IQ tests are a great way to measure a person’s intelligence. But smart people share more than just a high IQ score. They also share unique traits, like having a great sense of humor, being a little messy, and being insatiably curious.
Do you have any of these traits? Are you just above average or Stephen Hawking smart? There are a few ways you can discover if you've really got the mind of a genius. It's time to find out.
John Nash Had a Beautiful Mind
In the 2001 film, “A Beautiful Mind” Russell Crowe played John Nash, a brilliant but antisocial real-life mathematician who made fundamental contributions to game theory and the study of partial differential equations.
But Nash isn’t the only well-known genius on the planet.
Albert Einstein Gave Us the Theory of Relativity
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity and his mass-energy equivalence formula, E=MC2.
His name is practically synonymous for genius. But just how smart was he?
What Was Albert Einstein’s IQ?
IQ testing was in its infancy when Einstein was around and there’s no real evidence that he ever got tested. But although no one knows what estimate this was based on, some news articles claim that Einstein’s IQ was 160.
of course, he wasn't the only brilliant historical figure who had their IQ estimated.
Nikola Tesla May Have Been Smarter Than Einstein
Like Einstein, Serbian-American inventor, Nikola Tesla never had his IQ tested, but his estimated IQ scores are said to be anywhere from 160 to 310. That’s not surprising since he’s the brilliant mind that came up with the Tesla coil, alternating current machinery, and the violet ray.
And if engineering devices is a sign of intelligence, then this next guy certainly has a lot of brain power.
Benjamin Harrison Had a Huge IQ
Benjamin Harrison was a lawyer by trade, and a successful church leader. The overachiever was running a successful practice at the time, but he wanted more.
He was elected as the 23rd president in 1888, and was said to have an IQ of 132.
You Like to Read a Lot
There’s a reason why smart people are often called book worms. They simply love escaping reality by getting lost in a good book.
In fact, some evidence indicates that reading increases intelligence. While not everyone that reads is necessarily brilliant, this next intelligence trait is definite proof that you're highly intelligent.
You’re Insatiably Curious
According to a 2016 report in The Journal of Individual Differences, being insatiably curious is a major sign that you (or perhaps someone around you) might be considerably intelligent.
That’s because curious people are eager to learn. But can you think outside the box?
You Think Outside the Box
A smart person doesn’t always limit themselves to rules or guidelines. To solve a problem or a puzzle, you step outside of your comfort zone and try to look at a situation in a different way.
You tend to simplify problems and find creative ways to solve the issue at hand. In essence, you think outside the box.
You’re Very Observant
Keen observational skills are a defining trait in someone who has a high IQ
because observation allows you to pick up on certain details that are so subtle that other people tend to overlook them.
You Took Music Lessons
According to a 2013 study, over-achieving kids most likely took music lessons. Did you?
If that's the case, then all that musical training might have stimulated your brain and enhanced those cognitive skills you already had.
You Have Self-Control
While we’re all guilty of being a little impulsive at times, studies indicate that people with a higher IQ are able to keep these impulses in control.
The reason behind this is because smart people are able to think ahead so they can achieve better results.
You’re a Cat Lover
According to a 2014 study performed on 600 college students, cat people scored higher on the part of the test that measures cognitive ability. Dogs and cats make excellent companions, but they suit different personalities too.
Denise Guastello told LiveScience that people who own dogs are constantly walking them, going outside, and talking to people, whereas a cat owner is usually "at home reading a book, and your cat doesn’t need to go outside for a walk."
You’re Left-Handed
Left-handedness is associated with divergent thinking, a type of creativity that allows people to come up with great ideas.
So, if you’re a leftie, then you can probably combine two objects together to make a third, or group a list of words into several alternate categories.
You’re Tall
A 2008 study showed that people who are taller not only score higher on IQ tests but tend to earn more money.
In fact, if you’re a tall person, you probably do a lot better on the cognitive part of tests.
You Prefer Your Own Company
Studies show that people who are smart prefer being their own island.
In other words, you would much rather be alone or in a small secluded group than be surrounded by a large community of friends.
You Talk to Yourself
If you’ve ever been caught talking to yourself, people have probably told you that you’re kinda losing it.
But as luck would have it, it’s actually a sign of intelligence because a lot of people think out loud as a way of brainstorming in order to retrieve something from their minds or solve a problem.
You Swear a Lot
Your parents probably told you that swearing a lot is something dumb and uneducated people do. But in 2014, researchers discovered that cussing up a storm shows that you have a wide vocabulary and are confident in using words society deems controversial, which means you're highly comfortable thinking on your own.
Plus, people who use expletive words tend to be more honest as cursing can help relieve pain.
You Learned to Read at An Early Age
If you learned how to read at an early age, then you were probably smarter than other kids.
According to a 2012 study on nearly 2,000 pairs of identical twins in the UK, sibling who learned to read earlier, scored higher on cognitive tests.
You’re Modest
While some people with high IQs have a reputation of being total know-it-alls, psychologists believe that modesty and intelligence go hand in hand.
So, if you’re smart and you know it but you don’t rub it in people’s faces, you’ll probably score high on an IQ test.
You’re Very Creative
Although intelligence and creativity are controlled by opposite sides of your brain's hemispheres, you should be able to use both to achieve your objective.
This allows you to explore other options that people with lower IQs would never consider.
You’re Empathetic
Although some people think that smart folks are socially and emotionally stunted, it’s the exact opposite.
It turns out that having high levels of empathy is associated with intelligence which may indicate a high IQ.
You’re Very Funny
Are people always telling you that you’re really funny? Well, let them know that you’re very smart, too.
In 2011, researchers at the University of New Mexico discovered that comedic writers scored higher in the verbal intelligence part of their test.
You Know Your Limits
Most people assume that smart people don’t like to admit they don’t know something because it will bruise their ego.
But if you have a high IQ, you probably know your limits and aren’t embarrassed to admit when you don’t know.
You’re Very Messy
Despite the old saying that a cluttered space equals a cluttered mind, a messy workspace or personal space suggests that intelligent people are often known to work in a cluttered environment.
In fact, a study at the University of Minnesota found that students with messy desks had higher levels of creativity.
You Stay Up Late at Night
Are you a creature of the night? If you love spending all night doing stuff like writing, reading, or even contemplating ideas and planning your future, then you’re probably smarter than the average bear. It turns out that people who are nocturnal are smarter than those who to go sleep on time and wake up early.
Psychology Today suggests that highly intelligent people are able to break their biological clocks to reach their personal goals and targets. How incredible is that?