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Are you smarter than you think?
Researchers have spent decades discussing what makes people clever, with everything from genetics to upbringing thought to play a part.
Now, Inc magazine have narrowed it down into 10 simple traits which may suggest you’re a secret genius.
How many apply to you?
1. You’re the oldest child
Apparently, those who are born first tend to get ahead in life, because they have their parents’ full attention for the first few months or years or their lives.
If and when baby number two finally arrives, the older sibling is then put in the position of “teaching” their little brother or sister.
This helps kids to recall, structure and simplify their own knowledge – which is thought to boost intelligence.
A study of 250,000 Norwegian 18 and 19-year-olds found that first-born children had an average IQ 2.3 points higher than their younger siblings.
2. You’re skinny
According to a French study, those with a Body Mass Index of 20 or less have better memories than those with one of 30 or higher.
The skinnier participants could remember 56 percent of words in a vocabulary test, while bigger people could only remember 44 percent.
While there’s also evidence that memory declines over time in bigger people.
When re-tested five years later, recall had dropped to 37.5 percent in those with higher BMIs, but had not changed in the others.
3. You’re left handed
Lefties have better memories, mental flexibility and spatial skills – according to researchers at University of Athens.
They’re also “divergent thinkers” – a special type of creativity that allows them to think of new ideas on a whim.
4. You’re funny
Comedians consistently score higher on IQ tests than the average population, according to a study from the 1970s.
Male comedians averaged 138, female 126, and the general population between 90 and 110.
A good sense of humor is also linked to creativity, better talking skills and being more sexually attractive.
5. You’re tall
People who are 6-feet tall earn, on average, $158,000 more over a 30-year-old career than someone who is 5’5″.
Researchers at University of Princeton think this is because taller people are smarter.
6. You’re a night owl
A study done at the University of Madrid found that night owls had higher IQs, earned more and led more comfortable lives than those who bounce out of bed in the mornings.
7. You’re shy
Some 60 percent of clever kids are introverted, according to The Gifted Development Center.
And more than 75 percent of people with an IQ of 160 or above are also shy.
8. You were breast fed
Scientists in Brazil followed 6,000 people from birth to the age of 30.
Breast-fed babies were found to be more intelligent, successful and high-earning.
9. You’re curious
Harvard Business Review reckon more curious people have more original ideas and acquire more knowledge over time.
10. You don’t believe in God
Liberals and atheists have a superiority or sense of elitism which is linked to a higher IQ, according to evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa.
Of course, it’s pretty much impossible for one person to have all those attributes.
So don’t dismiss yourself as stupid just because you’re not a 6 foot, skinny, hilarious-but-also-shy lefty who doesn’t believe in God.
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