Clear Signs of Intelligence That No One Can Fake!

You can measure it, prove it scientifically, and sometimes you can even recognize it. Human intelligence is often mentioned in the same breath as common sense, a wide range of academic honors, or flamboyant behavior. Yet it is a gift that usually operates quite inconspicuously and remains hidden. It is not without reason that there is a wise saying: He who speaks the loudest has nothing to say. The fact that idiocy does not like to remain in the background has been proven many times by researchers, also in view of the well-known Dunning-Kruger effect. Nevertheless, even such a delicate plant as human intelligence reveals itself from time to time. We present 5 clear signs of this in this article. However, you can't train them, fake them or dramatize them. 

1. A memory like Sherlock Holmes

Anyone who can remember every last detail of even the most unimportant conversation from days long past definitely has above-average intelligence. The brains of such people function much faster and better than those of the average person. Retrieving the information can be imagined as similar to the that of master detective Sherlock Holmes in his famous mind palace. However, these people have no trouble remembering information and simply retrieving it when needed. It almost seems as if their minds work like magnets or sponges, soaking up every letter and syllable and never releasing it. Talents are distributed differently in this area. While some people have a phenomenal memory for numbers, which allows them to recall historical data, technical facts and dates in the blink of an eye, there is also intelligence that is more striking or works with words. Some particularly smart individuals find it surprisingly easy to recite entire conversations from memory. Still others remember things that can be used in daily life at most for a professional round of "Trivial Pursuit" or "Who wants to be a millionaire?". Some clever minds link colors with certain information and thus provide the proverbial red thread of Ariadne in her mind palace so as not to get lost in it. This tendency to synesthesia, as the experts call this gift, is innate and hereditary. It usually occurs in clusters within a family. Acquired synesthesias should rather not be desired. These are the consequence of serious accidents, which result in the loss of eyesight or a craniocerebral trauma. 

2. Self control 2.0

Intelligence is when you can see the consequences of your words and your actions in a split second, without having comparable evidence-based data to fall back on. This is where the area of social intelligence scores quite highly. Social intelligence also exists to let us know, in simple terms, when we should shut up and keep quiet. In addition, in the case of critical situations, our intelligence is instrumental in keeping our opinions to ourselves when the situation calls for it. Self-control is undoubtedly one of the more practical side effects of intelligence. It makes life less conflictual, more harmonious and easier. Our nerves are spared and stress symptoms from too much pointless excitement don't stand a chance in the first place. 

3. Questions that no one has ever asked

Intelligent minds can recognize correlations more quickly. However, they also see things where other people are not yet able to perceive them. Particularly smart people therefore sometimes unconsciously reveal themselves by asking questions that first cause everyone involved to frown. A simple but complex why is still harmless, even if it occasionally causes sweat to break out on the other side. Of course, it is a sign of intelligence to be able to think a plan through to the end, to check a thought construct for weak points and even to be able to anticipate possible future scenarios, ordered by probability, of course. The ability to always be one step ahead and to think around corners is a real gift, but it can also be quite a challenge in interpersonal relationships, because it can sometimes be at least as wise to remember the insights from the second point and not to brag too much about one's mastermind. The danger of embarrassing other people by doing so hovers over our heads like an invisible sword of Damocles. 

4. Empathy as a superpower

Intelligence and emotion are not necessarily mutually exclusive. On the contrary. People who are also blessed with an above-average IQ have an above-average amount of empathy. They are able not only to empathize with their fellow human beings, but also to think their way into them in the truest sense of the word. They perceive subtle vibrations in every conversation and notice in good time when the conversational climate threatens to tip over or things are left unspoken in the room. Since they have an exceptionally good memory, they remember stories and tales effortlessly until the next meeting, which makes them popular conversational partners. It is also the trait of pronounced empathy, which provides for sympathy points in the environment. Especially very intelligent individuals often find it difficult to find their place in a group. But empathy and a reputation for being a good listener make up for many incomprehensible verbalizations, with which they can occasionally thoroughly irritate their fellow human beings. 

5. Improvisation? No problem

Unforeseen events, unprecedented challenges and almost unsolvable problems are thumb exercises for intelligent people. Most of them appreciate a solvable but tricky problem even more than bobbing along on calm seas. Their brain capacities can offer and bring to action the appropriate problem-solving strategy for any obstacle on the horizon. Their excellent memory also helps in such cases, since similar incidents in the past can be effortlessly referred to. Intelligent people do not fear the unexpected in their lives. On the contrary. They see it as a sporting challenge, of course, also as an opportunity to shine a little and to be able to prove their abilities. Unfortunately, the flip side of this coin often means that they can quickly get bored in jobs or other areas of life and are always a bit on the lookout for the next adventure. Employment just for the sake of employment is decidedly rejected by smart individuals. 

Today’s Conclusion: Education = intelligence = serious misconception

Time and again it happens that a certain level of education is automatically equated with a higher degree of intelligence. Especially the so-called educationally deprived classes equate, for example, an academic career with more brains. Acquiring knowledge for the sole purpose of being able to repeat at the push of a button, like an averagely gifted circus parrot, has absolutely nothing to do with what we have come to understand as intelligence. On the other hand, anyone who can get through everyday life confidently and without conflict, who can feed a family with little money and who can always get life back on track even under the most adverse circumstances may gladly count himself among this group. Common sense and a certain degree of everyday competence cannot be learned in any school or university in the world. On the contrary, as the ancient Romans taught us, as long as you live, keep learning how to live. For this, any means should be suitable and any opportunity welcome. The majority of the most valuable lessons are free, but never in vain. That's it for today.