Highly intelligent people add value wherever they go. They are like that light that shines in the midst of darkness. Their ability to see beyond, their inventiveness, and their extraordinary ability to connect seemingly disconnected dots allow them to find novel solutions where most fail. However, the characteristics of highly intelligent people go much further.
For decades intelligence was identified solely with IQ. Today we know that intelligence is not limited to the intellectual level and the resolution of abstract problems, but extends to all areas of life. In fact, a simple and operational definition of intelligence is the ability to solve problems with relative speed and ingenuity.
From this perspective, intelligence does not only imply reasoning at the abstract level and the application of logic, but also goes through the understanding of emotional states, creativity and even the ability to withstand pressure without collapsing. It also involves deep metacognition; that is, understanding how our mind works.
What are the main characteristics of highly intelligent people?
1. They acknowledge their ignorance
Many people believe that they are better than others, when in fact they are victims of the Dunning – Kruger effect, a bias that prevents them from recognizing their own incompetence, so they behave with excessive and unwarranted confidence. Instead, one of the traits of smart people is that they acknowledge their ignorance in some areas. They recognize their shortcomings, limitations or gaps because they know that this is the first step to overcome them.
Intelligent people practice intellectual humility. They are always open to learning something new and admit without shame what they do not know. This attitude allows them to respect other points of view and, at the same time, prevents them from clinging too much to their beliefs or ideas so that they prevent them from continuing to grow and learn.
2. They don’t blame others for their mistakes
Intelligent people often have a locus of control internal, which means that they understand that they have a certain power over circumstances. They are aware that with intelligence and perseverance they can go very far and achieve great things, although they also understand their limits.
Smart people accept praise for their achievements and take responsibility for their failures and mistakes. No more no less. They don’t blame the others or the fate when something goes wrong, instead they redouble their efforts by changing perspective. In fact, one of the main characteristics of intelligent people is precisely their ability to recognize mistakes and learn from them.
3. They are open-minded, do not resist change
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change,” said Albert Einstein. Smart people are open to new ideas and possibilities. They value the opinions of the others and evaluate different alternatives before making a decision. In fact, a study conducted at Yale University found that intelligent people tend to keep an open mind to other people’s points of view, and do not formulate their own until they have heard different opinions.
They are also aware that things change, so they don’t feel the need to hold on to their initial solution. They do not suffer from resistance to change. They have enough mental flexibility to change if they discover along the way that their plan doesn’t work. In fact, they are always looking for new alternatives that allow them to optimize their solutions.
4. They don’t react with anger or rage
A characteristic of intelligent people is that they have a high level of self-control. Not only do they know themselves better and explore their cognitive processes, but they also know how to better manage their emotions. These people tend to practice more introspection and know how to deal with their affective states, so that they do not become an obstacle during the problem solving process.
A 22-year study with more than 600 people found that both aggressiveness and intelligence are relatively stable throughout life. These psychologists from the University of Michigan found that a lower IQ was a predictor of aggressive reactions. Apparently, this creates a vicious cycle since aggressiveness also hinders the development of intelligence.
5. They are not conditioned by prejudices
Throughout life, we all develop certain stereotypes, which serve as quick reference points to move in a complex world. However, smart people don’t let those stereotypes or prejudices determine their decisions and behaviors. They are able to see beyond.
A study developed at Brock University with more than 15 .000 people, found that those with lower IQs in childhood were more likely to be more racist and homophobic in adulthood. They concluded that intelligence plays a critical, though often underestimated, role in biases.
6. They have a sense of humor
Another characteristic of an intelligent person is his or her great sense of humor. In fact, Sigmund Freud pointed out that humor allows us to safely and assertively release our impulses, expressing them in the form of wit. Humor is also essential to avoid taking things too seriously and being self-critical, so that intelligent people often laugh at themselves and their circumstances.
A study conducted at the Medical University of Vienna revealed that highly intelligent people tend to appreciate unconventional humor, such as black humor. Interestingly, these people also show lower levels of aggressiveness and a better mood. Undoubtedly, the ability to laugh at everything, even what is considered taboo, helps them mitigate difficulties, allows them to take a distance from what is happening and find better solutions.
7. They care more about things
Not all the traits of intelligent people are positive. These people also show a greater propensity to worry and ruminate. Different studies have found a relationship between intelligence and the tendency to worry more about things and ruminate on facts.
This is probably because intelligent people generally reject the most superficial explanations and need ample evidence to support a thesis. Their intelligence could push them to want to get to the bottom of things, or it could show them problems where others don’t see them. That could lead them to become more anxious, worry about potential threats, or analyze events over and over again until they find a satisfactory explanation.
Sources:
Willinger, U. et. Al. (2017) Cognitive and emotional demands of black humour processing: the role of intelligence, aggressiveness and mood. Cognitive Processing; 18: 159–167.
Penney, A. M. et. Al. (2015) Intelligence and emotional disorders: Is the worrying and ruminating mind a more intelligent mind? Personality and Individual Differences; 74: 90-93.
Hodson, G. & Busseri, M. A. (2012) Bright Minds and Dark Attitudes: Lower Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater Prejudice Through Right-Wing Ideology and Low Intergroup Contact. Psychological Science; 23(2): 187-195.
Coplan, J. et. Al. (2011) The Relationship between Intelligence and Anxiety: An Association with Subcortical White Matter Metabolism. Front Evol Neurosci; 3: 8.
Shamosh, N. A. (2008) Individual Differences in Delay Discounting: Relation to Intelligence, Working Memory, and Anterior Prefrontal Cortex. Psychol Sci; 19(9): 904-911.
Huesmann, L. R. et. Al. (1987) Intellectual functioning and aggression. J Pers Soc Psychol; 52(1): 232-240.
