Are High IQ People Absent Minded? The Curious Connection
The classic stereotype: Genius but forgetful
You’ve probably heard it before — the “absent-minded professor” who can solve quantum equations but forgets his own birthday. Is there truth to that? Or is it just another Hollywood cliché?
Turns out, there is some science behind the idea that people with high IQs are more likely to be forgetful about day-to-day stuff. But it's not as simple as "smart equals scatterbrained". Nope. It’s messier — and way more interesting.
Why smart people might forget simple things
Working memory overload
High IQ individuals tend to think a lot — like, all the time. Their brains are often juggling multiple ideas, theories, or creative thoughts.
So when you ask them to remember where they left their keys? Yeah... not exactly top priority for their brain at that moment.
It’s like trying to find your socks in a room full of fireworks. The socks are there. You just... can’t see them right now.
Selective attention
Studies suggest that intelligent people often have high selective attention, meaning they can hyperfocus on what they find important — and filter out the rest.
That’s great when solving problems, but not so great when you forget to grab your lunch from the fridge (oops, again).
I had a physics teacher in high school — brilliant guy. Could explain black holes without notes. But once, he came to school wearing two different shoes. Swore he hadn’t even noticed.
Is forgetfulness a sign of intelligence?
It depends what kind of forgetfulness
Let’s be clear: chronic disorganization and pathological forgetfulness (like forgetting names all the time or missing appointments daily) might signal something else entirely — ADHD, stress, burnout. High IQ doesn't give you a pass for poor executive functioning.
But when someone forgets trivial details because they’re focused on abstract ideas, creative tasks, or deep concentration, that’s a different story. That’s “absent-mindedness” in the classic sense — and yes, it can be linked to intelligence.
Some researchers even argue that forgetting useless details is a kind of brain optimization. Like your mind knows that remembering your ex’s Wi-Fi password from 2014 is a waste of storage space.
Famous examples of absent-minded brilliance
Einstein famously forgot to wear socks.
Nikola Tesla claimed he once walked around a city block three times before realizing he was lost — in a place he’d lived for years.
And apparently Steve Jobs was known to leave half-eaten apples on random desks at Apple HQ. No kidding.
Are these quirks or signs of genius? Maybe both. Or maybe just being human with a lot on your mental plate.
Final thought: High IQ ≠ flawless brain
Having a high IQ doesn’t mean you’re some kind of perfect machine. If anything, it might mean your brain is so caught up in the big picture, it forgets the small stuff.
So yeah, high IQ people can be absent-minded — not because they’re sloppy, but because their focus is somewhere else. Somewhere deeper.
Maybe even somewhere brilliant.
And hey, if you’ve ever microwaved your tea three times and still drank it cold — welcome to the club.
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Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?
Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).
Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.