![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6673ea814901d.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bd5e0462.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bf74a7f3.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bf894d00.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54c2671b1c.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bf85bfa5.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bd567368.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bd546a85.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bd3255bc.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bdfdda80.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bd58fafe.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54beeae8fd.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bed348ff.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bd6a2354.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bd8e7977.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54c2721e6d.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bded79d7.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54be0d9446.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54be593f94.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54be8ec796.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54becd8938.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bebb3cd6.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bf6dd4d1.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54befea6c4.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bf191d9b.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bf30eef1.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bff6a250.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bf9e7e94.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bf9f278a.jpg)
![Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_5ec54bfcc46be.jpg)
See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Reading a lot
- We're starting out obvious, but many smart people love to get lost in a good book. Plus, reading itself has been proven to increase intelligence.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Modesty
- The Dunning-Kruger effect began with the discovery that the most competent students under-estimated their competence because they found the tasks easy, while less competent students overestimated their competence greatly.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
The mouth of a sailor - There’s a common misconception that people who swear a lot have a limited vocabulary. Studies have shown, however, that swearing may in fact display a more intelligent use of language as an added feature that an articulate speaker can use to maximize communication effectiveness.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Empathetic
- For a long time, experts considered IQ and emotional intelligence as separate, and it became a stereotype that smart people were lacking in social skills. But more recent studies have shown that people with high IQs also demonstrate high EQs, specifically regarding empathy.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Empathetic
- Highly intelligent people are good at being attuned to the needs and feelings of others and acting in a way that is sensitive to those needs. They're typically very interested in learning more about people.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Self-control - Studies show that people with higher IQs can curb impulses better, usually with a better sense of planning, goals, and forethought.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
Self-control
- An experiment published in Psychological Science offered test groups two options: one with smaller but immediate results, or a greater prize further down the line. The participants with the higher IQ scores opted to wait, displaying greater restraint.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Curiousness
- Displaying an insatiable curiosity has been linked with a high IQ, which makes sense because it aligns with a passion for learning.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
Comfortable alone - Introverts rejoice! A 2016 study published in the British Journal of Psychology suggests that smarter people tend to derive less satisfaction than most people do from socializing. They relish their solitude.
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
Thinking outside the box
- Many famously intelligent people have been considered weird or arrogant because they have a tendency to break or bend rules, thought patterns, and traditions. But that's how they find the best solutions!
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Messy
- A cluttered desk used to be a sign of a cluttered mind, but more recent studies are suggesting the opposite is true.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Messy
- In a 2012 research project, the Netherlands’ University of Groningen found that people thrive intellectually in a cluttered environment, and the disorganization forces the brain to focus more.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Observant
- According to psychologists, it’s about how the brain processes information, and highly intelligent people spend more time concerned with what they're observing than what they're presenting.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Creativity
- It’s easy to think of intelligence and creativity as separate because they're controlled by opposite sides of the brain. But, in fact, people with high IQs use both qualities together to achieve their goals.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Creativity
- Even Albert Einstein said imagination is more important than knowledge, "For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Night owl
- The late nights and later mornings lifestyle is often seen as the antithesis to success, but some psychologists suggest that the more intelligent among us can bend our biological clocks so that they are more able to reach personal targets.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Aware of limits
- You might assume that smarter people are less likely to say “I don’t know,” but the opposite is true. Many sources say intellectuals are actually best at acknowledging their limits.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Aware of limits
- And they aren't afraid to admit them! This ties into curiosity, because admitting you don’t know something becomes easier when you genuinely want to learn.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Open-minded - With regards to opinions, those with higher IQs are said to be more receptive to new ideas. That is partly due to the fact that they will not accept things on face value, and prefer to look at evidence from all sides first.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Open-minded
- Only after presented with a diverse selection of opinions do highly intelligent people make up their own minds. This process is called delay discounting.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Trust in their judgment
- After that opinion is made, however, intelligent people are not likely to be swayed. They have already made a considered and calculated choice, and they stick with it.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Cat people
- While dog people are more likely to be active and social, some psychologists suggest that cat people tend to have higher IQs along with being more introverted and sensitive.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Really funny
- In 2011, researchers from the University of New Mexico found that comedic writers had high verbal intelligence scores, and a follow-up study found the same in stand-up comedians.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Dark humor - Interestingly, a 2017 study found that people who score higher on tests of verbal and nonverbal intelligence are most likely to enjoy and understand dark humor.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Talking to yourself
- Contrary to the idea that it’s a sign of madness, talking to one’s self is actually said to be a sign of a high IQ and a useful thought technique for boosting memory.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Generosity
- Some psychologists suggest that people with higher IQs are more giving because they generally have greater resources, they can expect to recover what they have given later on, and they tend to be more concerned with the public good and joint benefits.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Anxiety
- Unfortunately, high levels of anxiety have been linked with high IQ levels, specifically with worries about social situations. But this isn't fact, just a possible connection.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
First-born
- Just a theory, but surely cause for yet more sibling rivalry, is Norway’s National Institute of Occupational Health’s study that suggests eldest children are usually the smarter ones. Not because of their genes, but because of how they are raised.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Adaptability
- Recent psychological research suggests intelligence depends on being able to change your own behaviors in order to cope more effectively with your environment. See also: Awestruck—why it's good to feel small.
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Reading a lot
- We're starting out obvious, but many smart people love to get lost in a good book. Plus, reading itself has been proven to increase intelligence.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Modesty
- The Dunning-Kruger effect began with the discovery that the most competent students under-estimated their competence because they found the tasks easy, while less competent students overestimated their competence greatly.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
The mouth of a sailor - There’s a common misconception that people who swear a lot have a limited vocabulary. Studies have shown, however, that swearing may in fact display a more intelligent use of language as an added feature that an articulate speaker can use to maximize communication effectiveness.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Empathetic
- For a long time, experts considered IQ and emotional intelligence as separate, and it became a stereotype that smart people were lacking in social skills. But more recent studies have shown that people with high IQs also demonstrate high EQs, specifically regarding empathy.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Empathetic
- Highly intelligent people are good at being attuned to the needs and feelings of others and acting in a way that is sensitive to those needs. They're typically very interested in learning more about people.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Self-control - Studies show that people with higher IQs can curb impulses better, usually with a better sense of planning, goals, and forethought.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
Self-control
- An experiment published in Psychological Science offered test groups two options: one with smaller but immediate results, or a greater prize further down the line. The participants with the higher IQ scores opted to wait, displaying greater restraint.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Curiousness
- Displaying an insatiable curiosity has been linked with a high IQ, which makes sense because it aligns with a passion for learning.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
Comfortable alone - Introverts rejoice! A 2016 study published in the British Journal of Psychology suggests that smarter people tend to derive less satisfaction than most people do from socializing. They relish their solitude.
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
Thinking outside the box
- Many famously intelligent people have been considered weird or arrogant because they have a tendency to break or bend rules, thought patterns, and traditions. But that's how they find the best solutions!
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Messy
- A cluttered desk used to be a sign of a cluttered mind, but more recent studies are suggesting the opposite is true.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Messy
- In a 2012 research project, the Netherlands’ University of Groningen found that people thrive intellectually in a cluttered environment, and the disorganization forces the brain to focus more.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Observant
- According to psychologists, it’s about how the brain processes information, and highly intelligent people spend more time concerned with what they're observing than what they're presenting.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Creativity
- It’s easy to think of intelligence and creativity as separate because they're controlled by opposite sides of the brain. But, in fact, people with high IQs use both qualities together to achieve their goals.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Creativity
- Even Albert Einstein said imagination is more important than knowledge, "For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Night owl
- The late nights and later mornings lifestyle is often seen as the antithesis to success, but some psychologists suggest that the more intelligent among us can bend our biological clocks so that they are more able to reach personal targets.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Aware of limits
- You might assume that smarter people are less likely to say “I don’t know,” but the opposite is true. Many sources say intellectuals are actually best at acknowledging their limits.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Aware of limits
- And they aren't afraid to admit them! This ties into curiosity, because admitting you don’t know something becomes easier when you genuinely want to learn.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Open-minded - With regards to opinions, those with higher IQs are said to be more receptive to new ideas. That is partly due to the fact that they will not accept things on face value, and prefer to look at evidence from all sides first.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Open-minded
- Only after presented with a diverse selection of opinions do highly intelligent people make up their own minds. This process is called delay discounting.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Trust in their judgment
- After that opinion is made, however, intelligent people are not likely to be swayed. They have already made a considered and calculated choice, and they stick with it.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Cat people
- While dog people are more likely to be active and social, some psychologists suggest that cat people tend to have higher IQs along with being more introverted and sensitive.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Really funny
- In 2011, researchers from the University of New Mexico found that comedic writers had high verbal intelligence scores, and a follow-up study found the same in stand-up comedians.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Dark humor - Interestingly, a 2017 study found that people who score higher on tests of verbal and nonverbal intelligence are most likely to enjoy and understand dark humor.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Talking to yourself
- Contrary to the idea that it’s a sign of madness, talking to one’s self is actually said to be a sign of a high IQ and a useful thought technique for boosting memory.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Generosity
- Some psychologists suggest that people with higher IQs are more giving because they generally have greater resources, they can expect to recover what they have given later on, and they tend to be more concerned with the public good and joint benefits.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Anxiety
- Unfortunately, high levels of anxiety have been linked with high IQ levels, specifically with worries about social situations. But this isn't fact, just a possible connection.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
First-born
- Just a theory, but surely cause for yet more sibling rivalry, is Norway’s National Institute of Occupational Health’s study that suggests eldest children are usually the smarter ones. Not because of their genes, but because of how they are raised.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Adaptability
- Recent psychological research suggests intelligence depends on being able to change your own behaviors in order to cope more effectively with your environment. See also: Awestruck—why it's good to feel small.
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ
Do you exhibit any of these characteristics?
© Getty Images
Over time, we've created a lot of stereotyped characters in pop culture who are smarter than everyone else and act in obnoxious or extraordinary ways. The truth of the matter, however, is that people with high IQs share quite a few personality traits that challenge the intellectual stereotype. But no matter how smart you are, some of these traits may surprise you.
Click through to see if you have the traits of an above-average IQ.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![Pioneering ways AI is being used in the Olympics](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a3ae28aa4d5.jpg)
![Unlocking your potential with a growth mindset](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fd8da0bfd4.jpg)
![Outdated workplace trends to say goodbye to](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a241cfb6915.jpg)
![The top 30 countries with the highest salaries](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a1257b5af9b.jpg)
![30 animals with surprisingly human traits](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fc7d59e9be.jpg)
![How to tell if someone is lying, based on their zodiac sign](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a0bf8100fc4.jpg)
![How to keep kids safe during a heat wave](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fda1b16851.jpg)
![The ultimate summer skin care routine](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a0f721df09f.jpg)
![What is the 'brat girl summer' trend all about?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a246addc9ca.jpg)
![Fascinating facts you probably didn't know about the Oval Office](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669f79198a06a.jpg)
![What are the ancient origins of your zodiac sign?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e75af237bf.jpg)
![What toll does spaceflight take on astronauts?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fa07d627e8.jpg)
![The comprehensive guide to managing and resolving credit card debt](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fc270d28d6.jpg)
![The dangers of compartmentalizing emotions](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6697c3f7ccd57.jpg)
![Decoding Gen Z slang: a guide to staying relevant](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66a0c15928804.jpg)
![The most polluted rivers in the world](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a98796a53a.jpg)
![Fascinating dog facts that will change the way you look at your pup](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_664c9ce143f08.jpg)
![Countries with the highest disposable income, ranked](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669fad641cf77.jpg)
![How the first letter of your name defines your character](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66969fdb92841.jpg)
![How did dinosaurs grow so big?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6697d2df7ee71.jpg)
![Mediterranean tragedy: the dangerous migration routes to Europe](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e61a422da8.jpg)
![How to grow food in the city](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663cb61851ff9.jpg)
![Everything you need to know about slow living](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663b862fda57a.jpg)
![The French origins of the Swedish monarchy](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663ba08c3840f.jpg)
![What rapid weight loss can do to the body](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6641df4c4a90e.jpg)
![Your guide to starting a successful franchise](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663a5255b413a.jpg)
![Seeking out the "four F's" of commonly foraged food](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66332bd2057c7.jpg)
![A parent's guide to raising emotionally intelligent children](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669e897d15e3e.jpg)
![How (and why) to create a personal development plan](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_664488d8abddc.jpg)
![Influential art movements of the 20th century](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663a042eaf13d.jpg)
![The key raw materials needed to power the devices of the future](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_663ce0b155915.jpg)
![The ultimate guide to starting your own podcast](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6638ff6812c6b.jpg)
![Roman mythology: important gods and goddesses everyone should know](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66992c92c8129.jpg)
![How your zodiac sign influences your personality traits](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_669a26da88b03.jpg)
![Galileo's astronomical contribution to science](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_6661b4e7ddfe2.jpg)
![Is workplace "mobbing" on the rise? How to cope if you're the target](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_665ee23c803f5.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week
-
1
CELEBRITY Relationships
-
2
LIFESTYLE Nature
-
3
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
-
4
TRAVEL Staycation
Be a tourist in your own city and fall in love all over again
-
5
HEALTH Covid-19
-
6
HEALTH Cognitive function
-
7
LIFESTYLE Bizarre
You won't believe these bizarre prison rules and regulations
-
8
HEALTH Bad habits
-
9
TRAVEL Destinations
-
10
TRAVEL Architecture