"Investigation" continued: remarks from Anonymous

My November 28 Highbrow post "Investigation" elicited lively comments from "Anonymous".  Here are Anonymous's observations with a light copy-edit, and a few of my remarks (in red):

The truth about fake intelligence: Some people look intelligent until they start talking. Because the truth is, a lot of what people do to appear smart actually exposes how insecure they are. Psychology says we crave the feeling of intelligence more than actual growth. We want to seem sharp, sound logical, and look confident, and even if deep down we don't know what we're talking about. These are the habits that fool your brain into thinking you're smart while quietly keeping you average. 

Habit #1 One, you over-explain everything. You think you're showing intelligence by adding detail. But according to research on over-justification bias, people who explain too much often do it to hide uncertainty. Smart people simplify. They don't drown meaning in words. If you always feel the need to prove your point, you're probably not sure of it yourself. 

Well, sometime we are inclined to be verbal as we explore our thinking and knowledge, and this is acceptable within reason.  But, yes, when we become truly fluent in  our understanding of something, we should strive for and achieve a succinct style, a suave manner, a glowing aura, and--at appropriate junctures in our presentation--twinkling eyes.

Habit #2 Two, you chase information, not understanding. You read books, watch videos, and even quote psychology. But ask yourself, can you teach what you just learned? If not, you're stuck in what psychologists call the illusion of knowledge, where your brain confuses exposure for mastery. Real intelligence isn't about how much you know, it's how deeply you can connect ideas. 

Yes, but in the meantime prudence, good form, the spirit of geniality, the Human Condition, etc. behoove us to increase our knowledge.

Habit #3 Three, you argue to win, not to learn. Ever notice how some people can't stand being wrong? That's not intelligence. That's ego anxiety. It's your brain protecting your self-image, not seeking truth. Psychologically, it's called motivated reasoning. You twist facts to support what you already believe. So, you may sound confident, but you're actually trapped inside your own bias. 

There is a great (and appropriate) "honor" in admitting you don't know something.  See my remark following "Habit #4".

Habit #4 Four, you confuse scepticism with wisdom. You think doubting everything makes you smart, but extreme scepticism is just defensive ignorance. It's easier to reject things than to understand them. Smart people question things to learn. Fake smart people question things to look superior. 

Perhaps the "essence" of good scepticism is a willingness to admit 1) "I/we don't know, and let's proceed with that understanding. And 2) Let's agree to disagree when we do, but otherwise let's work earnestly together in a spirit of collegiality and good faith.

Habit #5 Five. You use logic to avoid emotion. Many people brag about being logical. But neuroscience shows emotion and logic are not separate systems. They cooperate. People who suppress emotion make worse decisions, not better ones. If you dismiss feelings as weakness, you're not logical. You're emotionally blind. 

Of course, it is a matter of thoughtful emotions (or emotions intelligently considered) and appropriate responses.  

Habit #6 Six, you correct others to feel superior. Grammar, pronunciation, fun facts. You jump at every small mistake to fix people. But studies show this is linked to linguistic insecurity. A psychological need to reassert power when you feel small. Smart people don't prove knowledge. They share it when it's needed. 

Still, good grammar attends thoughtfulness and precision. Effectively teaching and encouraging good grammar is to be applauded. Indeed, many professors in English, infatuated as they are by their authors and the latest "sensation" at a recent conference, ahem, are too distant from the philosophical joy of teaching subjects and predicates, prepositional phrases, verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and the delightful and hilariously absurd variations represented by all those quirky irregular verbs!

Habit #7 Seven, you hide behind big words. You use complex vocabulary to sound intellectual, but that's actually a red flag of insecurity. A Princeton study found people who deliberately use complicated language are perceived as less intelligent because clarity is a sign of depth. Confusion is a sign of disguise. 

Very true. I could evoke Wittgenstein and Einstein here, but why bother?

Habit #8 Eight, you think knowing about it equals understanding it. Knowing about philosophy doesn't make you wise. Knowing about psychology doesn't make you emotionally intelligent. And knowing about success doesn't make you disciplined. Knowledge is a mirror. It shows you who you could be. But until you act, it means nothing. 

Lots of good points here.  Suffice it to say, if you can describe and explain something accurately, effectively and in a manner appropriate to your audience, you know your material.

Real intelligence is quiet. Here’s the truth. Fake intelligence impresses people who don't think. Real intelligence changes the way you think. You don't need to look smart. You need to stay curious, humble, and brutally honest with yourself. Because the moment you stop trying to look intelligent, that's the moment you actually become it [i.e. "intelligent"].

Captain Zep – Space Detective