Picture this: last weekend, while everyone was posting Instagram stories from crowded bars and house parties, I was curled up with a book about behavioral economics, completely absorbed. A friend texted asking if I was coming out, and when I said I was staying in to read, she replied with "You're such a nerd!" followed by a laughing emoji. But here's the thing-according to psychology research, my preference for books over parties might actually come with some serious intellectual perks.
Ever notice how the loudest person in the room often gets credited as the smartest? We've been conditioned to equate intelligence with quick comebacks, perfect grades, and the ability to dominate every conversation. But here's what psychology tells us: true intelligence often operates in the background. It shows up in the way you question things, how you process emotions, and even in those moments when you feel like you don't know enough.