Intelligence is not simply a matter of IQ. For many psychologists, the way a person thinks and questions their beliefs often reveals far more than their test scores. Among the traits studied by researchers, intellectual humility has emerged as a particularly telling indicator of high intelligence.<\/p>\n
Intellectual humility refers to the ability to recognize that one's knowledge may be limited or imperfect. It involves accepting the possibility of being wrong, listening to opposing arguments, and remaining open to new information. In psychology, this trait should not be confused with a lack of confidence. Rather, it is a form of cognitive awareness: understanding that one's opinions may evolve as new data emerges.<\/p>\n
Several researchers have studied this phenomenon. Psychologist Mark R. Leary and his colleagues, in particular, examined the cognitive and social characteristics of intellectual humility. In a study published in *Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin*, they show that "people with this trait are generally more open to discussion and less prone to dogmatism."<\/em> According to this research, intellectual humility also allows individuals to more accurately assess the strength of their beliefs and better recognize the limitations of their knowledge.<\/p>\n Research also suggests that intellectual humility is linked to a more rigorous way of processing information. Individuals who can recognize that they may be wrong tend to examine arguments opposing their beliefs more carefully. They more easily distinguish facts from opinions and adjust their judgment when new evidence emerges.<\/p>\n In a review devoted to this topic, Mark R. Leary emphasizes that "intellectual humility can lead to more thoughtful decisions and a better evaluation of available information."<\/em> According to him, this cognitive disposition can foster a more accurate understanding of the world and limit certain errors in judgment. This ability to question one's certainties is often considered a sign of intellectual maturity.<\/p>\n The interest in intellectual humility is also explained by research on cognitive biases. Among the best-known phenomena is the Dunning-Kruger effect<\/a> , described in 1999 by psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Their study shows that "people who are least competent in a given area sometimes tend to overestimate their abilities."<\/em><\/p>\n According to researchers, this bias stems from a lack of metacognitive skills: when one has little mastery of a subject, it becomes more difficult to accurately assess one's own level of knowledge. Conversely, the most competent individuals often have a more nuanced perception of their knowledge. They are more aware of the complexity of the subjects they address and more readily acknowledge what they still don't know. This critical perspective is directly linked to the notion of intellectual humility.<\/p>\n Beyond critical thinking, intellectual humility also plays an important role in learning. People who can admit their limitations are generally more inclined to seek out new information and correct their mistakes. This openness can facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and foster lasting intellectual curiosity.<\/p>\n In his work, Mark R. Leary also emphasizes that "intellectual humility can improve the quality of discussions and reduce conflicts related to opinions."<\/em> Individuals who accept the possibility of being wrong are often more willing to listen to different points of view. In a context where public debates are sometimes marked by highly polarized positions, this ability to qualify one's convictions can contribute to more constructive exchanges.<\/p>\n This research contributes to a broader evolution in how psychologists define intelligence. Cognitive tests and academic performance remain important indicators, but they are not sufficient on their own to reflect all dimensions of human intelligence.<\/p>\n Today, many researchers are also interested in qualities such as intellectual curiosity, critical thinking skills, and openness to new ideas. From this perspective, intellectual humility emerges as a key trait. It allows not only for a better assessment of one's knowledge, but also for continuous learning and the refinement of one's beliefs over time.<\/p>\n Contemporary psychology is thus tending to qualify the traditional image of the "self-assured genius." According to several scientific studies, the most brilliant minds are distinguished not only by their reasoning abilities, but also by their capacity to recognize their limitations. Admitting that one can be wrong, remaining open to opposing arguments, and seeking to understand rather than to be right: for many researchers, this attitude could well be one of the most reliable signs of truly developed intelligence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Intelligence is not simply a matter of IQ. For many psychologists, the way a person thinks and questions...","protected":false},"author":8375,"featured_media":436120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6138],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-436114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-psycho"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kaboompics-_-Pexels-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kaboompics-_-Pexels-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kaboompics-_-Pexels.jpg","author":{"name":"Fabienne Baure","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/fabienne_baure-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":6138,"name":"Psychology","slug":"psycho","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6310,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Psychology section of The Body Optimist<\/strong> explores your inner life: emotions, self-esteem, body image, relationships and parenting. Practical advice, clear explainers and personal stories cover mental health without jargon or guilt, through a body-positive lens that rejects rules about weight and appearance.<\/p>\n It makes sense to see a therapist as soon as emotional distress lasts, keeps coming back or spills into daily life: disrupted sleep, constant fatigue, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, irritability, trouble at work or in your relationship. There\u2019s no need to wait until you hit rock bottom: therapy can also help you through a breakup, a loss, a new baby or a major life change. Your primary care doctor can refer you to a psychologist or counselor, and depending on where you live, insurance or public health services may cover part of the cost. Our articles offer general guidance: they don\u2019t diagnose anything and are no substitute for professional advice. If you\u2019re having suicidal thoughts, contact a suicide prevention hotline or your local emergency services right away.<\/p>\n Handling your emotions isn\u2019t about silencing them; it\u2019s about recognizing them before they boil over. A few simple habits help: name exactly what you feel (anger, sadness, shame, fear), notice the situations that trigger your strongest reactions, take a few breaths before you respond, and write down whatever keeps looping in your head at night. Your body plays a part too: sleep, movement and quiet moments make you less reactive. When the voice in your head turns harsh, here\u2019s how to quiet your inner critic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our starting point is simple: your worth doesn\u2019t depend on your weight, your age or your family situation. Articles in this section often give the floor to psychologists and therapists and draw on research and personal stories, with the goal of making psychology accessible without oversimplifying it. We steer clear of the pressure to be happy all the time and of labels handed out lightly: a personality trait isn\u2019t a disorder, and everyone moves at their own pace.<\/p>\n Being a highly sensitive person (HSP), a concept popularized by psychologist Elaine Aron, isn\u2019t a medical diagnosis but a personality trait: people who have it perceive emotions, noise, atmospheres or criticism more intensely. It\u2019s neither a weakness nor an illness. Knowing your triggers, protecting your recovery time and talking about it with loved ones help turn it into a strength rather than a source of exhaustion.<\/p>\n A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. A psychologist holds an advanced degree in psychology and offers assessments and talk therapy, but usually doesn\u2019t prescribe. \u201cTherapist\u201d is a broader term that can cover licensed counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists; who may use the title varies by country, so check a professional\u2019s credentials. Your doctor can help you choose.<\/p>\n Listen without judging or trying to fix everything, ask directly how they\u2019re feeling and skip the \u201cjust snap out of it.\u201d Offer concrete help: check in regularly, go with them to an appointment. If you sense they may be at risk of suicide, talk about it openly and contact a crisis line, or your local emergency number if their life is in danger.<\/p>\n Keep exploring: our Sex<\/a> section covers intimacy and relationships, Fatphobia<\/a> unpacks weight discrimination, and Well-being<\/a> takes the conversation to the body.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":92,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":6138,"category_count":92,"category_description":" The Psychology section of The Body Optimist<\/strong> explores your inner life: emotions, self-esteem, body image, relationships and parenting. Practical advice, clear explainers and personal stories cover mental health without jargon or guilt, through a body-positive lens that rejects rules about weight and appearance.<\/p>\n It makes sense to see a therapist as soon as emotional distress lasts, keeps coming back or spills into daily life: disrupted sleep, constant fatigue, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, irritability, trouble at work or in your relationship. There\u2019s no need to wait until you hit rock bottom: therapy can also help you through a breakup, a loss, a new baby or a major life change. Your primary care doctor can refer you to a psychologist or counselor, and depending on where you live, insurance or public health services may cover part of the cost. Our articles offer general guidance: they don\u2019t diagnose anything and are no substitute for professional advice. If you\u2019re having suicidal thoughts, contact a suicide prevention hotline or your local emergency services right away.<\/p>\n Handling your emotions isn\u2019t about silencing them; it\u2019s about recognizing them before they boil over. A few simple habits help: name exactly what you feel (anger, sadness, shame, fear), notice the situations that trigger your strongest reactions, take a few breaths before you respond, and write down whatever keeps looping in your head at night. Your body plays a part too: sleep, movement and quiet moments make you less reactive. When the voice in your head turns harsh, here\u2019s how to quiet your inner critic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our starting point is simple: your worth doesn\u2019t depend on your weight, your age or your family situation. Articles in this section often give the floor to psychologists and therapists and draw on research and personal stories, with the goal of making psychology accessible without oversimplifying it. We steer clear of the pressure to be happy all the time and of labels handed out lightly: a personality trait isn\u2019t a disorder, and everyone moves at their own pace.<\/p>\n Being a highly sensitive person (HSP), a concept popularized by psychologist Elaine Aron, isn\u2019t a medical diagnosis but a personality trait: people who have it perceive emotions, noise, atmospheres or criticism more intensely. It\u2019s neither a weakness nor an illness. Knowing your triggers, protecting your recovery time and talking about it with loved ones help turn it into a strength rather than a source of exhaustion.<\/p>\n A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. A psychologist holds an advanced degree in psychology and offers assessments and talk therapy, but usually doesn\u2019t prescribe. \u201cTherapist\u201d is a broader term that can cover licensed counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists; who may use the title varies by country, so check a professional\u2019s credentials. Your doctor can help you choose.<\/p>\n Listen without judging or trying to fix everything, ask directly how they\u2019re feeling and skip the \u201cjust snap out of it.\u201d Offer concrete help: check in regularly, go with them to an appointment. If you sense they may be at risk of suicide, talk about it openly and contact a crisis line, or your local emergency number if their life is in danger.<\/p>\n Keep exploring: our Sex<\/a> section covers intimacy and relationships, Fatphobia<\/a> unpacks weight discrimination, and Well-being<\/a> takes the conversation to the body.<\/p>","cat_name":"Psychology","category_nicename":"psycho","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8375"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=436114"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":436308,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436114\/revisions\/436308"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/436120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=436114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=436114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=436114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} A trait that fosters more analytical thinking<\/h2>\n
The Dunning-Kruger effect: when overconfidence distorts judgment<\/h2>\n
An attitude that promotes learning<\/h2>\n
A more nuanced view of intelligence<\/h2>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Psychology section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you know when it\u2019s time to see a therapist?<\/h2>\n
How can you handle your emotions better day to day?<\/h2>\n
Our take on psychology<\/h2>\n
Where to start<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
What is a highly sensitive person?<\/h3>\n
What\u2019s the difference between a psychologist, a psychiatrist and a therapist?<\/h3>\n
How can you help a loved one who\u2019s struggling?<\/h3>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Psychology section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you know when it\u2019s time to see a therapist?<\/h2>\n
How can you handle your emotions better day to day?<\/h2>\n
Our take on psychology<\/h2>\n
Where to start<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
What is a highly sensitive person?<\/h3>\n
What\u2019s the difference between a psychologist, a psychiatrist and a therapist?<\/h3>\n
How can you help a loved one who\u2019s struggling?<\/h3>\n