6 signs you’re dealing with a highly intelligent individual, according to psychology

Remember the 2008 multi Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire? The one with the song Jai Ho that became an anthem of sorts?

18-year-old Jamal Malik (played by Dev Patel) is an Indian Muslim from the slums of Juhu in Mumbai. 

Jamal becomes a contestant on Kaun Banega Crorepati?—the Indian version of the American quiz show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 

Jamal didn’t try to get on the show to win money; rather, it was a final attempt to reach the young woman he loved but who he lost contact with. He becomes a contestant because he knows she watches the show. 

When he manages to get on the show, Jamal stuns everyone by being able to answer every single question correctly and he wins the equivalent of $460,000 US. 

But because of his background, he is accused of cheating. Jamal recounts his life story to the police which describes how he was able to answer each question correctly. 

Through a series of flashbacks, Jamal relates the specific incidents of his life that provided him with the correct answers. 

I think Jamal’s character conveys the idea that intelligence is much more than being “smart” or “well read”.

It is an exceptional ability to reason, connect things and communicate them coherently. This is especially evident when he makes his case to the police. 

From a psychological perspective, here are a number of ways that show you’re dealing with someone who is highly intelligent. 

Here are five of them. 

1) You’re amazed at how meticulous their memory is 

Psychological research indicates that highly intelligent people have something called fluid intelligence, says the team at PsyBlog. 

Having a high fluid IQ means that a person is able to store more items in their short-term memory. Think of it like the raw power of an engine or the speed at which a computer can process information. 

Here’s another pop culture example to illustrate this point: 

For all you Suits fans out there (myself included), I think we can all agree that the character of Mike Ross had a high level of fluid intelligence: he was able to remember and retain every single thing he read or saw with absolute precision. 

“High IQ is linked to the quantity of items a person can store in short-term memory, not the quality. [So] fluid intelligence refers to the speed at which the brain works.”

Scientists also define fluid intelligence as the ability to solve new problems, use logic in new situations, and identify patterns (things Mike Ross did on a regular basis as a “lawyer”). 

“Using a complicated subway system in a new city is a good example of how you might need to use fluid intelligence,” say psychology experts Alexandria Dillon and Wind Goodfriend.

2) You’ve noticed how they never take things at face value

Having tacit knowledge set highly intelligent people apart, says Aditya Shukla from Cognition Today. 

“[This] is the ability to understand things that are not always said out loud.”

Tacit knowledge can relate to things like cultural sensitivity, conversational dynamics, and something like flirting, for example.

That’s because for all of the above you have to be able to pick up on non-verbal cues acquired through body language, actions, trial and error, life experience, as well as deductive reasoning, explains Shukla. 

“For example: When is it right to pick a debate? When is it a bad time to ask someone out on a date? Tacit knowledge is heavily dependent on the context.”

Highly intelligent people are very good at looking past the obvious and peeling back the layers.

They also defer to their intuition and because it’s so fine-tuned, it rarely ever lets them down. 

3) You’ve seen how in control they are of their senses 

Having self-control is a sign of emotional intelligence because it means you’re more likely to think before you speak or act.

“You know how to control your emotions and impulses so they won’t cause any harm,” says Dr. Catherine Jackson, licensed clinical psychologist and board certified neuropathist. 

“When [emotionally intelligent people] experience discomfort in their lives, they also work to solve the issue and reduce the discomfort quickly,” she says. 

High intelligence and self-control is linked to wise reasoning, dealing more effectively with stressful situations, and feeling more confident, says the team at PsyBlog. 

Dr. Alexa Tullett and Dr. Michael Inzlicht are co-authors of a study which indicates that intelligent people tend to use an inner voice to talk to themselves. This ability helps them to organize their thoughts and control impulsive behavior. 

“We found that people acted more impulsively when they couldn’t use their inner voice or talk themselves through tasks,” Dr. Inzlicht said. 

“Without being able to verbalize messages to themselves, they were not able to exercise the same amount of self control as when they could talk themselves through the process.”

4) You know they refuse to judge a book by its cover 

There are a few reasons why highly intelligent people tend to have good judgment, says transformational coach Anuj Sharma. 

For one thing they have an innate curiosity: highly intelligent people have a natural curiosity about the world around them, Sharma says. They ask questions, seek knowledge, and are eager to find out more.

“Highly intelligent individuals are skilled critical thinkers. They can analyze information objectively, assess arguments, and make informed decisions.”

They’re also open-minded so they won’t rush to judgment. “They are open to new ideas, diverse perspectives, and constructive feedback,” Sharma adds. 

“They value humility and are willing to change their views based on evidence.”

5) There is always a strategy behind their creativity 

Jonathan Wai, PhD from Psychology Today says that creativity and intelligence are not necessarily synonymous but “I think what…studies suggest is that there is probably more overlap between intelligence and creativity than we realize.”

But here’s the thing: highly intelligent people don’t follow every creative inspiration that pops into their heads. 

“Having higher-than-average intelligence might contribute to creativity, but having an IQ over 120 does not necessarily lead to greater creativity,”

clarifies Kendra Cherry MSEd. from Very Well Mind. 

“Balancing creativity with practical knowledge means knowing which ideas to pursue and which to rework or abandon,” is common in those who are highly intelligent. 

6) You admire how empathetic they are 

Highly intelligent people have the ability to experience things from someone else’s perspective, says Karin Gepp, PsyD. 

“People with high emotional intelligence generally have a pretty good awareness of what others think and feel,” she says. 

Gepp says that empathy is a sign of high emotional intelligence; these people can sense when others are struggling even by subtle signs in their body language or behavior. 

“Empathy can also show up as a deeper level of consideration and acceptance of the varied experiences of others.”

Empathy is something that can be developed and enhanced. 

“Learning more about others and expressing your concern for them can foster even stronger emotional intelligence.”

Gepp says that people with a high level of emotional intelligence have a number of qualities that make them stand out:

• aAs we mentioned above, they are able to manage their impulsive feelings and behaviors 
• They reflect on their emotions 
• They pay attention to the feelings, needs, and concerns of the people around them 
• They observe and learn about the power dynamics in a particular group
• They practice communicating clearly, and they ask others for feedback and advice 
• In group situations, they practice managing conflict rather than adding to it