25 psychological signs of intelligence

There are many ways to measure intelligence. You can take a test to determine your raw score, or you can observe someone’s performance in real-life scenarios.

However, it isn’t always easy to see what sort of thinker someone is just by looking at them. That’s why observing a person’s behaviors in day-to-day situations is the most telling way to figure out if they’re intelligent or not.

Learn more about these 25 psychological signs of intelligence below.

1) Always seeking knowledge

If you are always seeking knowledge and new ways to expand your mind, it shows that you’re a highly intelligent person.

Intelligence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s an ability to learn and adapt to new knowledge.

You can tell if someone is intelligent if you notice that they’re always reading or staying up to date with current events. They’re constantly trying to expand their knowledge, which shows that they have a high capacity for intelligence.

If you notice that a friend or colleague is always reading as a way of improving their mind, then you can be sure that they’re a highly intelligent person.

Seekers of knowledge are not satisfied with their current level of understanding, which is a major sign that they have high intelligence.

2) Isn’t afraid of change or uncertainty

Fun fact:

The most intelligent people are not afraid to change their methodology or try new things. They are open to change and don’t fear uncertainty.

They know that the only way to improve on something is to change things up every once in a while.

If you notice that you’re always changing your method of doing things, always trying new techniques, and aren’t afraid of uncertainty, then you’re an intelligent person.

Intelligent people are not afraid to change things up because they know that this is the only way to progress.

3) Having a knack for language and words

Anyone can learn to use words to paint a picture, but only the most intelligent people have a natural skill for using words.

If you notice that your friend or colleague always has interesting things to say and is able to paint a picture with their words, then they are very intelligent. Words are a powerful tool, and only people who are intelligent have the ability to use them to their full effect.

4) You see the big picture

Another sign of intelligence is the ability to see the big picture. When you’re thinking about the best way to approach a project or solve a problem, you should always be thinking about the big picture first.

So what can you do to make sure that you’re always able to see the big picture?

Begin with yourself. Stop searching for external fixes to sort out your life, deep down, you know this isn’t working.

And that’s because until you look within and unleash your personal power, you’ll never find the satisfaction and fulfillment you’re searching for.

I learned this from the shaman Rudá Iandê. His life mission is to help people restore balance to their lives and unlock their creativity and potential. He has an incredible approach that combines ancient shamanic techniques with a modern-day twist.

In his excellent free video, Rudá explains effective methods to achieve what you want in life.

So if you want to build a better relationship with yourself, unlock your endless potential, and put passion at the heart of everything you do, start now by checking out his genuine advice.

Here’s a link to the free video again.

5) Having a good working memory

Having a good working memory is a major sign of intelligence.

The ability to recall facts and figures is a sign that you have a high level of intelligence. The most intelligent people are able to recall data without writing anything down because they have a high working memory.

If you’re able to recall facts and figures from a wide range of topics, then you have a high level of intelligence.

6) Showing problem-solving skills

Have you ever noticed that when you try to solve a problem, the solution always comes to you?

If so, it’s because you’re highly intelligent.

Intelligent people are masters of problem-solving because they have a high level of cognitive intelligence. For this reason, most highly intelligent people become successful in life because they can find solutions to problems.

7) Stay curious

People who are highly intelligent are always curious because they have a passion for knowledge.

They love to explore new things and are constantly questioning what they think they know.

They want to learn more about subjects that interest them, so they’re always trying to find new information.

What this means is that you can tell if someone is highly intelligent if you see that they’re always curious. And curiosity is a sign of intelligence because it keeps one inflow and alert.

8) Verbal communication is easy for you

linkedin sales solutions IjkIOe 2fF4 unsplash scaled e1660025996647 25 psychological signs of intelligence

According to Joel Pink, one of the best human performance coaches in the world, most highly intelligent people communicate easily with others because they are easy to understand.

He explains that the reason for this is because they have good verbal and communicative intelligence.

9) Be an effective leader

Based on his comprehensive intelligence assessment, Dr. Jason Sellew from the University of Houston concluded that leaders are usually highly intelligent people, even if they were originally uneducated.

Leaders have all the tools they need to achieve success and have a natural ability to communicate with others.

They’re able to motivate others to work together towards a common goal and inspire them to be their very best.

10) Having a diverse range of interests

Maybe you’ve noticed that you always have a hard time choosing a subject to study at university or college.

If this describes you, then you know that it can be challenging to choose something that interests you because there are so many options.

Maybe your challenge is choosing between studying psychology, history, and mathematics.

Some people see difficulty as a reason not to do something, but the highly intelligent person sees it as an opportunity to learn more about everything.

11) Confidence in your abilities

andrey storn cN4mNhnxTaY unsplash scaled e1660025933599 25 psychological signs of intelligence

Have you ever noticed that one person will tell you to do something and another person will do the exact same thing but with more confidence?

That’s because there is a big difference in the way intelligent people approach new challenges. They always have confidence in their abilities and are motivated to succeed.

They know that as long as they put the work in, they can achieve anything. And you can too if you believe in yourself just as much as they do.

12) You’re self-reflective

You might think that being self-reflective means that you are constantly thinking about yourself, but that’s not the case.

Being self-reflective simply means that you can see things from other people’s points of view as well as your own. It’s a sign that you have an open mind and are able to adapt to different situations.

13) You pay close attention to detail

This is a big one. The highly intelligent person pays close attention to detail because they want to be the very best.

They know that without paying attention to the little things, they’ll never reach their full potential. And once you eliminate the small things from your life, you’ll have more time and energy for what’s really important in this world.

14) You don’t let failure hold you back

Based on the intelligence assessment of Dr. Jason Sellew, highly intelligent people are more resilient than the average person.

They don’t let failure hold them back because they have a strong inner drive and passion to succeed in life.

They know that unless they fail, they’ll never get better at what they do and will never be able to achieve what they want in this world.

15) Be observant

As I’ve mentioned above, the most intelligent people pay close attention to detail because they want to learn as much as they can.

They know that without paying attention to the small things, they’ll never reach their full potential.

For example, highly intelligent people notice the smallest details in their surroundings such as the way they talk, the way they dress, and their body language.

They do this because they’re constantly learning new things. And by paying close attention to things like these, you’ll be able to pick up lots of tricks on how to communicate with other people effectively.

16) Show signs of creativity

Creativity is very important in life. There are many different forms of creativity that can be used for both business and individual success.

This includes musical, artistic, scientific, technological, and even financial creativity. According to Howschoolswork.org, the most creative people are highly intelligent because they’re able to use their intelligence to come up with creative solutions to everyday problems.

Creative people take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way and know how to think outside the box at all times.

17) Show constant improvement in your habits

I bet you’ve noticed that some people are able to stick to the same habits for their entire life.

Ever since you were a child, you might have noticed that your best friend always had the same style of dress.

And this might have made you wonder if they stuck with a certain style of dress because they were uncomfortable with change.

Well, it turns out that this is not the case. Their constant focus on routine and consistency makes them highly intelligent in every sense of the word.

By making sure that they always follow the same routine, they’re able to constantly improve their habits and continuously become better at interacting with other people.

18) Having a growth mindset

The difference between an intelligent person and someone who has a ‘fixed mindset’ is one of perspective.

Intelligent people are able to see life as a journey, rather than a destination. They’re aware that each new challenge will bring them one step closer to achieving their goals in life.

But remember that intelligence is a skill that can be learned and developed, just like anything else.

All you have to do is focus on becoming better than you were yesterday.

19) You can easily understand complex ideas

These ideas can be mathematical, scientific, or philosophical.

What’s important is that you understand and can apply the ideas to your day-to-day life.

Maybe your challenge is learning how to use new software or how to do your job more effectively. If that’s the case, then you know all about what it means to transfer complex concepts into something that you can understand and apply to your life

20) You react quickly in stressful situations

One of the signs that show you’re highly intelligent is that you can think fast and act fast when you feel under pressure.

This allows you to put your intelligence to use in situations where someone could be negatively affected.

Highly intelligent people are also aware of their surroundings and avoid places where they will be exposed to unnecessary stress.

21) You’re not easily intimidated by criticism or setbacks

You know that even the most confident, outgoing person can be knocked down with one negative comment.

But if you’re highly intelligent, then you’ve learned how to bounce back from criticism and setbacks.

You know that these failures will only bring you one step closer to achieving your goals in life.

22) There are no barriers that can stop you from achieving your goals

venti views I1EWTM5mFEM unsplash scaled e1660026182441 25 psychological signs of intelligence

The truth is:

You’re in control of your life, and no one else.

So if you feel like something is holding you back, then change your attitude or adapt to new situations.

The most intelligent people are well aware that their circumstances don’t define who they are as a person. Instead, they take charge of their life and focus on what really matters:

But like anything else, it takes a lot of work and effort to become highly intelligent. It’s not something that happens overnight.

23) Emotional intelligence

Have you ever heard of the term “emotional intelligence”?

According to Whatsthebestwaytobe.com, emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and control one’s emotions.

Well, if you’re highly intelligent, then it’s safe to assume that you have a good grasp on your emotions because you respect their power over life.

You know that your emotions control your actions and drive your life in every way possible.

24) Showing thoughtful behaviour

Many people believe that highly intelligent people are insensitive to the emotions and needs of other people.

But this isn’t true at all.

Highly intelligent people usually think about their actions carefully because they want to avoid hurting other people in any way possible.

They understand that the way they behave, their words, and even their facial expressions can have a big impact on other people.

This is why highly intelligent people try to be more thoughtful towards others and considerate of how they treat others in general.

25) Consistently using logic in a conversation

The last sign that shows you’re highly intelligent is that you’re able to express your thoughts clearly and effectively through words.

Intelligent people are able to express themselves logically and analyze their lives as if they were playing chess.

If you have seen chess players, then you’ll notice that they constantly think about their next move and how it will affect other players in the game.

Just like a chess player, highly intelligent people are able to predict how an action will affect their lives, and they make sure to avoid situations that can cause harm.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, these signs helped you to discover what it means to be highly intelligent.

If you feel that you’re intelligent because of your level of knowledge in a certain area, then feel good about yourself. But if you feel that the above signs don’t apply to you, then don’t feel bad about it either.

The important thing here is to accept who you are and focus on improving every area of your life.

Knowledge comes in many forms, such as books, films, and people. But the most important type of knowledge is self-knowledge. Once you know yourself better, then you can begin to improve every area of your life.

Picture of Thảo Anh Nguyễn

Thảo Anh Nguyễn

It is the little daily things that make life worth living and I know how to put you in the right perspective. I write about the intersection of life and love: how spirituality has changed my relationships, what I do to cultivate love in my life, and why I believe that all relationships are spiritual. Meet all your needs for your relationship and pieces of life advice with my articles.

Enhance your experience of Ideapod and join Tribe, our community of free thinkers and seekers.

Related articles

Most read articles

Get our articles

Ideapod news, articles, and resources, sent straight to your inbox every month.

0:00
0:00