Did You Know? People Who Are Messy Are Usually More Intelligent

It is a common stereotype that messy people are disorganised or lazy. However, contrary to this common perception, research has suggests that might be linked to higher intelligence and creativity.

Geniuses tend to not care what anyone thinks of them and regard the status quo as boring. Photo culled from confessionsofacleaninglady.com

It is a common stereotype that messy people are disorganised or lazy. However, contrary to this common perception, research suggests that it may be linked to higher intelligence and creativity.

The science behind the mess

Several studies have looked into the connection between cognitive function and a cluttered environment. Notably, a University of Minnesota study discovered that working in an untidy environment might foster original thought and inspire inventive solutions. Researchers Kathleen Vohs, PhD, and colleagues in psychology found that people with messy rooms were more inventive than people with neat spaces.

“We used 6 different locations in our paper — the specifics of the rooms were not important. Just making that environment tidy or unkempt made a whopping difference in people’s behavior,” Vohs said told Psychological Science.

Why intelligence and messiness are correlated
Boost your creativity: It appears that a chaotic atmosphere stimulates creativity by encouraging people to think outside the box. Individuals who embrace messiness could come up with novel solutions to issues and produce more creative ideas.

Prioritising thought over tidiness: Those with high IQs may place more value on mental activities and academic endeavours than trying to maintain orderliness. Their attention to in-depth analysis and intricate problem-solving frequently trumps any attempt to arrange their environment.

Thinking flexibly: An organised mind may be reflected in messiness. Messy people might think outside the box and adjust to new circumstances more readily than those who strictly follow rules and regulations.

At ease with complexity: Managing and integrating complicated information is a common task of intelligence. A disorganised desk could indicate a complicated web of linked concepts and tasks, indicating a mastery of intricacy.

Messiness and productivity

It is, however, interesting to note that messiness doesn’t always impede productivity, even though it is associated with innovation. Some people really thrive on clutter; they find that when things aren’t perfectly organised, it’s simpler to get knowledge and tools. For these people, a disorganised workstation may indicate a very sharp and busy intellect.

In conclusion, even though society tends to favour neatness and order, it’s critical to understand that being messy can also indicate a high level of creativity and intelligence. Messy people may just be giving intellectual activities and creative thinking a higher priority than keeping their surroundings neat. They are neither inherently lazy nor disorganised. So, the next time you see a messy desk, imagine that it may be the workspace of a very creative and clever person.