Jordan Peterson identifies listening and learning as key signs of intelligence

Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson identifies the ability to listen to others and learn from them as a primary sign of intelligence. He suggests that the most intelligent individuals maintain a curiosity about life and remain open to the perspectives of others.

Peterson emphasizes that true intelligence requires the courage to be vulnerable, allowing one to acknowledge personal limitations and re-examine existing beliefs. He distinguishes between knowing ‘what to think’—often a byproduct of standardized education systems that reward memorization—and knowing ‘how to think,’ which involves critical thinking and the pursuit of truth over comfort.