Are “Messy People” Truly Lazy Imbeciles, or is Their Chaos and Disorganization a Sign of Superior Intelligence?

Scientists and psychologists have debated this question for decades. There are arguments for both sides, and the truth may be somewhere in between. On one hand, messiness could be a sign of laziness and a lack of focus or ambition; on the other, it could be an indication of creative genius and an ability to think outside the box. The real answer is likely to depend on the individual and the context in which the messiness is displayed. 

Could it be that messy people are actually of superior intelligence? After all, some of the world’s greatest scientists, thinkers, and innovators have been known to be a bit messy. From Albert Einstein to Marie Curie, it seems that sometimes, a little disorder is the key to creativity and success. So, what is the truth? Are “messy people” lazy imbeciles – or are they of superior intelligence?

Based on studies by the University of Minnesota which are published in the Psychological Science Journal, they found that people operated differently depending on which room they were in – a messy or tidy room. 

Researches Found Interesting Differences From Those Working In A Tidy Room Versus A Clean Room

“Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights,” Vohs concludes. “Orderly environments, in contrast, encourage convention and playing it safe.”

Side note: Their studies did not label anyone as a “messy person” or a “clean person”. This was looking at how the differing environments affected the subjects.

The study also stated, “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,” says Vohs.

Can You Change If You’re Naturally Messy? Maybe the Answer Lies Within Our Genes

Dr Brendan Zietsch of the University of Queensland says, “says people can inherit a genetic tendency for messiness from one or both parents.”

He also says, “Genetic influences are not deterministic. They may make it more or less difficult to be tidy, but you can still overcome that with enough effort.” Hey… there’s hope for me!!

A more recent study linked intelligence to messiness, conducted by a professor at the University of Minnesota and published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. When people hear about a study that says messy people are smarter than neat ones, they might be skeptical (or even downright offended). But let’s look at what this research actually entails:

First, researchers surveyed participants about their personalities, including how much time they spent tidying up each day and whether they preferred getting things done right away or taking more time to get it right. They also asked them questions related to intelligence like “I am quick at finding solutions” or “I have an active imagination” (or “I can make connections among seemingly unrelated events”). After reviewing all this information, they determined which traits corresponded with higher IQ scores—and found that “messy types” were more likely to score highly on these tests than those who were generally neat and organized!

Other Personality Traits Related To Intelligence

This isn’t the first time scientists have tried linking personality traits with intelligence; previous studies have shown that extroverts tend to be smarter than introverts as well as that pessimists tend not only toward overthinking but also toward being less intelligent overall (though optimists aren’t necessarily geniuses either).

Interestingly, another study found that people who are messy are more likely to have creative careers – perhaps because you need to be pretty creative when your house is in chaos! Another theory suggests that messy people are not just intellectually superior, they are also more likely to be entrepreneurs, leaders, and successful in their careers. 

Some people say that messy people are too busy changing the world; that intelligent people focus on the bigger picture rather than small details, like keeping things neat and tidy. The theory is that a messy person will be more likely to see the bigger picture and realize that there are many ways to solve a problem and that the best solution may not be the most obvious one. This can lead them to being creative and innovative. Their willingness to change course if something better arises can also make them leaders in their fields.

Finally, it could make them more likely risk takers because they aren’t afraid of failure or don’t feel tied down by rules or regulations so long as they believe they’re doing what’s best for themselves and those around them.

Whatever your type, there is likely a solution to your organizational issues; whether you’re a minimalist, a hoarder, or something in between.

Do You Want To Change?

When everyone tells you that it’s time to make a change, but you’re apprehensive because a change means starting over, try an experiment first — buy just one storage container or organizing tool this month instead of six at once (which could overwhelm) to see what works best for you. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Even if there’s difinitive steps in your organizing protocol, feel free to adjust! The best plan is one that you will stick to.

Messy People Could Be More Intelligent Than Neat Ones

It may not seem like it at first glance (or second or third), but the evidence is quite clear: Messy people might be smarter than those who keep their spaces in order in some ways. According to David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates’ book, “Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence”, in addition to being more creative and innovative—and therefore more successful—messy people also have higher IQs than their clean-freak counterparts by an average of 15 points! And this isn’t just because “messy” can mean different things; researchers actually tested the difference between tidy and untidy people with similar lifestyles on measures of reasoning ability and found that tidiers performed worse than their untidy counterparts by significant margins even after controlling for age and socioeconomic status.

There Is No Way To Say That Only Messy People Are Smart Or Vice Versa

There are many different types of people who fall into the “messy” category. Some are just too busy changing the world to worry about making their desks look good, while others may be a little less ambitious but still want to do something about their clutter problem. Whatever your type, there is a solution to your organizational issues. Discover what works for you and start right away!

https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/mind-body/wellbeing/can-you-outwit-your-messy-gene/news-story/8ea441acfcf888307ea984939343510c http://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/tidy-desk-or-messy-desk-each-has-its-benefits.html