If you’re someone who feels perfectly comfortable with just a few close friends, there may be more behind it than simply being introverted. Research has suggested that highly intelligent people may actually be happier with a smaller social circle.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychology examined the relationship between intelligence, social interaction, population density, and happiness. The researchers looked at the idea known as the “savanna theory of happiness,” which suggests that our brains still carry many preferences shaped by the way our ancestors lived.

For most people, social interaction tends to be linked with greater happiness. Spending time with friends and maintaining strong relationships can make life more satisfying. However, the researchers found an interesting difference among people with higher intelligence.

According to the study, highly intelligent individuals did not experience the same boost in life satisfaction from frequent socializing. In fact, they appeared to be less satisfied when they spent more time socializing with friends.

Why might that be?

One possibility is that intelligent people are more likely to devote their time and energy to personal goals, hobbies, creative projects, or other activities they find deeply rewarding. They may simply gain more satisfaction from pursuing their own interests than from constantly being around other people.

Another theory is that highly intelligent individuals may be better equipped to adapt to the demands of modern life. If humans are naturally wired for smaller, close-knit communities, people with greater cognitive abilities may be less dependent on frequent social interaction.

Of course, this doesn’t mean intelligent people dislike friendship or prefer to be completely alone. Rather, they may be more selective about who they spend their time with and may feel perfectly content maintaining a small circle of close relationships.

So, if you’ve always preferred a handful of meaningful friendships over a huge social circle, it may not be a bad thing at all. Being comfortable with your own company and selective about your relationships could simply be part of your personality—and, according to some research, it may even be associated with higher intelligence.