The truth is you may be more intelligent than you think. Although you may not exactly be a genius, there are several traits that you may possess, which are commonly associated with larger amounts of intelligence. So, the next time you’re feeling less gifted than another person, consider these points to reevaluate how intelligent you actually are.
1. A Love For Reading
If you love reading, chances are you’re a pretty smart person, especially if you started reading at a young age. In fact, a study researched over 2,000 twins and found that the sibling that learned to read earlier did better in school than the other one.
2. Worrisome
Studies have shown that people who worry more tend to have a higher intelligence than those who don’t. This is often because smarter people think about the consequences of their actions before acting on them.
3. Sense of Humor
Believe it or not, if you have a strong sense of humor, you may also have a greater sense of intelligence. In one study, nearly 400 students took an IQ test, after they had to write down funny captions for cartoon scenes. However, the students that performed better on their test also wrote funnier captions.
4. Curiosity
A London professor of business psychology found that intelligent people are often very curious. This is because people with more curiosity have a more developed way of thinking.
5. Music Lessons
There are tons of studies out there that show a link between taking music lessons and an improvement in early childhood development. It has been found that even one month of music lessons can help to boost a child’s studying abilities and test scores.
6. Messy Writing
Creativity is often linked to greater intelligence. Additionally, messy writing is one of the signs of a highly creative person.
7. Tall
Princeton University completed research that proved that tall children had better study skills than their shorter classmates. This study also showed these tall students making more money when they reached adulthood.
8. Cat Owners
In 2014, a study of 600 college students discovered that those who considered themselves dog people were more outgoing when compared to those who consider themselves cat people. However, the same study also found that the so-called cat people performed higher when it came to cognitive ability.
Related Link: 6 Scientifically-Proven Signs You’re More Intelligent Than Average
9. Stay Up Late
People who enjoy staying up late at night are thought to have higher intellects than those who get up early. Scientists have concluded that smart people go to bed later because they are always working on pushing the limits of their abilities.
10. Left-Handedness
Left-handed people are thought to be more creative and more inclined to divergent thinking. This also makes them better problem solvers and more inventive. These traits are all signs of increased intelligence.
11. Oldest Sibling
One recent Norwegian study found that the eldest child in a family is usually the smartest and most successful. However, this is not because of genetics. The research study found that average firstborns had an IQ of 103, middle children had an IQ of 100, and youngest had IQs of around 99.
12. Perfectionist
Smarter people are always striving for ways they can improve. They are not really satisfied with the status quo and long for perfection. This sort of behavior can be found in everything from work to appearance and other aspects of life.
13. Recreational Drugs Use
A 2012 study discovered a link between high childhood IQ and the use of illegal drugs later in life. Their findings suggest that those with higher IQs in childhood may be more likely to adopt potentially harmful behaviors to their health like recreational drug use or excessive alcohol consumption.
Don’t get down on yourself if you think you’re less intelligent than your friends, family, or classmates. In fact, you may be way smarter than you think you are. Hopefully, with the help of our article, you can realize your full potential and show off your intellect.