by the essentials in summary
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A distinction is made between fluid and crystalline intelligence.
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Intelligence cannot be learned, but it can be increased to a certain extent.
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Certain traits and an IQ test can give you information about your own intelligence.
Intelligent people have several characteristics that indicate their intelligence. Which of these options applies to you?
You can recognize smart people by these 7 characteristics
The topic of intelligence has always been a stimulating topic for research, and we also regularly deal with it in everyday life – consciously or unconsciously. It can be decisive for the educational path we follow, the career we choose, the way we face challenges or the way we live our lives in general. It is important to emphasize that it can be decisive, but it is not always. Ultimately, many other factors also play an essential role, such as family context, promoting one’s own abilities and much more.
In principle, intelligence cannot be trained, but it can be increased to a certain extent. Scientists distinguish between two different intelligences:
- Fluid intelligence: Includes basic thought processes and is genetically determined, that is, largely independent of experience.
- Crystalline Intelligence: It is the ability to apply acquired knowledge and refers to all the skills and information that a person acquires throughout life.
Then there is emotional intelligence, which, however, has little to do with how high the actual intelligence quotient is. It’s more about how pronounced your own sensitivity is, how you deal with feelings, and how you understand others. General intelligence and emotional intelligence are generally considered independently of each other.
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How intelligent someone is can be determined by the intelligence quotient, which can be determined through an IQ test and is divided into points:
- <70 = extremely low
- 70-79 = very low
- 80-89 = low
- 90-109 = average
- 110-119 = high
- 120-139 = very high
- >140 = extremely high
The tests, which consist of different types of tasks, are sometimes controversial because a variety of other factors can also influence intelligence. Therefore, certain characteristics that can provide information about how intelligent someone is are also examined. We’ve summarized the most significant features for you below. Of course, a person doesn’t need to have all of these characteristics to be intelligent. They vary from person to person and are pronounced differently.
curiosity
Intelligent people are inquisitive, inquisitive and open to the unknown. You have a high level of intrinsic motivation to learn new things and to devote detailed attention to topics that others may take for granted. Questioning things is as important to them as understanding them. Researchers at University College London found in a study that intelligent people are more curious, even in childhood, than their peers with lower intelligence quotients.
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Rulers of Chaos
Genius and madness are as close as intelligence and chaos. Several studies, such as one from Northwestern University in Illinois, have found that messy people can be more original and creative. They also have a certain general view about it and sometimes there is even a certain principle behind it that is difficult for others to understand. However, this should not be an excuse to completely sink into chaos.
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Irony and sarcasm
A certain sense of humor is also a hallmark of high intelligence, especially when it comes to irony and sarcasm. According to scientist Francesco Gino, the sender and recipient must understand the contradiction between the literal and real meaning of an ironic or sarcastic expression. This process is activated and facilitated by abstraction, which in turn promotes creative thinking.
introversion
In the journal “Personality and Individual Differences”, researchers from Lakehead University in Canada explained that introversion can be a clear sign of high intelligence. People who spend a lot of time alone or seem more reserved are often underestimated and go unnoticed at first glance. They prefer to take an observational position and, for example, spend time reading and learning new things to replenish their energy reserves and grow personally.
Intelligence can also have dark sides: do we sometimes think too much and feel too little? Here you’ll find out if you can be too smart to love and why smart people have a harder time. One study even found that it is possible to tell a man’s intelligence by looking at his face. And truth?
adaptability
Regardless of the situation or problem, intelligent people act solution-oriented. This adaptability can manifest itself in different ways. When necessary, intelligent people adapt to certain situations. On the other hand, it may also happen that they find completely new ways of dealing with their environment or a problem or of acting more effectively.
Observation skills
What makes us successful? Look at people with high IQs. This is the basis of all your analysis and troubleshooting. They also tend to think about things down to the smallest detail. While this is generally a great advantage, it can also slow down your ability to make decisions. The same applies not only to real situations and events, but also to hypothetical problems. If you ponder too much, you will quickly become frustrated. In principle, however, good observational skills are useful across the board.
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Excess or lack of demand
Just as people with low IQs can have a harder time, it’s not always easy for particularly intelligent people. Because of their complex thoughts, they can quickly feel unchallenged or even overwhelmed by their environment. You should pay attention to these features:
- boredom
- Overstimulation and hypersensitivity
- Difficulties in interpersonal relationships
- perfectionism
