Why some are smart and others are not: reasons and 5 unexpected signs of high intelligence

Throughout history, mankind wants to unravel the secret of the “smartest”. It seems that there are magical ways to pump the brain and become a great sage who knows the answers to any questions.

To some extent, there really is a miracle – genetic predisposition. Let’s remember that learning foreign languages is different for everyone. Some people can enrich their vocabulary to the level of a native speaker in a month, while others will not be able to do it for a dozen years… Alas, this inherent inequality is confirmed by neurophysiologists.

But if English remains unconquered, you should not get upset and give up. There are other indicators of neuronal functioning that prove the soundness of your intelligence. There is no single way to assess the level of mental ability, but researchers do not give up. With the development of science, it is possible to get more and more knowledge about the complex structure of the brain.

What is intelligence?

Before we proceed to the story about the discoveries that neurophysiologists have managed to make, let’s delve into the very concept of intelligence. If we believe the encyclopedias, it is about the ability to think, set goals and develop strategies to achieve goals. And it’s all of this that distinguishes us from animals. Although animals have the rudiments of mental activity, it was the development of intelligence that gave rise to human civilization.

Over time, people have been able to learn, build logical connections, think, analyze and draw conclusions based on the data obtained. The result of such work of the brain was the emergence of many useful things that made the world convenient and comfortable for life.

What do cognitive abilities depend on?

There’s no one consensus on this. The development of the mind is influenced by a combination of factors. Some researchers have identified a correlation between intelligence and working memory. The more a person keeps in his head and can reproduce terms, points of view, facts, phenomena, the higher the level of his thinking abilities. Such conclusions have been drawn by scientists.

But not only memory is fundamental in determining intelligence. Scientific evidence from the early 20th century identified a number of other traits that were evident in children with high intelligence scores.

Psychologist-psychotherapist, member of the Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists of Russia, ICF coach

One of the most famous studies was conducted by American psychologist Lewis Terman in the 1920s. He developed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, which became a popular tool for measuring giftedness. Terman also conducted a long-term study, examining the behavior of over fifteen hundred children with high intelligence scores throughout their adulthood.

From this experience, he concluded that subjects with advanced intelligence share common traits: early speech development, high self-control, social adaptability, and creativity.

Other studies have shown that intellectuals are often able to quickly analyze and solve problems, have a broad outlook and diverse interests, and have a high ability to concentrate.

However, research on the signs of high intelligence is not accurate and is often criticized. Some scientists believe that intelligence is a complex concept and cannot be reduced to specific characteristics and traits.

Be that as it may, most scientific research boils down to the fact that a certain set of qualities can set a person with a high IQ apart from the rest. So what are some other things that can be telling?

Unexpected signs of high intelligence

Business and clinical psychologist

We are all unique, and intelligence manifests itself differently in each of us. In fact, there are different types of it: emotional, social, and practical. Each of them is important in its own way and can contribute to a person’s success.

In general, intelligence is a multifaceted thing, and determining its level cannot be reduced to a single IQ test. There are also “life” ways – by character, behavior, etc. And often we do not even realize that these moments are indicative. What are we talking about? I would emphasize the following “unexpected” signs.

1. Sense of humor

If you understand jokes, you are probably smarter than you think. This is because humor requires a certain level of cognitive processing and creativity to grasp the meaning and make the necessary connections. In addition, humor is often used as a coping mechanism for stress, and smart people tend to cope better than others.

2. Sarcasm

Another trait that is often associated with intelligence is sarcasm. It is a form of humor that requires mental acuity and quick thinking. People who use sarcasm effectively are often considered intelligent because they can come up with witty responses on the fly. A study published in the journal Intelligence found that people who scored higher on tests of verbal intelligence were more likely to use sarcasm.

3. Critical thinking

This refers to the ability to objectively evaluate information, identify biases, and draw logical conclusions. People with this type of thinking are valued in the business environment. They are able to analyze complex situations and make informed decisions. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people who score high on critical thinking tests are more open-minded and tolerant.

4. Laziness

It’s hard to believe, but not wanting to do something is sometimes a sign of high intelligence. People look for ways to do their work more efficiently, and sometimes this can seem like a manifestation of laziness. For example, an intelligent person would prefer to automate a task that others would do manually, thus freeing up time for rest or other activities.

A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that people who score high on intelligence tests prefer sedentary lifestyles: reading, surfing the Internet, meditating. In their professional activities, they try to get rid of routine processes, automating them.

4. Tendency to loneliness

Although this is not the state to which most people aspire, but the passion for solitude, albeit indirectly, but can indicate that a person has a certain intellectual ability. Intellectuals have unique interests and views that are often not shared by others. This often makes it difficult for them to communicate with others.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychology found that people with high scores on intelligence tests are more likely than others to have fewer social contacts and spend more time alone. They simply find it difficult to find a couple and are bored to communicate on trivial topics.

So what influences the development of intelligence?

1. The role of genes

Many will say – it is heredity that determines whether a child in the future will demonstrate high mental abilities. In this case, the probability that grandparents without proper education and thinking grandchildren will reach heights in science is extremely low.

Such a theory was put forward and proved in 1876 by English scientist Francis Galton. Investigating the genetic nature of twins, he determined that inherited traits in the majority determine the ability to think.

However, within 50 years of the scientific breakthrough, Galton’s theory was criticized. Researchers-antagonists of the “twin method” noted the fact that the psychologist did not take into account in his work the differences in the appearance of mono- and dizygotic twins. Brothers and sisters, dissimilar to each other, are brought up differently.

It turns out that genes influence the level of mental abilities, but they are not the determining factor.

2. Upbringing and education

Cognitive development is largely determined by a child’s early development. Reading books, visiting cultural places – museums, theaters, musical concerts. All this allows you to “rock” thinking abilities. So believes the American researcher Christy White. He mentions the positive results of the educational project of the University of North Carolina, conducted in the 1970s.

As part of this program, children (up to five years old) were given various educational games to develop their thinking processes and communication skills. After completing the project, the children showed high scores in reading, math and IQ growth. In addition, they adapted better in school and after graduation most of the children were able to enroll in higher education.

3. environment

The place and people around which a person grows up and develops influence the development of the brain. This is what scientists from Berlin’s Charité Clinic believe. The result of their research in 2018 showed that the environment changes expression – the realization of hereditary information from the DNA molecule (gene) to protein synthesis.

If we do not delve into scientific terminology, this process means that severe stress, unacceptable living conditions can interfere with the hereditary factor and become detrimental to the development of intelligence. And vice versa – the more examples of intelligent and purposeful people in front of the eyes of adolescents, the higher the chance to develop cognitive abilities.

To summarize, we note that not only the knowledge of formulas and historical dates – an indicator of high mental abilities. Perhaps you or your loved ones are sometimes lazy and guffaw because you want to optimize and improve a number of processes in life. After all, washing machines and dishwashers were once invented to make household manual labor easier.

So that the brain can get pumped and neurons can work faster, do not neglect learning and form a favorable environment around you. It is especially important to consider these points when raising children. From a young age, you need to instill in your child a love for knowledge and research.