The Top Traits Of Genuinely Intelligent People

Those who are intelligent are often the ones who read, and take on more education and courses in their spare time.

Socioeconomic status, gender, and ethnicity don't matter as much when it comes to intelligence, as intelligent minds come from all walks of life. There are multiple ways to assess an individual’s level of intelligence, such as through a high IQ, good grades, and a thirst for knowledge. While these indicators may be good ways to measure someone’s ability to learn and retain information, do they really point to the mark of a true genius? There may be certain personality traits intelligent people have.

From Beethoven and Einstein to Da Vinci and Faraday, some of the smartest minds throughout history may have shared much more in common than just the impact they made on the world. If you have always suspected you were smarter than average, you may find yourself identifying with the following characteristics.

Adaptability

The ability to adapt is often the defining characteristic between success and failure. Rather than being intimidated or threatened in new environments, intelligent people operate with extreme adaptability and learn to defy complications or restrictions placed upon them. Intelligent individuals understand change is a way of life, and they learn how to quickly adjust and thrive in new settings. Adaptable individuals tend to see opportunities where others may see failures, and they’re not afraid to grow and change, even if it requires a shift in attitude or belief. They are extremely resourceful, and when something goes wrong with a plan, they already have a contingency plan.

In the workplace, adaptability is a highly sought-after skill. Employees who can adjust to changing situations are more equipped to be valuable assets to any company. Since companies must adapt to a variety of changing dynamics to stay relevant in an industry, they need employees who can adapt to changing demands from customers, technologies, and job responsibilities.

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Understand What Is Unknown

For intelligent people, the word 'can't' simply is not in their vocabulary. They see the unknown as an opportunity to discover something that’s never been discovered before. Christopher Columbus denied the popular belief he would sail off the face of the Earth and used his built-in intuition to navigate the seas and discover unknown lands. Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most influential scientists of all time, was able to understand gravity was the unknown force that attracted anything with mass back toward the center of the Earth.

Rather than being afraid of the unknown, intelligent individuals view the unknown as an opportunity to explore and learn. They have the natural ability to understand what is unknown and to educate others about what they’ve discovered. Individuals who are intelligent are comfortable with the unknown like to ask questions about what they do not know and form their own opinions about a subject. Even after they have drawn a conclusion about a topic, they’re completely willing to change their minds later on if necessary. They understand there are many more unknowns in the world than knowns and there are multiple angles to every subject.

Curiosity is a powerful thing. Continue reading to learn more.

Demonstrated Curiosity

Curiosity fuels imagination, creativity, and innovation. Intelligent individuals understand there are plenty of things they don’t understand about the world around them. They are not afraid to admit when they are not familiar with a particular concept, but they use their unfamiliarity as fuel to learn as much as they can about it. People who are intelligent show demonstrated curiosity about a variety of things. They become fascinated about things others might take for granted, and they know intelligence is high-maintenance and requires a lot of work. They’re happy to spend time earning their intelligence by exploring just about everything under the sun, and their thirst for knowledge never becomes fully satisfied.

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Openminded

Rather than being happy taking things at face value, intelligent people understand a variety of viewpoints is a necessity to truly understand a concept. Intelligent individuals see the value in gaining multiple perspectives about life and experiences. They are comfortable seeking the opinions of many others to be able to weigh a matter with greater balance. However, they’re also careful about which ideas and perspectives they adopt.

In school, children who are intelligent may not be content they have genuinely learned enough about a subject even after the course is over. If they’re passionate about a particular topic, instead of being satisfied they have learned everything they need to know in school, they may continue to educate themselves about it for years to come. For an openminded individual, the process of learning is never satiated because there are always plenty of opinions from people across the world they haven’t had the opportunity to hear about yet.

Continue reading to learn about what bedtime might have to do with intelligence.

Staying Up Later

Many individuals have heard the phrase 'the early bird gets the worm,' but for intelligent individuals, the night hours are often when they become the most productive. Because of their thirst for knowledge and their insatiable curiosity, intelligent people are prone to staying up later than the average person. It’s their free time to play in the open spaces in their minds without distraction and to explore the passions they have had to suppress during the day. Active minds prefer to stay up late so they will have plenty of time to tap into their creativity.

Having enough alone time to ponder the deep mysteries of the universe is a must-have for intelligent individuals. By staying up late, they may find it easier to think and learn because they are more relaxed physically and mentally. Throughout the day, sharp individuals may be attuned to many different things the average person wouldn’t think about, which can cause them to feel mentally drained. However, when the rest of the world is sleeping, they may feel fewer distractions and stimulations.

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Enjoy Being Alone

Studies have shown intelligent individuals enjoy being alone. Highly intelligent individuals tend to experience lower satisfaction in life when they socialize frequently and don't spend time alone. One theory behind this is rooted in evolutionary psychology. Researchers suggest intelligence may be an evolved quality that helps individuals solve unique challenges. Intelligent group members could solve and overcome problems without needing assistance from their friends and family. This means intelligent people have brains that are more well-adapted to working alone, while those with average intelligence are better suited to seeking the assistance of their peers. Highly intelligent individuals may be more predisposed toward being introverted.

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Practice High Self-Control

Reports show genuinely intelligent people are more likely to practice high self-control. One study indicates the link may be related to the anterior prefrontal cortex. This portion of the brain is one of the last structures that completely matures. In the study, the individuals whose anterior prefrontal cortexes were most activated were the ones who scored highest on the intelligence tests and performed best on an impulse-resistance test. Of all the areas of the brain observed, this was the only structure that seemed to correlate to self-control and intelligence. Researchers believe the anterior prefrontal cortex helps with complex problem solving and managing simultaneous goals. This leads to both higher intelligence and more developed self-control.

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Sensitive To Experiences Of Others

Intelligent people are often sensitive to the experiences of others. Intelligence and sensitivity are commonly seen together. Though individuals with strictly analytical intelligence may struggle to relate to others, researchers have described a type of intelligence called emotional intelligence. This is the ability to recognize and respond to the emotions of others. Highly sensitive individuals tend to spend more time thinking and processing. They're good at problem-solving, but they may take a long time to make decisions because they mentally examine every possible option. They tend to take the experiences of others into account and adapt their views when presented new information.

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Have A Good Sense Of Humor

Intelligent individuals tend to have a good sense of humor. Different people find different things funny, but those who are intelligent have a highly-developed sense of humor and appreciation for cleverness. They may make witty observations or point out ironic things about reality. Intelligent people can often use their humor to challenge the perspectives of others by introducing them to a less rigid reality. Individuals who can use creative and refined humor tend to have higher IQs than the average population. In addition, a study by the University of Vienna indicates those with a developed sense of humor will score better on emotional and verbal intelligence tests.

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Are Often Cat People

Many intelligent individuals prefer the company of cats to dogs. One study showed those with cats had a higher likelihood of high intelligence scores, introversion, sensitivity, and open-mindedness. By contrast, individuals who preferred dogs tended to have more energetic and outgoing personalities. There are a number of potential reasons for this. Cats and dogs are very different creatures in terms of how they act. Cats tend to have distinct personalities and mannerisms, whereas dogs tend to follow similar patterns of energy and excitement. Cats also have lower energy levels and more laid-back ways of communicating, which can appeal to introverts. Dogs tend to be much louder and require more attention and handling.