2 ‘Frustrating’ Habits Only Highly Intelligent People Have, According To A Psychologist

A psychologist says two habits often seen as annoying can actually signal high intelligence: changing one’s mind with new evidence and giving lots of context.

Research suggests people with higher fluid intelligence are more willing to update beliefs and less likely to fall for misinformation.

What can look like indecision or overexplaining may instead reflect cognitive flexibility, stronger reasoning, and comfort with ambiguity.

The piece challenges stereotypes about intelligence by reframing these behaviors as adaptive responses to uncertainty.