20 Subtle Signs You Have Higher Than Average Intelligence
Are You Secretly A Brainiac?
Intelligence doesn't always show in school grades. It manifests itself in a countless variety of subtle and surprising ways, from having complex hobbies to preferring solitude. While these things don't guarantee that you're a genius, studies have found a correlation between some seemingly random qualities and high IQs. Here are 20 subtle psychological signs that you're exceptionally smart.
1. You're Curious
Very smart people are insatiably curious. They love to work their brain muscle, meaning they adore learning and are interested in a large variety of topics.
2. You're A Fast Learner
If you tend to grasp concepts and new ideas more quickly than others, it's a sign you have a high IQ. It means your brain has a high processing speed and can recognize patterns and make new connections easily.
3. You Enjoy A Challenge
Very smart people don't always do well in classroom settings because they aren't challenged enough. If you enjoy learning abstract and complex concepts, it probably means you're a highly intelligent person.
4. You Enjoy Solitude
While it's not always the case, there is a link between high intelligence and enjoying solitude. This is because they value productivity and enjoy spending time on their hobbies or in their vast inner world more than spending their energy in social settings, where conversations are often superficial.
5. You're Witty
Highly intelligent people are quick thinkers. This often translates to a sharp sense of humor and the development of sophisticated wit, satire, or wordplay.
6. You Find Small Talk Difficult
Extremely smart people may seem socially awkward sometimes, but this is just because they have zero patience for small talk. When someone's brain is moving a mile a minute, they can't be troubled to talk about the weather.
7. You're Introspective
People with high intelligence are deep thinkers with rich inner worlds. They enjoy contemplating complex ideas and are highly self-aware and imaginative.
8. You Can Change Your Mind
Studies have found a link between intelligence and the mind's flexibility, meaning very smart people have the ability to adapt their opinions based on new evidence more easily. This goes hand in hand with the enjoyment of learning.
9. You're Good At Solving Problems
Smart people tend to be good problem-solvers. They can think outside the box to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.
10. You Readily Admit What You Don't Know
Intelligence doesn't necessarily come with humility, but usually, someone who's very smart can recognize what they don't know, not just brag about what they do know. After all, if you can't recognize what you don't know, how can you learn?
11. You Can Hold Two Opposing Ideas At Once
To people who are static thinkers, it may seem impossible to hold two opposing viewpoints at once. However, someone who's capable of higher-level thinking does this naturally in order to analyze complex problems from multiple perspectives before coming to a conclusion.
12. You Like To Read
While it's not a hard and fast rule, smart people do tend to be bookworms. This is because of their curiosity, love of knowledge and learning, and the fact that it enhances cognition.
13. You Can See The Big Picture
Where others can only process small steps, you have the mental capacity to look at the bigger, complex system. Your ability to understand how everything fits together allows you to plan strategically and create long-term road maps.
14. You Can Explain Complex Ideas Simply
A highly intelligent person is not only capable of grasping complex ideas but also synthesizing them into simple language so that others can understand. This demonstrates a higher level of comprehension and strong communication skills.
15. You Stay Calm In Stressful Situations
Highly intelligent people tend to be able to manage stressful situations because they're quick thinkers and problem-solvers. Their enhanced neural connections also give them stronger cognitive control, so they don't enter fight-or-flight mode as quickly as others.
16. You're A Night Owl
Do you like to stay up late? Studies have found a correlation between being a night owl and scoring higher on cognitive tests, although the reasoning is unclear.
17. You Have A Great Memory
While they're not the same thing, memory and intelligence are closely related. People with high intelligence also tend to have a good memory, which enables them to remember new information.
18. You're An Independent Thinker
Very smart people are less prone to groupthink. They use their high-level thinking abilities to analyze the available information and form their own conclusions instead of just following the pack.
19. Your Hobbies Are Complex
Because people with high IQs enjoy challenging their brains, they usually engage in more complex hobbies. They enjoy things like playing musical instruments, language learning, or rock climbing as opposed to spending their time watching TV.
20. You're Deeply Empathic
Being intelligent isn't just about what's going on inside your own head; it often extends to being able to understand others. While it's not a given, higher-intelligent people can often use their cognitive abilities to understand other people's thoughts and feelings.
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