Genius has nothing to do with common sense or emotional availability. I'm married to a PhD who sticks his head in the sand if what I say, is not what he wants to hear. He thinks that problems can be solved by pretending everything is all right.

Maybe this woman's husband is like that. Maybe he feels the emotional stuff is over his head. Maybe he thinks she asks for too much. Maybe he thinks that emotional demonstrativeness is "womens' stuff." And maybe, like smilinize suggested, he needs more attention from her.

There really isn't enough info here to give a less tentative answer.