Truly Brilliant People Are Almost Always Doing 11 Things In Casual Conversation
Migma__Agency | Shutterstock According to a study published in PLOS ONE, 65% of Americans believe they're more intelligent than the average person, but figuring out whether someone is truly brilliant isn't as simple as looking at their education or how smart they claim to be. Often, the strongest clues come out naturally during casual conversation.
A single habit won't outright prove someone's brilliant, but small behaviors can show how someone thinks. These clues can be easy to miss because they don't always look impressive, but when you see a bunch of them happening at once, they can reveal a person who is taking in and processing far more than they let on.
You can tell someone is brilliant by these 11 things they do in casual conversation:
1. They sit up straight and carry themselves with confidence
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There are people in life who have excellent posture no matter the circumstances. They sit up straight in that uncomfortable office chair and never slouch, even when standing for hours on end.
On the surface, this might seem like another case of elegant mannerism. However, one study published in Behavioral Sciences found something exciting. Researchers found that people who knew more about correct posture were more likely to practice it.
They continued that if people wanted to improve their posture, it was best to develop and implement educational programs that target posture.
That said, the next time you are out and notice someone with exceptional posture, take a second to pause. That person is most likely knowledgeable and more brilliant than you might have anticipated.
2. They give people their full attention
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With the rise of electronics and everyone's busyness, getting easily distracted is relatively common for the average person.
That said, giving others your full attention when they speak is a subtle body-language cue that shows you're brilliant. Now, understandably, this might sound like complete nonsense.
How does leaning in and paying attention truly make someone intelligent? People would be surprised to know that a study published in The Asian EFL Journal found that listening is more impactful than people realize.
According to the study, although all types of intelligence were positively correlated with listening comprehension, only linguistic intelligence was statistically significant across all test forms. The findings suggest that strong listening comprehension can be connected to how well people understand and use language.
3. They notice what's happening around them
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Another subtle body language clue that someone is brilliant is if they're highly observant. It's sad that most people do not pay attention to those around them. They will completely dismiss or unintentionally ignore other people's concerns because they are too focused on work or their academic endeavors.
However, if someone is genuinely brilliant, they have the gift of paying attention, regardless of what's happening around them. This sentiment aligns with a 2010 study that found that people with fluid intelligence have better working memory. But what does this mean? Researchers found that good working memory is associated with the ability to store and manipulate specific information.
This can explain why brilliant people are so good at observing their surroundings. After all, their brains have the gift of dissecting small details and storing them for later.
4. They use lots of hand gestures to explain themselves
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Do you know anyone who gestures a lot with their hands? This might be a subtle body language clue that someone is brilliant.
Now, seeing people gesture with their hands isn't anything new. Most people who get worked up or feel passionate tend to display this by gesturing wildly with their hands. However, how does this small motion indicate that someone is brilliant? After all, it's not that big of a deal, right?
According to a study published in Linguistics, those with fluid intelligence produced more gestures when explaining their strategies than their average counterparts.
That said, gesturing doesn't make someone intelligent overnight. However, increasing their knowledge and feeling confident in their position might make their hands move whenever someone brings up a topic they're familiar with.
5. They know when to make eye contact and when to look away
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Maintaining eye contact with others can be a bit unnerving. Most people don't feel comfortable with others watching them and feel even more uncomfortable when they are stared at.
That said, a subtle body language clue that someone is brilliant is whether they're good at keeping and losing eye contact. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that shorter periods of eye contact could trigger positive reactions, leading to better cognitive performance and social interaction.
Participants who maintained more eye contact were perceived as having higher GPAs than those who frequently looked away, according to a study published in the Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society.
So, whether someone wants to appear intelligent or actually is, the conclusion is the same. Eye contact is key in both scenarios.
6. They don't always rush to fill every silence
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There is always an awkward pause during a conversation, which is unavoidable. For some, it may be because the topic has ended; for others, because the conversation has turned left.
Regardless, most people will do their best to fill in that awkward silence by laughing uncomfortably or making unintelligible noises in the back of their throats. And though this behavior is understandable, it's essential to understand that silence doesn't need to be bad.
An article shared by the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators explains that silence can give the brain time to process information, while too much noise can hurt attention, memory, and problem-solving.
Knowing this, it makes sense that a subtle body language clue indicating someone is brilliant is their comfort with silence. Unlike most people, brilliant people understand the perks of silence and use them to their advantage.
7. They subtly mirror the person they're talking to
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A subtle body language clue that someone is brilliant is if they mirror other people's actions. When clever people are with their friends or coworkers, they use the art of mimicking to their advantage.
According to Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, mirroring often involves mimicking another person's body language. As a result, it's believed that mirroring is a great tool for deepening connection or even for unconsciously expressing empathy. However, this will only work if someone is being genuine and trustworthy. Otherwise, it can worsen social bonding altogether.
That said, brilliant people know this and, as a result, can better connect effortlessly with others. This can explain why they're so well-liked and have so many opportunities. They know the rules to charm those around them.
8. They raise their eyebrows when something's interesting to them
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Have you ever wondered why the most brilliant people arch their eyebrows? Well, for one, maybe they're having difficulty keeping their emotions off their face.
However, the second reason is a bit more interesting than the first. In truth, brilliant people are curious and love to learn new things. A study published in Learning and Individual Differences found that people with fluid intelligence tended to find things more interesting than those without.
This explains why they might arch their eyebrows. Like most brilliant people, these individuals likely heard a fact or piece of information that piqued their interest or made them second-guess themselves, causing them to show that curiosity right on their faces.
9. They use their body language to show empathy
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Empathy is the quiet part of intelligence. Previous research has found a link between intelligence and prosocial behavior, and a study published in Intelligence found that knowledgeable people are more social due to their higher levels of empathy.
This explains why one subtle body language clue that shows someone is brilliant is their empathetic expression. When they listen, nod empathetically, and lower their eyebrows to express concern, they indirectly show others how empathic they are.
This unintentionally shows how brilliant the person is. So, the next time someone notices a friend or family member who is always empathic, they should ask themselves if that person is also intelligent. They may find that their empathy and intelligence go hand in hand.
10. They control their breathing when a conversation gets tense
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A subtle body language clue that someone is brilliant is their ability to control their breathing.
Unlike most people, intelligent people know how to keep their cool. When someone approaches them disrespectfully, they learn to navigate these situations quickly.
They keep their breathing under control and don't allow their emotions to well up and explode inside them. Instead, they keep their bodies relaxed and respond with a neutral tone. Now, for some people, this might sound a bit unrealistic.
After all, even intelligent people have bad days. Brilliant people aren't calm all the time, but many know how to slow their breathing and give themselves a moment before responding.
11. They catch clever jokes and respond with a knowing smile
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The final subtle body language clue that someone is brilliant is a slight smile when someone makes a quick-witted jab. Now, on the surface, this might seem like a ridiculous claim. After all, how does a subtle smile make someone intelligent?
However, it's not the subtle smile that necessarily indicates intelligence; rather, it's the reasoning behind it. According to a study published in The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, researchers conducted two studies and found that male comedians had IQs ranging from 115 to 160, with an average of 138. Additionally, female comedians showed similar results, with an average IQ of 126.
That said, it's not shocking that brilliant people with a great sense of humor can also pick up on other people's humor. A small smile can show that someone caught the joke right away, suggesting quick thinking. Unlike most people, they quickly picked up on someone's quick-witted jab, causing them to smile in subtle acknowledgment.
Marielisa Reyes is a writer with a bachelor's in psychology who covers self-help topics such as relationships, career, family, and astrology.
