Intelligent people NEVER do this

When you think of an intelligent person, what do you think they do? You might think they typically read books, ace tests, and achieve success. But what about the opposite question – what do they avoid doing? Here are five things that intelligent people never do.

1) Intelligent people don’t get complacent

How much do you worry about the future? You may think worrying is a bad mental trait, but complacency could be even worse. In a study published in Personality and Individual Differences, anxiety levels were connected with high verbal intelligence. According to the authors, intelligent people think about every situation in intense detail to gain insights and prepare for the future, even at the risk of excessive worrying. They know that a totally relaxed “Hakuna Matata” attitude may be emotionally satisfying, but it’s not a smart way to navigate an unpredictable world.

2) Intelligent people don’t dwell on the past

Do you worry about the past as well? Although the previous study from Personality and Individual Differences found that intelligent people are more anxious, there was one exception to their worries – they don’t dwell on events in the past. According to the same study, people with high non-verbal intelligence interpret events clearly the first time, so they don’t need to go back and process memories all over again. They know that dwelling on the past just repeats emotional pain and doesn’t add any new insights to help in the present.

3) Intelligent people don’t listen to sappy music

What kind of music do you associate with intelligence? If you thought of highbrow classical music, you might be surprised to know that intelligent people actually prefer sad music. According to research by the University of Bologna, highly intelligent people avoid cheerful music with repetitive melodies and conventional structures – in other words, your typical upbeat Top 40 single. They know that these simple tracks don’t satisfy their need for musical novelty and deep emotional resonance.

4) Intelligent people don’t become couch potatoes

How much time do you spend lazing around on the couch each day? You might assume that intelligence is all about mental habits, but it impacts physical habits as well. The British Cohort Study tracked the lives of 17,000 individuals in the UK from 1970 to the present, giving researchers an insight into how psychology affects lifestyle. They found that the more intelligent an individual, the more often they engaged in exercise that left them out of breath. They know that a passive lifestyle has destructive consequences for the body and mind. 

5) Intelligent people don’t indulge in alcohol and tobacco

How often do you partake in substances you know you might regret later? A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology tracked the life trajectories of Swedes and found that intelligence was strongly connected with avoiding alcohol and tobacco. As a result, they had a much lower prevalence of serious medical conditions. They know their health is one of the most important things in life – if they ruin their body, they can’t get another one!

So there you have it, five things intelligent people never do. Do you relate to any of the traits mentioned in this article? Let us know in the comments below. And don’t forget to like and share this article if you think it will help someone else. The studies and references used are listed in the description below. 

References

• Batty, G. D., Deary, I. J., Schoon, I., & Gale, C. R. (2007). Childhood mental ability in relation to food intake and physical activity in adulthood: the 1970 British Cohort Study. Pediatrics, 119(1), e38-e45.
• Bonetti, L., & Costa, M. (2016). Intelligence and musical mode preference. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 34(2), 160-176.
• Judge, T. A., Ilies, R., & Dimotakis, N. (2010). Are health and happiness the product of wisdom? The relationship of general mental ability to educational and occupational attainment, health, and well-being. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(3), 454.
• Penney, A. M., Miedema, V. C., & Mazmanian, D. (2015). Intelligence and emotional disorders: Is the worrying and ruminating mind a more intelligent mind?. Personality and Individual Differences, 74, 90-93.