On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence.
But because people with high IQs don't follow that norm, some scientists believe that intelligent brains are simply more adaptable to what would otherwise be unusual environments, such as being alone or living in crowded communities.
You're an introvert.
It gets better. As an adult, you now leverage your strength for processing, contemplating and thinking things over, which is a trait of highly intelligent people. In fact, more than 75 percent of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted.
Some extroverts will certainly be higher than some introverts and vice versa. Just because a group that you belong to has a higher IQ or test score, does not mean that you will perform in a similar fashion.
Just a quick disclaimer, though: being an introvert and being a genius aren't mutually exclusive. And as of now, there is still no conclusive scientific evidence that they are.
Are you born introverted or is it something you become over time? Introverts likely develop due to a combination of both nature and nurture. The way that your body's physiology responds to the outside environment plays a critical role in determining your level of extroversion and introversion.
The brains of introverts look and react differently than the brains of extroverts. The key differences: The prefrontal cortex. Introverts have a thicker prefrontal cortex than extroverts, which means they have more tissue in the area of the brain associated with deep thought and decision-making.
Intelligent people seek solitude, especially when they have work and other important things to do. They also seek it when they just want to enjoy time alone with themselves. They're able to survive in this world alone and are perfectly happy because their happiness lies within themselves.
A major personality trait – openness to experience – is probably the only personality trait associated with high intelligence in general. One reason could be people who are open to new experiences could also be curious, willing to learn, and try new things out.
They won't talk as they don't want to give their game away. In fact, most intelligent people can be found out by how attentive they were listening to someone. They don't want to show off their knowledge and expertise and invite antagonism.
Around one-third to one-half of all people in the U.S. are introverts. Though it looks different in everyone, introverts have many of the same patterns of behavior. In general, introverts: Need quiet to concentrate.
Intelligent people tend to appear quiet because they are natural observers. They are listening and watching what's going on around them.
Some people who have autism may also be introverts, but the two are not directly linked to go hand in hand. Just like anyone else who has a sort of social anxiety, it may just be the particular or specific person who is the introvert and not necessarily something that they have separated from this.
Interacting with other people can be more difficult for smart people because these interactions don't follow a specific set of rules; they just happen. This lack of control over social situations can easily trigger anxiety.
However, while introverts are a minority group in society, they form the majority of gifted people. Moreover, it appears that introversion increases with intelligence so that more than 75% of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted.
There is a link between introversion and creativity. If you look at some of the world's preeminent inventors, writers, and entrepreneurs, most of them are introverts. That's because introverts enjoy expressing themselves creatively through their work.
While there are many signs to indicate someone may be highly intelligent, the most common are a pleasant attitude and hardworking nature, excellent memory and recall capacity, good decision-making and problem-solving skills, high curiosity, good language proficiency, and high emotional intelligence.
While they might have high standards and big picture concerns, research shows that people with high IQs are actually more likely to be happy; data from the research showed that people with the highest IQs were much happier than those with the lowest IQs.
Most people have an average IQ between 85 and 115. Overall, about 98% of people have a score below 130.
Research suggests that highly intelligent people get bored easily and spend more time thinking, behaviour that comes across as 'laziness'. A study by the Florida Gulf Coast University looked at a group of 'thinkers' and 'non-thinkers', studying their activity levels over the course of a week.
Someone with a low, average, or high IQ can develop depression. It is thought that measures of intelligence may influence a future psychiatric diagnosis. Because there are many risk factors for depression, including trauma, chronic illness, and genes, a person should consult a doctor if they are experiencing symptoms.
High intelligence, low arrogance.
They're likely to expect their work to speak for them and may have trouble selling themselves when necessary. They're more inclined to be facilitative and supportive in a leadership role than aggressive, charismatic or forceful.
Weaknesses: social anxiety, shyness, navigating a predominantly extroverted world.
"Introverts listen more than they speak. They're really deep thinkers - they're not the loudest ones in the room," explains Shriar. Extroverts, on the other hand, are often the ones to dominate discussions in their personal and professional capacity.
“Most introverts need to think first and talk later.” When it comes to sex, this means that introverts are observing and dissecting everything that's going on, which is just as tiring as the physical act itself.