On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
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.
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.
Loners are smart.
“The findings suggest (and it is no surprise) that those with more intelligence and the capacity to use it … are less likely to spend so much time socializing because they are focused on some other longer term objective,” Graham said.
Other research has also found that people who are highly intelligent tend to be independent and aloof.
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.
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.
Intelligent people do not necessarily have fewer friends because of their intelligence, but rather due to a combination of different factors. These factors may include their different interests, limited social skills, high standards, busy lives, and emotional intensity.
In fact, more than 75 percent of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted.
Intelligent people tend to appear quiet because they are natural observers. They are listening and watching what's going on around them.
Having an active fantasy life, appreciating beauty, being emotionally sensitive and wide-ranging curiosity are linked to high IQ, research finds. All of these are components of the major personality trait of 'openness to experience'.
The brain of an introvert can be a complicated web of ideas and thoughts. There is a lot of thinking activity going on in there most of the time! Being an introvert can be quite exhausting.
Throw social commitments into the mix, and there's limited time to be alone and be still with your thoughts and creative process. It's common for people with genius qualities to seek out isolation at times, due to a social anxiety and an excessive need for “me” time, in order to practice mindfulness..
However, our research at Bandelli & Associates has found that introverts often possess greater levels of Relational Intelligence than extroverts do.
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.
You might not learn the value of hard work
One study found that conscientiousness — i.e. how hard you work — is in fact negatively correlated with certain types of intelligence. The researchers propose that highly intelligent people might feel like they don't need to work as hard to accomplish what they want.
So, intelligent people will often prefer to tackle projects solo, not because they dislike companionship, but because they believe they'll get the project done more efficiently. This suggests that their “loner attitude” can sometimes be an effect of their intelligence, not necessarily a preference.
Also, intelligent people are known to be skeptical which is why they tend to be more selective with who they spend their time with. Intelligent people have strong mindsets and values. Hence, they think differently than others.
You're the silent type
You'll find plenty of misconceptions about quiet people, e.g. being labeled as introverts, socially awkward and so on. This isn't necessarily true, and while not all quiet people are necessarily smart, highly intelligent people will often refrain from speaking if they are accessing a situation.
They're more self-conscious
One of the disadvantages of higher intelligence can be a higher degree of awareness of oneself and one's behavior in social interactions. Highly intelligent people may be super conscious of themselves while socializing.
Intelligence and anxiety may have evolved together as mutually beneficial traits, research finds. This may help to explain why people with a high IQ also tend to have higher levels of anxiety. The benefit may be that intelligence allows people to better imagine what might go wrong.
INTJ (Introvert, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging) type scores the highest on conceptual IQ tests among all 16 personality types. They are good at consuming large amounts of information and solving analytical problems for widespread application.
Most people have an average IQ between 85 and 115. Overall, about 98% of people have a score below 130.
INTPs and INTJs are the most likely to be intelligent. They are analytical individuals who are natural problem solvers. Both types can take abstract concepts and explore them in depth. This allows them to see the world in a different way and come up with creative solutions.