If my car can only reach 50mph, I can't drive at 100mph. If my car can reach 150mph, I can cruise at 100mph if I wish to do so.
What is it that a high IQ prevents me from doing that a lower IQ would allow?
What is it that a high IQ prevents me from doing that a lower IQ would allow?
Even if the individual does not fall into this trap, there is social pressure to worry about.
I have a high IQ, and I've worked quite a few jobs that others would consider beneath me. I enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed 'better' jobs and as far as I'm concerned, as long as I'm enjoying what I'm doing I'm not wasting a thing.
Another example: I've had an awesome idea for a start-up kicking around in my head for the best part of 10 years now... People think it's a good idea (I only ask those who are brutally honest about other things); there's a definite untapped market for it; I'd enjoy it; and I've got everything I need to be able to get it going by myself, without any significant cost. I'm convinced it would be a respectable success - so why am I still doing my day job? I'm too busy making music with two bands (at a cost, too), which I enjoy more. How's that a waste?
As for peer pressure - I care very little what other people think about my life, and besides which, I tend to hang around with people who feel the same way (regardless of their IQ, FWIW), so there's not that much peer pressure for me to disregard in the first place.
Perhaps having a high IQ slows down some kinds of learning because the holder tends to discount advice that is not presented in an intellectually compelling fashion. Telling a high-IQ child to behave a certain way 'because I said so' isn't terribly convincing. Even though the advice itself may be valuable, an inability to articulate why will hinder its delivery.