Science
12 Signs of True Intelligence That Can’t Be Faked
When it comes to being genius, it is often hidden within what the society calls foolish or stupid. Take the example of Einstein. His school thought that he wouldn’t do much, and boy were they mistaken!
And this is not the only case. There have been so many geniuses who weren’t thought to be as big a deal until they finally made a name for themselves.
The reason is, that most of the cases, a genius doesn’t fit into the conventional boxes that society makes and therefore are often considered useless.
But here are 12 signs of genius which can tell you how it really is:
1. They use their left hand, or both
In various studies, it was found that people who are left handed fair rather well in creativity and innovation tests. Scientists believe this is because of divergent thinking, which is better developed in them as compared to those who only use their right hand.
2. They worry about things
In this study, scientists asked 126 elementary school kids to fill in question sheet about how often they feel worried about something, pay attention to rumors, or think about situations that make them feel upset.
It turned out that the kids who worried more than others got more points in the following non-verbal intelligence test. Scientists connect it with the fact that those who are always worried tend to do their work more properly.
3. They have an incredible sense of humor
According to one interesting study held at the University of New Mexico, 400 students took tests on their abilities to discuss certain topics. After finishing the tests, the students were asked to give their captions to some pictures from cartoons.
These captions were examined by independent evaluators and it appeared that 86% of the smarter students who had the highest amount of points on the test chose funny captions for the pictures. Later, the same experiment was held with comedians and all of them got more than average results on the verbal intelligence test.
As it turns out, humor affects intellectual abilities, keeps the brain and nervous system in a good shape, and makes us more intelligent.
4. They are always curious about everything
And this trait often gets them in trouble too. Being curious means that they are always ready to learn and explore new things. They would rather ask why something has to be done a certain way instead of simply following orders and thus they are often innovators and explorers.
5. They’d rather burn the night owl than wake up early
There have been so many studies conducted to study this particular trait. And all of them come with the same result – people who have proven that they have higher level of intelligence almost always prefer to stay awake at night.
6. They can’t remain focused for long-term
This might seem quite opposite to being a sign of genius but that’s how it is. This is because their brain activity level is off the charts and they have a hard time keeping all of it in control.
Related article: Only Highly Intelligent People Face These 5 Struggles in Life
7. They are used to walking quite a lot
This one has also been proven by many studies. People who live in cities where they have to walk a lot, turn out to be smarter than the ones who have various means of transportation available readily.
8. They know that they don’t know much
Someone who is truly smart knows how much there is to learn and observe and thus are never satisfied with their knowledge. They would always second guess their cognitive abilities. This phenomenon is also known as the Dunning-Kruger effect.
9. They have better self-control
They don’t let their emotions and impulses get the better of them. They are also better able to look at the bigger picture and restrain themselves whenever needed. They can think rationally and chalk out the pros and cons of a situation before making a decision.
One psychological study test the respondents and asked them to choose between two options — to get less money immediately or to get more money throughout the year.
The results displayed that the respondents who chose more money but later (those who had more self-control) got more points in different tests and achieved more success in the future.
10. They are procrastinators
There have been so many scientists who have admitted to being procrastinators. Steve Jobs, Adam Grant all used their procrastinating ways to their advantage. Stalling things is just another way of doing them more effectively and in lesser time.
11. They always need something to nibble on
Chewing gum is a favorite among people of higher intelligence and scientists have a reason why. The act of chewing or eating is said to jog up brain activity. It facilitates analytical skills and introspection.
12. They sleep often during the day
Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci, the greatest genius of his time, used to sleep after every 4 hours during the day? This trait is found in modern day geniuses as well and is owing to the fact that their brains tend to wear themselves out sooner. The amount of activity is too much for the brain to keep going without taking a quick break to recharge first.
