Psychologist Siyana Mincheva dismantles a persistent preconception: that which confuses intelligence and academic success. For her, intellect is not limited to grades or diplomas, but is expressed through various areas such as emotions, curiosity, creativity or the capacity to doubt. “There is not just one form of intelligence“, she recalls, insisting on the fact that IQ cannot be the only measurement criterion.
Lack of open-mindedness
Siyana Mincheva draws on an old idea defended by Jean Piaget, biologist and psychologist: “From the 20th century, he showed that intelligence develops in stages, according to evolving psychic structures. We are not born intelligent, we become intelligent, through experience, questioning, adaptation“Intelligence is therefore based on the ability to evolve and welcome change. However, some people close themselves off to this dynamic.”People with low intelligence are generally not very open to new ideas, opinions and information“, she observes. By refusing doubt, they deprive themselves of an essential part of reasoning. “They tend to never question their beliefs“.
Lack of intellectual humility
Another telltale sign, according to the psychologist, is the pretension to knowing everything. “Lacking humility, thinking that you know everything about everything, is a great classic.“. Intellectual humility is, however, the engine of learning and reflection. “PThe more knowledge a person has, the more they realize that they don’t know much“, she emphasizes. Conversely, those who believe themselves to be infallible lock themselves into a comfortable ignorance, incapable of admitting that they could be wrong.
Refusal to change
Mental rigidity is another symptom of lack of intelligence. “These are people who have difficulty changing their minds“, explains Siyana Mincheva. Once they have formed an opinion, they cling to it, even in the face of contrary facts. This closure blocks intellectual progression and fuels a disinterest in knowledge. “CPeople generally consider learning to be a waste of time“. The psychologist adds that intelligence presupposes an adaptable mind, capable of evolving and integrating novelty, where intellectual laziness maintains stagnation.
Binary thinking
The inability to qualify one’s judgment is another striking sign. “Low intelligence often goes hand in hand with Manichean thinking“, notes the psychologist. Poorly intelligent people see the world in black and white, dividing everything between good and bad, without perceiving the complexity of reality. This simplistic reasoning prevents deep reflection, because it is based on certainties rather than the search for meaning. This binary thinking is often accompanied by a moralizing vision and a rejection of the gray areas where true understanding of the world is at stake.
Lack of creativity and curiosity
Creativity is for Siyana Mincheva an essential dimension of intelligence. However, some people avoid novelty for fear of being destabilized. “Low intelligence people do not seek novelty, they do not seek the company of creative people“. By locking themselves into routines and reassuring environments, they limit their capacities for discovery and imagination. The lack of curiosity then leads to an impoverishment of thought and a loss of the faculty of learning.
The oversized ego
Finally, the ego constitutes one of the major obstacles to intelligent thinking. “A person with an oversized ego will blame others and will never dialogue with themselves to try to develop their thoughts.“, affirms the psychologist. The ego prevents questioning and blocks internal dialogue. However, it is precisely in this dialogue that intelligence is built. “This refusal of inner dialogue, this inability to tame one’s own ego, is one of the deepest signs of a lack of intelligence. Because thinking is first of all accepting to doubt“.