Most intelligent people do not view themselves as intelligent, while the unintelligent often have an inflated sense of intelligence. Take it from Shakespeare, who said, “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
One could even argue that a person who doubts their intelligence is likely of higher intelligence. That’s a pretty interesting concept, and even more interesting is the fact that this theory is backed by a study carried out by Cornell University. If you still aren’t convinced, there are a few other science-backed indicators that prove you are much more intelligent than you may believe.
1. You own a cat.
In 2014, a study of 600 college students was carried out. The study intended to compare the intelligence of dog people versus the intelligence of cat people. And according to the study’s findings- cat people measured higher on scales of intelligence.
2. You are creative.
According to Dr. Katie Davis, who is a clinical neuropsychologist, creativity is a definitive sign of intelligence. Why? Because it requires us to think in a more flexible manner, which allows us to shift our perspectives and patterns of thinking.
3. You are curious.
In a major study carried out by the Goldsmiths University of London, curiosity is intrinsically tied to intelligence. And how we feed our curiosity plays a major role in our cognitive growth.
4. You’ve used recreational dr-*gs.
A 2012 study of over 6,000 British people discovered a link between high IQ and the use of illegal dr-*gs. “In our large population-based cohort study, IQ at 11 years was associated with a greater likelihood of using selected illegal dr-*gs 31 years later,” wrote researchers James W. White, Catharine R. Gale, and David Batty.
5. You talk to yourself.
While most would view talking to yourself as crazy, it’s a sign of intelligence. Psychologists Paloma Mari-Beffa and Alexander Kirkham of Bangor University carried out a study about this, and their research found that talking out loud provides a great sense of self-control. Self-control is a form of intelligence in a very important way, and thus they concluded that talking to yourself out loud is tied to intelligence.
6. You’re messy.
Psychological Science published a study that found that those who work in untidy environments are fueled to be more creative. To come to this conclusion, the participants were asked to come up with unusual uses for a ping-pong ball. Those who were working in neat rooms came up with far fewer ideas for the ball, while those in a messy room came up with more.