Mindfulness may reduce prosocial engagement among high intelligence individuals

This study examined the role of dispositional mindfulness in the association between intelligence and prosocial behavior (PB). A total of 759 college students (mean age is 22.03; 477 females) participated in exchange for extra credit in psychology course. The results confirmed a positive relationship between intelligence and PB as revealed by many studies, with empathy playing a mediating role. Mindfulness negatively moderated all the hypothesized pathways between research variables. Specifically, with the increase of the levels of dispositional mindfulness (1) the intelligence-PB association changed from positive to negative, (2) the intelligence-empathy association changed from positively significant to insignificant, (3) the empathy-PB association changed from stronger to weaker. These findings may suggest some limitations of mindfulness. That is, present moment awareness and acceptance of the status quo may result in reduced arousal when witnessing others suffering thereby preventing high intelligence people from helping the sufferers get rid of trouble.