the essentials in brief
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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 characteristics and an IQ test can provide information about your own intelligence.
Intelligent people have several characteristics that indicate their intelligence. Which of these applies to you?
You can recognize smart people by these 7 characteristics
The topic of intelligence has always been a fascinating topic of research and we also regularly deal with it in everyday life, consciously or unconsciously. It can be decisive for what educational path we take, what career we choose, how we face challenges or how we live our lives in general. It is important to emphasize that it can be decisive, but it is not always so. Ultimately, many other factors also play a fundamental role, such as the family context, the promotion of one’s own abilities and much more.
In principle, intelligence cannot be trained, but it can be increased to a certain point. Scientists distinguish between two different intelligences:
- Fluid intelligence: includes the basic processes of thought 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 the actual level of IQ. It’s more about how pronounced your own sensitivity is, how you handle feelings, and how you understand others. General intelligence and emotional intelligence are often considered independently of each other.
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A person’s intelligence can be determined by the IQ, which can be determined by 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. For this reason, certain characteristics that can provide information about how intelligent a person is are also examined. Below we summarize the most important functions for you. Of course, a person does not have to have each and every one of these characteristics to be intelligent. They vary from person to person and are pronounced differently.
curiosity
Intelligent people are curious, inquisitive and open to the unknown. You have a high level of intrinsic motivation to learn new things and 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 IQs.
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Rulers of chaos
Genius and madness are as united as intelligence and chaos. Various studies, such as that from Northwestern University in Illinois, have discovered that messy people can be more original and creative. They also have a certain overview of it and sometimes there is even a certain principle behind it that is difficult for others to understand. However, that shouldn’t be an excuse to completely descend into chaos.
This way you can score points with others.
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 at 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 adopt an observation position and, for example, spend their 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’re too smart for love and why smart people find it harder. One study even found that you can tell a man’s intelligence by looking at his face. It’s true?
adaptability
Regardless of the situation or problem, intelligent people act to find solutions. 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 to cope with their environment or a problem or to act more effectively.
Observation skills
What makes us successful? Look at people with high IQs. This is the basis of all your analysis and problem solving. They also tend to think things through to the smallest detail. Although this is usually 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 think too much, you will quickly become frustrated. In principle, however, good observation skills are useful in all aspects.
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Over or undemanding
Just as people with low IQs may have a harder time, it’s not always easy for particularly intelligent people either. Because of their complex thoughts, they can quickly feel unchallenged or even overwhelmed by their surroundings. You should pay attention to these features:
- boredom
- Overstimulation and hypersensitivity.
- Difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
- perfectionism