Seems like 'smart' is unrelated to the ability to give or receive feedback, or maybe even inversely correlated.
Another aspect of this:
Say person B is smarter than person A, and A realizes this. Now person C, who is smarter than person B, joins the team. A can usually tell that C is smarter than B, but he can't realistically judge by how much because both B and C are playing above his level.
A consequence of this that when C joins the team, the working relationship with B will usually be established without issues. But A is likely to feel his own status is being disrupted because his uncertain perception of the relationship between B and C is going to challenge the status quo he had worked out with B. When A observes spirited discussion between B and C, A may have trouble recognizing healthy debate on the merits and may erroneously perceive it as some type of interpersonal conflict.
Another aspect of this:
Say person B is smarter than person A, and A realizes this. Now person C, who is smarter than person B, joins the team. A can usually tell that C is smarter than B, but he can't realistically judge by how much because both B and C are playing above his level.
A consequence of this that when C joins the team, the working relationship with B will usually be established without issues. But A is likely to feel his own status is being disrupted because his uncertain perception of the relationship between B and C is going to challenge the status quo he had worked out with B. When A observes spirited discussion between B and C, A may have trouble recognizing healthy debate on the merits and may erroneously perceive it as some type of interpersonal conflict.