What's the Deal With IQ/Intelligence Quotient?

[Odyssey 5,716]

Just a thought... lately I've been thinking about many things about IQ, and whether or not it should really matter in anything. Some people like to say that IQ is bullshit and all, but I'm not so sure about that assumption to be honest. IQ is not something I think about too often, but lately it has been bothering me for a bit.

 

But regardless, I guess the question is this... why are so many people hung up with IQ? Does it really matter when considering things like a job or whatnot? Why do many people with higher IQs get put on a higher pedestal compared to say, one that has a low one? I'd like your thoughts or your general opinions on what you think of it, whether it'd be positive or negative.

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

I think rational thinking and applying your knowledge in the right manner in different situation, is much more useful skill in the working life than knowing what pattern comes after 2 squares and 1 circle. I haven't really taken many IQ tests but the intelligence tests are always inaccurate because there are so many different fields of intelligence out there

[Justin_Case001 4,891]

Well, I don't place any stock in IQ tests.  I took one.  Scored fairly low because I'm not good at doing arithmetic in my head, but I aced all my calculus classes, so...

 

IQ tests seem to be nothing more than crunching numbers.  At least the one I took.  It was just...whatever the plain ol' website is.  Iqtest.com or something.  It was just crunch numbers in your head as fast as you can.  Get penalized for a wrong answer, get penalized for a blank answer, get penalized for going over time.  The hell?  It doesn't measure your ability to think creatively, solve real world problems, understand abstract theories, your capacity for learning, etc.  It's just a test to see how you compare to a computer.  Hacking the site to change your score would take more intelligence than getting a perfect score.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Justin_Case001

[Blaze Bronson 343]

I'm a believer in the theory of 7 intellects (google it if you want) where IQ is only one of those.

 

I'd also like to say that a high intellect isn't good in society today. 

The reason is that connections and friends are more likely to get you far in life, and those are obtained by being social. Therefore people who likes to be social, develop those skills and in turn expands their connections.

The problem with high IQ is that social relations become harder to attain because most people will be of lower IQ.

Imagine being in a class with mentally retarded people trying to make friends. It would be both hard, and very little giving, resulting in poor connections and social skills.

 

Also almost no jobs require a high IQ, it mostly requires focus and willpower. A high IQ doesn't provide any of those.

 

An IQ around 110 might be the sweet spot, as you would be a tad sharper than those around you, but not enough that you'd have a hard time relating to them. (100 IQ is about average)

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

Also remember that IQ is based upon a social average which is recalibrated every few years. Which means unless you're working hard at continually getting smarter and applying knowledge in new ways, your IQ is going to decline.

 

Unless you're like me where you've never cared in the first place and don't even actually know your IQ.

[Discordian 6,015]

IQ was originally created to test the learning potential of children. While its purpose may be a bit different now I don't think it's changed that much.

 

IQ is meant to show your ability to learn and adapt to new subjects. It's not how smart you currently are and it doesn't take into account lack of certain types of common knowledge nor one's inability to use certain parts of their brain.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

IQ is only useful in the field of mental health, for whatever reasons reasons they use it. I know very little, if anything, of mental health so I won't try to find it out.

 

Having an above-average IQ has no bearing on your job prospects, and of course, none on your education (though whether it should is up for debate).

 

The more important things are whether you apply it, which depends on one factor outside of your control (if you ever get a chance to apply your potential) and from that, one factor in your control (if you choose to when presented with the opportunity).

[LeonShi500 155]

People are lazy and want an easy, if not typically ineffective, way to determine someone's intelligence. A number makes that possible. Unless there's a noticeable trend of an incredibly low or high IQ after taking several different IQ tests when the tester's mental health is well and stable, they're worthless. Even then, they can only tell you so much.

Edited June 11, 2015 by LeonShi500

[ARagY 1,152]

Meant to show your potential, not your present abilities (afaik)

 

It's only a bragging right 

[EpicEnergy 23,218]

I think that IQ tests are not legitimate measurements of someone's intelligence. Perhaps it can measure someone's intellect in a specific area, but I doubt it is a reliable method in determining someone's overall intelligence.