The basics in a nutshell
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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 intelligence tests can provide information about your intelligence.
Smart people have different characteristics that indicate their intelligence. Which of these apply to you?
You can recognize smart people by these seven characteristics
Intelligence has always been an exciting topic of research, and we deal with it regularly in everyday life – consciously or unconsciously. It can be crucial to the educational path we follow, the career we choose, how we deal with 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 an essential role, such as family context, enhancing one’s capabilities, 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: It includes basic thinking processes and is genetically determined, i.e. largely independent of experience.
- Crystal intelligence: It is the ability to apply acquired knowledge and refers to all the skills and information that a person acquires throughout his life.
Then there’s emotional intelligence, which has little to do with how high your actual IQ is. It’s more about how clear your sensitivity is, how you deal with your feelings, and how you understand others. General intelligence and emotional intelligence are usually considered independent of each other.
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How intelligent a person is can be determined by the IQ which can be determined using an intelligence test and is divided into points:
- <70 = very low
- 70-79 = very low
- 80-89 = low
- 90-109 = average
- 110-119 = high
- 120-139 = very high
- > 140 = very high
The tests, which consist of different types of tasks, are sometimes controversial because a variety of other factors can also affect intelligence. Therefore, some characteristics that can provide information about how intelligent someone is are also examined. We’ve summarized the features that are most important to you below. Of course, a person does not have to possess every one of these characteristics to be intelligent. It varies from person to person and is pronounced differently.
curiousity
Smart people are inquisitive, 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 from University College London found in a study that intelligent people are more curious even in childhood than their peers with lower IQ.
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Rulers of chaos
Genius and madness are as close together as intelligence and chaos. Various studies, such as one conducted by Northwestern University in Illinois, have found that chaotic people can be more innovative and creative. They also have a certain overview to it and sometimes there is a certain principle behind it that is difficult for others to understand. However, that should not be an excuse to get completely immersed in chaos.
Sarcasm and sarcasm
A sense of humor is also a hallmark of high intelligence, especially when it comes to sarcasm and sarcasm. According to scholar Francesco Gino, the sender and recipient must understand the contradiction between the literal and actual meaning of a sarcastic 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 Canada’s Lakehead University explained that introversion can be a clear sign of high intelligence. People who spend a lot of time alone are often underestimated or appear more reserved and go unnoticed at first glance. They prefer to take an observational position, for example, spending their time reading and learning new things in order to replenish their energy reserves and grow on a personal level.
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 to love, and why smart people have a hard time. One study even found that you can tell a man’s intelligence by looking at his face. Is this correct?
Adaptability
No matter the situation or problem, intelligent people act in a solution-oriented manner. This adaptability can manifest in different ways. When necessary, smart 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 behaving more effectively.
Observation skills
What makes us successful? Watch people with high IQs. This is the basis of all their analysis and problem solving. They also tend to think things through down to the smallest details. While this is generally a nice feature, it can also slow down your ability to make decisions. The same applies not only to actual situations and events, but also to hypothetical problems. If you think too much, you will quickly get frustrated. However, in principle, good observation skills are useful in all respects.
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Excessive or underdemanding
Just as people with low IQ can have a hard time, it’s not always easy for smart people either. Because of their complex thoughts, they can quickly feel unchallenged or even burdened by their environment. You should pay attention to these features:
- boring
- Over-stimulation and hypersensitivity
- Difficulties in interpersonal relationships
- Perfectionism
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