Psychologists and other experts have come up with many ways of looking at human intelligence.

You’ve probably heard of IQ (intelligence quotient) tests. These assessments are specifically designed to measure aptitude and ability.

Many experts believe a single test can’t give a clear picture of intelligence, in part because there are multiple types of intelligence to consider.

One popular theory, introduced by psychologist and professor Howard Gardner, suggests nine different types of intelligence exist.

Wondering how intelligence shows up for you? Here’s a look at 11 signs of varying types of intelligence.

  

1. You can’t pull them into humdrum storms, chit chat and small talk. They get bored with that and even loathe them. Start an interesting topic and they will dive in as if they had always been there.

2. They don’t waste time doing superficial, uninteresting, usual, common things that don’t benefit them in the long run, whether at work or at meetings, discussions, debates or even fights. They know when to lose in order to gain later or lose less in order to gain more. Their calculation is unnerving and not always obvious.

3. They will gladly let you be wrong if they think correcting you is not beneficial in any way. So if one is asking for casual advice the intelligent will usually say very little or nothing at all.

4. They have different and sometimes (well, most of the times) weird opinion/ ideas and questions that can unsettle most people and even irritate them.

5. They are hazardous for teamwork and more hated than respected for their singularity. If you are intelligent and highly respected- you must be a top gun.

6. Watch out. They usually break rules, try to make their own rules, and will question authority, systems, governing bodies.

7. They have two personalities: one for general people so they don’t appear as snobs, the other (the real one) for those people and situations where they can afford to speak their mind.

8. They cannot handle common boring mundane stuff and they cannot understand how others can actually handle it with pleasure and without complaints.

9. No matter what they do, whether eating, bathing, walking, watching TV, their minds are always at work trying to figure out the greater questions that may or may not have to do with worldly success at all. Their brains are always on the run.

10. One may watch a movie and can’t get past how terribly hot the actress looked; they will be thinking about the abstract plot of the film, raising questions from the story and finding its answers. One may admire a monument, while they will be wondering over the significance of the monument and how it may have affected people in past times.

11. They like to answer the Hows and Whys, rather than be awed by the finished product. Sometimes for no other reason than to connect and appreciate the works of another intelligent mind that put just as much intelligence and thought into their project. Some might take this to mean intelligent people dislike other people in general or have few friends, but here’s another take: Both introversion and intelligence typically involve spending time in your own head, where you might reflect on problems, brainstorm new ideas, and mull over past experiences.

This doesn’t necessarily mean people who choose canine companions are less intelligent. These findings simply offer some insight into how your unique abilities might guide your pet preference.

Certain traits associated with dog people, like extroversion, might even suggest higher interpersonal intelligence.

There are plenty of ways to look at intelligence, but most experts recognize that it goes well beyond book smarts.

Thanks for reading and support.