intelligent people have less friends?" and I got this the first item

7 REASONS WHY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE HAVE FEWER FRIENDS​

https://snapreads.com/magazine/why-intelligent-people-have-fewer-friends/#:~:text=One of the ultimate reasons,trying to understand their thinking.


this is followed by many more hits 8, 9, 10 reasons why intelligent people have less friends.

EDIT: Just wanted to add that birds of a feather flock together and there aren't a lot of intelligent birds.

 

[Ahmed1029]

I have heard, that a study was performed, maybe in Brazil, and it showed that a correlation was found – more educated people have less friends. I was unable to google this work. Maybe somebody here knows it?

I found only the following:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293045439_Country_roads_take_me_home_to_my_friends_How_intelligence_population_density_and_friendship_affect_modern_happiness

Here the authors studied double correlations and found, that among people with very high IQ, those who have more friends are less happy than those who have a small amount of friends; among people with low IQ, the trend is opposite (those who have more friends are less happy).

It’s a pity that this study do not pay attention to the level of education – I think it is a more important descriptor, than the IQ.

I'm not claiming to be that highly educated, But I'm relatively so in my environment. A big cause of my loneliness in my environment is that I can almost never have a meaningful conversation. I will always say things that are alien to the people I'm talking with, which will make them either nod to avoid embarrassment or completely disregard what I'm saying. I also use analogies across field which are just brilliant if understood, only to receive a nod. The problem is that I generally don't know if the other person doesn't know what I'm talking about; I will just assume they know all what I know, and it will only lead to frustration.

 

[berkeman]

I have heard, that a study was performed, maybe in Brazil, and it showed that a correlation was found – more educated people have less friends.

Do you even see how many things are wrong with this thread start? How many variables were not accounted for in this study? Why even bother trying to extract any useful information from such a limited BS study? Lordy.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Do you even see how many things are wrong with this thread start?

Eleventy-two?

 

[Spathi]

Do you even see how many things are wrong with this thread start? How many variables were not accounted for in this study? Why even bother trying to extract any useful information from such a limited BS study?

I don't understand your reply. You are talking about the Brazil study which I couldn't find, or the British study I cited? The latter seems to be a good work, it uses correct correlational analysis. I can post here some fragments of this study. And what means BS?

 

[Spathi]

It's a pity that my question is not answered; I'd like to add that Arthur Shopenhauer wrote that smart people have limited number of friends and this makes their life more difficult, and I also think that people join sects because sects are very efficient way of getting friends.

 

[Vanadium 50]

It's a pity that my question is not answered;

I'm, puzzled. Do you think you are entitled to an answer? Do you think other people are required to?

Your thread had a bad start, which you declined to fix. Is that our fault somehow?

 

[topsquark]

It's a pity that my question is not answered; I'd like to add that Arthur Shopenhauer wrote that smart people have limited number of friends and this makes their life more difficult, and I also think that people join sects because sects are very efficient way of getting friends.

Honestly, I think you've got your answer. There are variables that haven't been correlated. I have few close friends now, but I have had groups of friends in the past. It isn't based on my education level but where I've chosen to live and my habits of getting out of the house. My father had a Masters in Guidance and was one of the most personable people I've ever met. However, I've met others with a High School education who have few friends. It's all over the map.

I suspect that the problem is that you are expecting us to look at the paper and say "Yes" for this reason, or "No" for this reason. But I believe the comment that experiment did not correlate the relevant variables is the best answer.

-Dan

 

[phinds]

Sounds to me like the OP has few friends and is smart and wants confirmation from us that there is causality involved. I decline.

 

[berkeman]

LOL. Thread is now closed for good. Thanks for the good quality replies to the OP's question folks.