How can you recognize a particularly sharp mind? These five behaviors help you identify them.

5 signs that a person is above average in intelligence.

In everyday life, which is often full of challenges, requires good communication, and makes spontaneous decisions necessary, it’s not always easy to recognize a brilliant mind. However, psychologists and behavioral scientists emphasize that high intelligence isn’t only evident in good grades or exceptional logical skills. It often manifests itself in more subtle, sometimes unexpected ways. There are certain behaviors, reactions, and attitudes that indicate above-average intelligence—even if they may seem strange to others at first. Vogue presents the five signs of intelligence below.

5 signs that can indicate above-average intelligence

1 Boredom

Have you ever caught yourself getting bored quickly when talking to others? Or that social events are more tiring than rewarding? If you feel this way, it may have less to do with arrogance and more to do with a particularly sharp mind. People with high intelligence often absorb information more quickly and process it more efficiently. What is exciting or new to others sometimes seems rather superficial or predictable to them. This kind of boredom can be a sign that your brain is craving more intellectual challenge.

2 Intellectual Humility

Despite the cliché of the arrogant genius, the most brilliant minds are often characterized by their humility. Truly intelligent people also know what and how much they don’t know. Instead of stubbornly clinging to their own opinions, they listen, ask questions, and are willing to learn. This openness is not a sign of insecurity, but rather an expression of maturity and a clear view of a complex world. Researchers at the University of Michigan even found that highly intelligent people are less likely to think dogmatically and are more open to others and new perspectives.

3 Laziness

Laziness sounds negative at first – but in some cases, it’s simply efficiency. People who quickly understand how to achieve good results with minimal effort may appear lazy on the outside, but in reality, they are often simply clever. Instead of struggling unnecessarily, a particularly intelligent person often spontaneously finds an easier path to their goal. This has less to do with laziness and more with a good sense of what truly makes sense.

4 Adaptability

Being intelligent doesn’t just mean knowing a lot. Above all, it means being able to handle new, uncertain, or difficult situations well. People with a high degree of intelligence are often mentally flexible: They recognize when it’s time to act decisively—and when a change of course would be wiser. They think between the lines, find creative solutions, and keep a clear head even in stressful moments. Psychologist Howard Gardner, known for his theory of multiple intelligences, sees precisely this flexibility as a particularly tangible form of intelligence.

5 Impatience

The fifth point represents an improvement over the first point. Particularly intelligent people tend to lose patience quickly—especially in conversations that they perceive as superficial, empty, or aimless. When they feel compelled to participate in such discussions, they often find it frustrating. They value clarity and precision. They consider long conversations full of platitudes and lacking real substance not only pointless but also a complete waste of time and energy.