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Are you smarter than the average? 11 signs that confirm it

Are you smarter than the average? 11 signs that confirm it

March 28, 2024

What is intelligence? Many theorists have tried to define intelligence, and it is not easy. Different theories propose different ways to measure our intellectual capacity, from Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences model to the G-factor theory developed by Charles Spearman, passing through others that emphasize more aspects of our intellect.

Intelligence: more than an IQ score

Although many scholars have tried to question the way we tend to think about intelligence, the truth is that even today the main intelligence tests measure our IQ, also known as CI or IQ (in English) .


The I.Q is often criticized for being a score that does not take into account the complexity and the different manifestations of our intellectual abilities. Why are there people who find it difficult to solve relatively simple mathematical problems but have a great capacity to be creative or to convince their interlocutor with perfect arguments? Creativity and expressiveness are concepts that have little or no influence on conventional intelligence tests, but which are fundamental skills for an individual to develop and survive in today's society.

Habits and likes that can make you smarter than average

Anyway, and while academics investigate the different manifestations of human intelligence, what is clear is that there are people who are more able to successfully face certain challenges of daily life, while there are others that show more difficulties .


What differentiates people with higher than average intelligence? Obviously genetics influence, but in reality environmental variables play a very important role. People who do certain stimulating activities and have good habits are more likely to develop superior intelligence. There are also other conditions and coincidences that make us more prone to have a superior intelligence.

Through several scientific studies on the subject, today we have compiled a total of 11 signs that you are smarter than the average .

1. Be the big brother

Although it seems to be a variable of little interest, science has shown that being the big brother gives you a greater chance of having an IQ above the average .

How is it possible? The trick is twofold: there are certain biological factors that "reward" the older brother, since it was conceived and gestated by a younger mother (and usually also a father), and therefore with a slightly better state of health compared to the little brothers . In addition, there is also a factor of interaction and psychological stimulation between parents and children, which would provide greater resources to the firstborn. In fact, a team of researchers from Norway found that, in a sample of 250,000 men born between 1968 and 1977, the older sibling had an average IQ of 103, the second sibling had 100 points and the third sibling had lowered his score to 99. IQ points.


More information on this: "Older brothers are smarter than younger brothers"

2. Be left-handed

Are you left-handed? Preferential use of the left hand correlates with a higher score in the IQ tests . This does not mean that being left-handed has to be more intelligent "yes or yes", but science has detected that, as a tendency, left-handed people are a bit more intelligent than right-handed people.

In fact, the psychologist Maria Konnikova, collaborator and scientific disseminator of New Yorker, explained that lefties are more skilled using the divergent thinking, which defines as "that form of creativity that allows us to invent new ideas from a symbol". Konnikova also notes that "left-handers are more apt to combine several ideas to build a third." Seen the seen, it seems that lefties have a special talent to innovate and create.

Learn more: "Brain and psychological differences between left and right handed"

3. Concern

Are the people most worried about their life those who tend to have a higher IQ? Well, it seems so.

The psychologist Alexander M Penney carried out an investigation to 100 students of the University of Ontario (Canada). Each student responded to an intelligence test, and then they were asked about their level of concern. Students who claimed they used to have a concern in their head most of the time were those who scored better on verbal intelligence tests.On the other hand, another study at the SUNY Downstate in New York also reported that patients with severe anxiety had score levels in higher IQ tests , statistically, to patients with less severe symptoms.

4. Having used soft drugs at some time

Mind you, this does not mean that consuming soft drugs is good for your intelligence: rather it is just the opposite. But yes It seems to have been detected that people with high IQ in childhood usually try, sporadically, some drugs soft in adulthood.

To this conclusion came an investigation carried out in 2012 by James W White and his collaborators. White himself commented: "There is a clear relationship between high IQ in childhood and testing soft drugs as an adult. A Ci above the average could encourage to adopt risk behaviors in adulthood, surprisingly ". Be that as it may, it is much better to avoid drugs.

5. Have attended music classes

There is a lot of research that indicates that learning music helps us develop our cognitive and intellectual abilities s , especially during childhood.

After an investigation carried out in 2004, it was found that six-year-old children who attended singing or piano lessons for six months experienced an increase in their IQ score. These data were compared with other children who attended drama and performance classes, or any similar out-of-school activity.

6. Drinking alcohol often

Another curious correlation and that must be qualified. Although some studies have found that people who consume alcohol frequently tend to be a little smarter, This does not mean that the intake of alcoholic beverages makes us smarter . In fact, it is exactly the opposite.

There is a study conducted at the London School of Economics and Politican Science led by Satoshi Kanazawa who reported that there is a relationship between the level of IQ and the consumption of alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs. But we must insist: these are correlational tendencies that, both for our physical and psychological health, we must reject. Healthy lifestyle!

7. Live with a cat

Another curious correlation, but true. Or at least this is what several scientific studies say: people who live with a cat tend to score higher than average in intelligence tests .

Are you more of dogs or cats? If you're more of felines, you can feel satisfied, since a study conducted by Denise Guastello in 2014 found that cat owners statistically score higher on IQ tests. It is also true that dog owners differed in their personality profile with regard to cat owners, obtaining a higher score in extraversion.

8. Being breastfed

Many books and studies coincide in pointing out The importance of breastfeeding during childhood for the correct cognitive development of the child .

Neither more nor less than 7 points of difference in IQ between breastfed children and others who were bottle-fed, according to several investigations carried out in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

9. Essential: have a sense of humor

Do the intelligence have a relationship and have a great sense of humor? Well, it seems that yes, at least that's what science says.

An investigation by the University of New Mexico, in the United States, found a statistically significant relationship between sense of humor and IQ . In order to obtain these results, the scientists carried out a test to more than 400 students of the university to measure the CI of each one of them. Later, they asked these students to add a comment to satirical cartoons of a well-known newspaper, and the quality of the comments (in terms of humor, of course) was valued by anonymous subjects. Thus, it was detected that the smartest students were also the most ingenious and fun.

10. Know how to read at a young age

How old did you learn to read? It is not a trivial fact, since science has shown that there is an important trend: the earlier we learn to read, the smarter we will be when we are adults.

A team of researchers carried out various tests and tests on more than 2,000 identical twins in the United Kingdom. It was detected that the brother who first learned to read, had in the future a greater intelligence, expressed in his score in the intelligence tests. As it is easy to suppose, learning to read at an early age increases our verbal and logical abilities.

11. Is it possible to increase intelligence?

Yes, it is definitely possible to stimulate and enhance our intellectual abilities. I explain it to you in the following article:

"The 5 key tricks to increase your intelligence"

9 Signs You're Much Smarter Than You Think (March 2024).


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