by 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 point.
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Certain characteristics and an IQ test can provide information about your intelligence.
Intelligent people have various characteristics that indicate their intelligence. Which of these applies to you?
You can recognize intelligent people by these 7 characteristics
The topic of intelligence has always been an exciting topic for research and we deal with it regularly even 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 underline that it can be decisive, but this is not always the case. Ultimately, many other factors also play an essential role, such as the family context, the promotion of one’s abilities and much more.
In principle intelligence cannot be trained, but it can be increased up to a certain point. Scientists distinguish between two different intelligences:
- Fluid intelligence: includes the fundamental processes of thought and is genetically determined, that is, largely independent of experience.
- Crystalline Intelligence: 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 IQ is. It’s more about how pronounced your sensitivity is, how you handle feelings, and how you understand others. General intelligence and emotional intelligence are generally considered independently of each other.
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How intelligent a person is can be determined by intelligence quotient, which can be determined using 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 several types of tasks, are sometimes controversial because a number of other factors can also influence intelligence. Therefore, some characteristics that can provide information about how intelligent a person is are also examined. Below we have summarized the most significant features for you. Of course, a person does not need to possess all 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 give detailed attention to topics that others may take for granted. Questioning things is just 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 a lower IQ.
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Masters of Chaos
Genius and madness are as close as intelligence and chaos. Various studies, such as one from Northwestern University in Illinois, have found that disordered people can be more original and creative. They also have a certain overview of it and sometimes there is also a certain principle behind it which is difficult for others to understand. However, this should not be an excuse to completely descend 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, 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 Canada’s Lakehead University explained that introversion can be a clear sign of high intelligence. People who spend a lot of time alone or appear more reserved are often underestimated and not noticed at first glance. They prefer to take an observation 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 whether you might be too smart to love and why smart people have it harder. One study even found that you can tell a man’s intelligence by looking at his face. It is true?
adaptability
Regardless of the situation or problem, intelligent people act in a solution-oriented manner. This adaptability can manifest itself in several ways. When necessary, intelligent people adapt to certain situations. On the other hand, it may also happen that they find completely new ways to deal with the environment or a problem or to act more effectively.
Observation skills
What makes us successful? Look at people with high IQ. This is the basis of all their analysis and problem solving. They also tend to think about things down to the smallest details. While this is generally a great benefit, 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 quickly become frustrated. In principle, however, good observation skills are useful in every respect.
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Excessive or insufficient
Just as people with low IQs can struggle, it’s not always easy for particularly intelligent people either. Because of their complex thoughts, they can quickly feel under-stimulated or even overwhelmed by their environment. You should pay attention to these features:
- boredom
- Hyperstimulation and hypersensitivity
- Difficulties in interpersonal relationships
- perfectionism
