Are You Smarter Than Average? 11 Signs That Confirm It
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 model of multiple intelligences to the G factor theory developed by Charles Spearman, through others that place more emphasis on some aspects of our intellect.
Although many academics have tried to question the way we tend to think about intelligence, the truth is that even today the main intelligence tests measure our intellectual quotient, also known by the acronym IQ or IQ. .
He I.Q It is often criticized for being a score that does not take into account the complexity and 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 are fundamental skills for an individual to develop and survive in today’s society.
Habits and tastes that can make you smarter than average
Be that as it may, and while academics investigate the different manifestations of human intelligence, what is clear is that there are people who are more capable of successfully facing certain challenges of daily life, while there are others who show more difficulties. .
What differentiates people with above-average intelligence? Obviously genetics play a role, 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 higher intelligence. There are also other conditions and coincidences that make us more likely to have superior intelligence.
Through several scientific studies on the subject, today We have compiled a total of 11 signs that you are smarter than average
1. Be the older brother
Although it may seem to be a variable of little interest, science has shown that Being the older brother gives you a greater chance of having an IQ above average
How is it possible? The trick is twofold: there are certain biological factors that “reward” the older brother, since he was conceived and carried by a younger mother (and usually also a father), and therefore with slightly better health status compared to younger siblings In addition, there is also a factor of interaction and psychological stimulation between parents and children, which would provide greater resources to the first-born children. In fact, a team of researchers from Norway found that, in a sample of 250,000 men born between 1968 and 1977, the oldest brother had an average IQ of 103, the second brother 100 points, and the third brother’s score dropped to 99. IQ points.
2. Being left-handed
Are you left-handed? Preferentially using the left hand correlates with a higher score on IQ tests This does not mean that because you are left-handed you have to be more intelligent “yes or yes”, but science has detected that, as a trend, left-handed people are a little more intelligent than right-handed people.
In fact, the psychologist Maria Konnikova, collaborator and scientific disseminator of New Yorkerexplained that left-handers are more skilled at using the divergent thinking, which he defines as “that form of creativity that allows new ideas to be invented from a symbol.” Konnikova also points out that “left-handers are more likely to combine several ideas to build a third.” Given what we have seen, it seems that left-handers have a special talent for innovating and creating.
3. Worry
Are the people most concerned about their lives those who tend to have a higher IQ? Well, it seems so.
The psychologist Alexander M Penney carried out an investigation with 100 students from the University of Ontario (Canada). Each student took an intelligence test, and then they were asked about their level of worry. The students who said they used to have a worry on their mind most of the time were those who scored better on verbal intelligence tests. On the other hand, another study at SUNY Downstate in New York also reported that Patients with severe anxiety symptoms had higher IQ test score levels statistically, to patients with less severe symptoms.
Be careful, 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 a high IQ in childhood tend to try some drugs sporadically soft in adulthood.
This conclusion was reached by research carried out in 2012 by James W White and his collaborators. White himself commented: “There is a clear relationship between a high IQ in childhood and trying soft drugs as an adult. An IQ above average could encourage people to adopt risky behaviors in adulthood, surprisingly.” Be that as it may, it is much better to avoid drugs.
5. Having attended music classes
There is much research that indicates that Learning music helps us develop our cognitive and intellectual abilities especially during childhood.
After research conducted in 2004, it was detected that six-year-old children who attended singing or piano classes for six months experienced an increase in their IQ score. These data were compared with other children who attended drama and acting classes, or no similar extracurricular activity.
6. Drink alcohol often
Another curious correlation that must be qualified. Although some studies have shown that people who consume alcohol frequently tend to be a little more intelligent, This does not mean that drinking alcoholic beverages makes us smarter In fact, it is exactly the opposite.
There is a study carried out at the London School of Economics and Political Science led by Satoshi Kanazawa that 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. Living 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 on intelligence tests
Are you more of a dog or cat person? If you are more of a feline person, you can feel satisfied, since a study led 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 compared to cat owners, scoring higher in extraversion.
8. Having been breastfed
Many books and studies coincide in pointing out the importance of breastfeeding during childhood for the correct cognitive development of the child
No more nor less than 7 points of difference in IQ between breastfed children and those who were bottle-fed, according to several investigations carried out in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
9. Essential: have a sense of humor
Are intelligence and having a great sense of humor related? Well it seems so, at least that’s what science says.
Research from the University of New Mexico, in the United States, found a statistically significant relationship between sense of humor and IQ To obtain these results, the scientists conducted a test on more than 400 university students to measure the IQ of each of them. Later, they asked these students to add a comment to satirical cartoons from a well-known newspaper, and the quality of the comments (in terms of humor, of course) was assessed by anonymous subjects. Thus, it was detected that the most intelligent students were also the most ingenious and fun.
10. Know how to read at a young age
At what age 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 more intelligent we will be when we are adults.
A team of researchers carried out different 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 greater intelligence in the future, expressed in his score on intelligence tests. As is easy to assume, learning to read at an early age increases our verbal and logical skills.
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:
