10 Weird Things You Didn't Know Could Make You Smarter

By Rob Thubron /

10. Having Negative Emotions

Being moody has often been something associated with talented artists. Do negative emotions lead to increased brainpower and creativity? According to research they do: €œangst and sadness promote information-processing strategies best suited to dealing with more demanding situations€. This could be why so many actors, musicians and comedians get accused of being divas - perhaps their natural grumpiness draws them to their professions? One actor who has a reputation for not being the easiest to work with, James Woods, has an IQ of 180 and is considered a genius: which makes some of his career choices all the more baffling. So the next time someone tells you to stop being a miserable emo, remind them that you€™re actually making a conscious effort to become ever more intelligent than they are. That€™ll show you€™re not just an antagonistic misanthrope.