11 Things Highly Intelligent People Do That Make Those With Average Minds Uncomfortable

Highly intelligent people have a tendency to make others nervous.

Written on Jul 10, 2025

Things Highly Intelligent People Do That Make Those With Average Minds Uncomfortable Andrii Iemelianenko / Shutterstock
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If there is one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that smart people often make others feel nervous or uncomfortable. It’s one of the main reasons why the “insufferable genius” is a trope in literature and TV.

Sometimes, it’s not necessarily their intelligence that makes people get all hinky. It can be anything from mannerisms to disorders or traits that tend to be more common among high-IQ individuals. Other times, it’s just the smarts. And more often than not, highly intelligent people don’t know what they’re doing to upset others. Speaking as someone who often has to be told to knock off certain behaviors, these things, in particular, tend to be serious offenders.

Here are 11 things highly intelligent people do that make those with average minds uncomfortable

1. Staring

Staring things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable Iurii Maksymiv via Canva

Are you the type of genius who gets caught up in your thoughts all day? Maybe you’re daydreaming about the many different ways that you could fix your life, or thinking about a brand new book idea. Daydreaming is a known sign of intelligence.

Regardless, you might not realize that you’re staring when you’re deep in thought. So, whether you realize it or not, you might end up giving people a blank stare that looks a bit unsettling when you forget there are people around you.

RELATED: Daydreamers Are Basically Creative Geniuses — How To Harness A Wandering Mind

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2. Avoiding eye contact

Avoiding eye contact things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable Konstantin Postumitenko from Prostock-studio via Canva

Many highly intelligent people, for one reason or another, tend to avoid eye contact with people. This is particularly common among people who are either on the spectrum or otherwise distracted by thought.

Most people want a little eye contact when they talk to someone. If they don’t get eye contact, it makes them worried that something is wrong.

RELATED: What 8 Types Of Eye Contact Mean When It Comes To Attraction

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3. Being too quiet during conversations

Being too quiet during conversations things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable TimeImage via Canva

Most of us have seen a person who stays so quiet during conversations that it becomes unsettling. Intelligent people are more prone to this than regular people, simply because they are often deep in thought or deeply engaged with what other people are saying.

Studies show that being too quiet in a conversation can cause confusion or tension.

RELATED: The 3 Types Of People Who Quietly Have The Most Power & Influence At Work, Says A Career Expert

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4. Overexplaining

Overexplaining things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable PeopleImages from Getty Images Signature via Canva

Highly intelligent people often don’t know when to stay quiet or when to explain everything. Many intelligent people choose to overexplain because people don’t understand how or why they would come to a certain conclusion.

Most regular people don’t mind it, unless it starts to eat into their time. It’s worth noting that overexplaining is often a trauma response. So, if the smart person in question was regularly taunted for their opinions or mistrusted, they could have developed this trait as a defense.

RELATED: 11 Things Emotionally Intelligent Women Do That Make Avoidant Men Uncomfortable

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5. Talking to yourself

Talking to yourself things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable katleho Seisa from Getty Images Signature via Canva

There are few things that are as alarming to some people as seeing someone talk to themselves. For the average person, overhearing a person talking to themselves is a sign of mental illness or substance use.

What most people don’t know is that many brilliant minds talk to themselves. In fact, Albert Einstein was even known for having quick conversations with himself.

RELATED: People Who Lose Interest In Talking To Anyone As They Get Older Usually Have These 11 Reasons

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6. Disorganization

Disorganization things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable studioroman via Canva

Cluttered desks, disorganized files, weirdly structured mindsets… these things can make a typical person feel a little on edge. However, there is considerable evidence to suggest that disorganization is actually a sign of high creative intelligence.

So, if you can, try to pardon the cluttered desk you see. Geniuses are going to genius, even if it’s a bit messy.

RELATED: 11 Things Average People Find Exhausting But Stimulate Highly Intelligent Minds

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7. Constantly questioning everything

Constantly questioning everything things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable piranka from Getty Images Signature via Canva

We all have met kids who were hyper-curious about everything and anything. Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you that their most intelligent children were the ones who were always asking, “Why?”

Questioning everything is a sign of innate curiosity. It's a major tipoff to a smart person. Now, if only they could stop doing it when it becomes annoying or redundant...

RELATED: 11 Things High IQ People Think Are Status Symbols That Mean Nothing To Average Minds

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8. Preferring solitude

Preferring solitude things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable franciscodiazpagador from Getty Images Signature via Canva

It’s no secret that loners tend to be seen as unsettling characters, even if they’re not always alone by choice. People who prefer solitude have a sketchy reputation among many “mainstream” people.

However, that doesn’t mean they’re bad. In fact, being comfortable with one’s loneliness may be a key indicator that they are smarter than the average person.

RELATED: People Who Become Loners As They Get Older Usually Have These 11 Reasons

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9. Bluntness

Bluntness things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable Shotprime via Canva

Being blunt is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be incredibly off-putting and can suggest that you have lower emotional intelligence than the average person. On the other hand, it can also be seen as a sign of leadership genius.

In certain scenarios, being blunt can come off as rude, hurtful, or non-empathetic. But that style of communication can also help people figure out major leadership issues quickly.

RELATED: 9 Reasons A Blunt Best Friend Is The Best Type Of Friend To Have

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10. Talking in nuanced ways

Talking in nuanced ways things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA from Pexels via Canva

Intelligence is not always about just understanding the basics. It’s about going above and beyond black and white thinking, delving into nuances. A lot of people can’t handle nuance in any way, especially if it involves criticizing themselves or others near them.

Being able to speak with nuance is a sign of a smart person. Hopefully, that smart person is wise enough to find people around them who appreciate that skill.

RELATED: 11 Things High IQ People Give Way Too Much Thought

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11. Being a nonconformist

Being a nonconformist things highly intelligent people do make average minds uncomfortable Gagliardi Photography via Canva

Finally, let’s wrap this up with the most obvious way to make a lot of “normies” uncomfortable. Most highly intelligent people don’t just march to their own drummer; they have their own darned orchestra.

Nonconformity and intelligence have become almost inextricable from one another. So, don’t hate on the weird ones of your group. They’re likely the smartest in the room.

RELATED: 12 Normal Things That Feel Deeply Awkward If You’re An Introvert

Ossiana Tepfenhart is a writer whose work has been featured in Yahoo, BRIDES, Your Daily Dish, Newtheory Magazine, and others.

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