Goodness Takes Intelligence: Why Kind People are the Smartest of All
Those who think “nice” is only synonymous with “naive,” are wrong, as well-known brain experts confirm that “goodness” is one of the greatest signs of intelligence. That would mean that kind people are among the smartest, and why you can find one here.
Why kind people are the smartest of all
The connection between kindness and intelligence was explained in an interview by neuroscientist Richard Davidson. He points out that “the basis of a healthy brain is goodness.” His thinking is challenging and everyone should look at it carefully.
According to Davidson, kindness requires the ability to think about oneself as well as others. The meaning of this statement comes from the definition of intelligence – “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.” This means that being smart is not just about remembering random facts but applying all that knowledge in everyday life.
It is also well known that it does not take a lot of skill or effort for people to be selfish and malicious towards others. Such people usually do only what they want, even if it is at the expense of others. This is similar to bacteria and viruses, and they don’t actually have a brain. They want to replicate at the expense of their host.
But when it comes to kind people, they often do good things at a great personal sacrifice. They sacrifice their own time or something they really like so others can get what they need. Their ability to think and reason in detail is to do something good that helps the whole world be a better place, not just a small part of it.
Being good is a sign of intelligence
Davidson is not the only expert to say that evil people tend to have lower levels of intelligence and those good people are smarter. There are numerous studies that found that wicked people generally have a lower level of intelligence, as reported in a Canadian study, which found that people with racist perceptions and prejudices are prone to having a lower IQ than people who accept more. The real reason why this study began to discover why some people have particular political ideologies, but it also applies to both sides of the divide.
When analyzing the reasons why many opt for racism and prejudice, this is linked to their inability to adapt to change, which is another sign and symptom of poor IQ. Many sources acknowledge Stephen Hawkings, who points out that: “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change,” although many claims that he did not say it first.
It actually makes a lot of sense because the ability to accept change requires significant thinking. Understanding why change is needed is something that needs to be done well, requires comprehensive cognitive processes, and then has to understand what is true. It is a difficult process for even the smartest people and in the end, everyone has to understand. Sometimes changes can be scary, it can even endanger lives, but people struggle to prove that the world is a place where everyone needs to find themselves. Feeling the fear of change is something completely natural and definitely not a sign of a “boring” mind. The fear of the unknown is actually found in the DNA of each individual, and the ability to reject or accept the changes required makes the difference between the smart and the not-so-smart. Kind people are smarter
Emotional Intelligence is Vital to Success
Studies that have researched the balance show that people with super high IQs have several savory traits. They may be more arrogant and unable to see their own flaws. These things aren’t exactly “nice” features, however, as more and more researchers are finding that IQ tests are hardly the only (or even the best) judges of true intelligence.
According to scientists, there are several types of intelligence, including emotional and social.
Empathy, as a major part of emotional intelligence, is essential, so many schools (such as schools in Denmark) teach it with math and reading. Students in Denmark spend one hour a week learning to be kinder and more compassionate, which is linked to the understanding that empathy is first and foremost the ability to understand the feelings of others. Knowing and understanding what other people are feeling is based on possessing significantly more brainpower than remembering facts and acting on command.
As in many other areas, there are exceptions to both rules, so some people with high intelligence are not very comfortable, and on the other hand, some people with very low IQs are incredibly sympathetic.
To conclude, intelligence is much more than how successful people are in a single test. People should strive to show kindness to others, taking into account their feelings and adjusting well to change.
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