Every one of us has probably come across people that like to praise their own abilities. More often than not, such people are quite narrow-minded. As Shakespeare once said, “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.” Experts have since confirmed the Bard’s wise words, discovering the so-called Dunning-Kruger Effect — the phenomenon whereby intelligent people lack confidence in their mental abilities.
Do you doubt your own intelligence? Here are 12 indications that you’re mistaken. The chances are you’ll recognize at least two of these things in yourself straightaway.
1. You took music lessons
© BBC One
Numerous studies show that learning to play a musical instrument helps childhood development. One of these studies claims that just one month of music lessons can help 4- to 6-year-olds significantly improve their test scores and makes studying easier for them. So did you play the violin when you were a kid? Maybe that’s the reason you’re so good at thinking things through today!
2. You’re the oldest sibling in the family
One interesting piece of research has suggested that the older siblings in a family have moderately higher but significant advantages when it comes to IQ compared to their younger brothers and sisters. This is the reason why the oldest tend to be slightly more successful than the youngest in a family.
3. You have a slim figure
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In 2006, an unusual investigation was carried out. It revealed an interesting connection: the larger a person’s waistline, the lower their cognitive abilities. According to other pieces of research, 11-year-old children who receive poor test scores are more inclined to obesity by the age of 40. There is a high probability that their cleverer peers study better, strive to do better educationally, and will look after their health more.
4. You were breast-fed as a baby
Scientists from Britain and New Zealand studied around 3,000 children and found that those who were breast-fed as babies received almost 7 points more on IQ tests than those who weren’t. But this only applied to those who had a certain kind of gene (this gene is also present in those who weren’t breast-fed.) The exact mechanism determining the relationship between this gene and breast-feeding is still unknown.
5. You loved reading even as a child
© Warner Bros.
Do you have memories of reading going back to your earliest days? The chances are you’re very smart, especially if your love for books started when you were still in diapers. During the course of one piece of research, 2,000 pairs of twins were studied, and it turned out that those infants who learned to read earlier scored higher in tests later in life. The study’s authors believe that reading from an early age improves a person’s verbal as well as non-verbal abilities.
6. You’re left-handed
There is some data to suggest that there’s a large number of left-handed people among criminals. Experts have yet to explain this phenomenon. On the other hand, the latest research indicates that left-handed people are inclined to divergent thinking — a way of creative thinking that is employed in order to solve problems and tasks. Left-handed people are often more inventive and know how to get out of difficult situations better. Is that not a sign of great intellect?
7. You often worry
© Warner Bros.
More and more studies are proving that people who often worry about things might be more intelligent than those who don’t. It may be the case that this is a result of the fact that they’re always thinking about the possible consequences of their actions and therefore try to make sure everything turns out as best as possible.
8. You’re tall
Research carried out at Princeton University showed that tall children study better than their peers, and when they reach adulthood they end up earning more money. So straighten your back — you have something to be proud of!
9. You can be funny
© Universal Studios
It turns out that a sense of humor and high intelligence are connected. In one piece of research, around 400 students took an intelligence test, after which they had to think up amusing captions for scenes from cartoons. Can you guess whose captions turned out to be funnier?
10. You’re curious
A professor of business psychology at one London university came to the conclusion that curiosity is an important characteristic in intelligent people. Curious people possess a more refined form of thinking, and in the long-term they are interested in discovering new things and developing as people.
11. You prefer disorder
© kidspot.com.au
Creative disorder is a concept that was established long ago, and there is research that even claims that it serves as a kind of “fuel” for those with a creative nature. So don’t frighten away your inspiration with a grand clean-up — leave things the way they are.
12. You’re a real night owl
It sounds funny, but it turns out that people who love to stay up at night generally have a greater intellect than early birds. The ability to work and be creative at night, as is well known, was not given to us by nature. It’s for this reason that scientists reached the conclusion that intelligent people go to bed later because they’re striving to expand the limits of their abilities. If only we could survive on such little sleep!