20 signs you’re probably smarter than the average person

How intelligent are you, really? If you find that most of these 20 signs apply to you, you’re probably smarter than the average person. No IQ test necessary!

 

You’re the oldest sibling

Being the oldest sibling has several advantages, like being able to tell your younger brothers and sisters what to do. After analyzing soldiers’ IQ tests, Norwegian researchers found that oldest children had an average IQ of 103. Second-born kids had an average IQ of 100, while the babies of the family had an average IQ of 99.

Oldest children have a unique relationship with their parents and younger siblings, which may explain the difference.

You’re a lefty

 

Being left-handed has a few benefits. For example, in 1995, New York-based journalist Maria Konnikova found that left-handed people are more creative than right-handed people.

You take drugs occasionally

 

We’re by no means suggesting that you should take illegal drugs. However, it’s interesting to note that according to a 2012 study, there’s a link between intelligence and drugs.

Researchers looked at the drug use habits of 6,000 people and concluded that occasional users were among those who had the highest IQs when they were 11 years old.

You drink alcohol regularly

Drinking alcohol can also play a part in intelligence. And contrary to popular belief, drinking alcohol doesn’t make us dumber. It’s actually the opposite!

After studying American and British people, scientists discovered that the participants with the highest results on intelligence tests in their youth were those who drank the most often as adults.

You don’t overestimate yourself

Have you ever heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect? This phenomenon occurs when less qualified people overestimate their abilities, while extremely competent people underestimate their capabilities.

Well, it’s possible the same thing applies to intelligence. The most intelligent among us don’t like to brag, because they understand that there is much they still don’t know. That’s not necessarily the case for people with low IQs, however…

You’re a night owl

Are you a night owl? If so, you’re smarter than the early birds, according to a University of Madrid study. More specifically, your analytical and conceptual thinking skills are above average. In fact, people who go to bed in the wee hours of the morning are usually more social, extroverted, and creative than the rest of us.

Throughout history, many famous people such as Marcel Proust, Charles Darwin, and Elvis Presley were known for staying up late. Who knows? Maybe you’re the next Mozart!

You’re funny

Laughter is good for your health—and your intelligence! Researchers administered intelligence tests to 400 psychology students and realized that the students with the highest scores had the best senses of humour. Are comedians society’s best minds?

You learned to read early

Did you learn to read early? If so, you’ll be happy to know that according to a British study from 2012, you’re probably smarter than the average Joe.

Researchers analyzed the reading habits of 2,000 twins. They found that the twin who learned to read first generally had a higher score on cognitive ability tests.

You have a cat

If you’re looking for a pet and can’t decide between a dog and a cat, this 2014 study might help you decide.

Researchers gave intelligence tests to schoolchildren who had cats and dogs and realized that the cat owners had higher scores.

You’re anxious

Living with anxiety can be difficult. In many cases, it’s also a sign of intelligence.

In 2015, researchers administered different tests to 126 schoolchildren to determine their anxiety levels. They found that those with a tendency to worry a lot and ruminate (think repetitively about a problem) had a more developed verbal intelligence than the other participants.

You’re politically liberal

The party you vote for says more than you may think about your intelligence. In one study, evolutionary psychologist Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa stated that children who got the best scores on an intelligence test were also more likely to be politically liberal as adults. There’s an argument to use (or not) during your next political debate!

You took music lessons as a child

You may have hated your violin or piano lessons when you were a kid, but they probably made you smarter.

A 2004 study showed that nine-year-old children who had taken piano or singing lessons increased their IQs in just nine months. Scientists didn’t observe the same effect in children taking drama classes or who didn’t take any lessons at all.

However, it’s important to note that a 2013 study found that children who take music lessons are more likely to have higher-than-average intelligence to begin with.

You lost your virginity late

We all know the cliché about the nerd who’s still a virgin in university. According to recent studies, it appears that there’s some truth to the stereotype.

Researchers discovered that students at the most prestigious universities in the world, such as MIT, had a lower number of sexual partners than the average. There were also more virgins in these renowned schools than in other educational institutions.

This observation can be explained in part by the fact that testosterone negatively influences the chemical processes in the body that control intelligence. The more testosterone a man has, the less intelligent he is. Secondly, more intelligent students are aware of the risks associated with sex and consequently have fewer sexual relationships. Lastly, they simply spend more time studying than others and have less time to meet people.

You have blue eyes

The color of your eyes can say a lot about your intelligence. Apparently, people with light-colored eyes are better at strategic activities, while people with brown eyes have a better response time.

In other words, someone with blue eyes is more likely to excel in science, while someone with darker eyes will fare better at sports.

You’re quiet

If you’re the type of person who would rather listen than talk at parties or events, you’re probably smarter than most! In fact, more reserved men and women prefer to take the time to analyze a situation before speaking. That’s a sign of intelligence, because they rarely say something they regret later!

You’re tall

According to popular belief, tall people are luckier in love, although there’s no way to know if that’s true. But according to a 2008 study, tall people are smarter than the rest of us.

Experts administered IQ tests to children and found that boys and girls who were taller than average had the best results, in addition to earning more money as adults.

You’re thin

Looking for some extra motivation to lose weight? What if we told you that thin people were more intelligent than overweight and obese people?

According to a 2006 study, our cognitive abilities decrease as our waist measurement increases.

Another study revealed a link between the risk of obesity and intelligence. Experts gave 11-year-old children verbal and non-verbal tests and discovered that the boys and girls with the lowest scores had the highest risk of obesity in middle age.

You’ve always got projects on the go

Intelligent people are never bored. They make excellent use of their time and like to learn new things. They often work 40 hours a week and take classes or do activities in the evenings or on the weekends.

You were breastfed

We already know that breastfeeding has many benefits for babies. What you may not know is that breastfed babies are generally smarter than bottle-fed babies.

As part of a 2007 study, researchers studied the nutrition of 3,000 children in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. They discovered that kids who had been breastfed had better results on an intelligence test. In general, their IQs were seven points higher than those of the kids who were bottle-fed.

You don’t smoke

In 2010, Israeli researchers compared the IQs of 20,000 young men. They noticed that men between 18 and 21 who were non-smokers had a slightly higher IQ (101) than smokers (94). In addition, heavy smokers—those who smoke more than a pack a day—had an average IQ of 90. Just one more reason to quit for good!