Today's Thursday • 7 mins read
— Reviewed by Dr. Sandip Roy.
The human brain has about 100 billion neurons. These neurons form intricate networks that help us think, solve problems, and adapt.
People with higher intelligence often perform more complex tasks, likely because their brains have richer neural connections (Colom, 2022).
10 Myths of Intelligence: Stop Believing Them
1. Intelligence is fixed at birth
No. Stop believing your intelligence is unchangeable. Research shows that learning, experience, and sustained effort can improve cognitive abilities over time.
2. IQ tests measure all aspects of intelligence
No. Don’t assume IQ tests capture everything. They mainly assess specific cognitive skills like logic and problem-solving, not emotional, social, or practical intelligence.
3. A higher IQ means greater success in life
No. IQ alone does not determine success. Outcomes also depend on emotional intelligence, perseverance, opportunities, luck, social skills, and effort.
4. Intelligence is the same as academic achievement
No. Academic performance reflects certain skills and circumstances, but it doesn’t fully represent a person’s intelligence.
5. People are either “smart” or “not smart”
No. Intelligence is a spectrum across multiple domains; people can be strong in different kinds of intelligence.
6. Intelligence is solely determined by genetics
No. Genes influence intelligence, but environment, education, and experience play major roles too.
7. Creative people are less intelligent
No. Creativity is a form of intelligence; many theories recognize creative thinking as a key component of overall intelligence.
8. Emotion and intelligence are separate
No. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a valid and important part of overall intelligence and affects how well people navigate life and relationships.
9. Intelligent people don’t make mistakes
No. Everyone makes mistakes. Intelligence shows up in learning from errors and adapting, not in never erring.
10. Only children and young people can improve their intelligence
No. Studies show cognitive decline occurs with age, but the brain remains plastic across the lifespan; with continuous learning and practice, you can grow cognitive skills at any age. Your brain’s cognitive abilities can keep growing throughout your life.
Measuring Intelligence
How intelligent we are is closely tied to the health of our neurons and how well they communicate with each other. Healthy neurons and strong connections between them help us process information, solve problems, and adapt to new situations faster and better.
But we can’t measure our entire brain network. So, we use IQ tests to measure how well our brains work.
- The first IQ test was the Binet-Simon Scale of Intelligence, which came out in 1905. It popularized the clinical terms “moron” (IQ from 50-69), “imbecile” (20-49), and “idiot” (less than 20).
- In 1916, Lewis Terman modified it to devise the Stanford-Binet test that is still used today (you can take it here).
- In 1939, David Wechsler devised the Intelligence Scale.
Most IQ tests take around 30 minutes.
Two Parts of Intelligence
Most researchers agree that intelligence includes two main parts:
- Fluid intelligence. The ability to reason abstractly and solve new problems.
- Crystallized intelligence. Knowledge acquired from experience and education.
These two components can work independently of each other. Some people may have high fluid intelligence but low crystallized intelligence, and vice versa.
Interesting fact: An experience can increase crystallized intelligence, but not improve fluid intelligence.
For example, if a street dog bites your leg, it may teach you to avoid that dog’s territory. But it may not teach you what to do when you pass a different dog, whether to run away or to threaten it with a stick.
Ultimate truth: People usually have a steady capacity to learn from experiences throughout their lives (crystallized intelligence), but gradually lose their ability to solve new problems and think flexibly (fluid intelligence).
Theories of Intelligence
General intelligence (“g”), which focused on cognitive abilities, was once thought to be the only type of intelligence (Spearman, 1904).
Then came many theories of intelligence.
1. Sternberg’s Theory of Intelligence
Sternberg (1927) suggested that people are intelligent in their lives to the extent that they:
- create and achieve goals that help them attain what they seek in life;
- capitalize on their strengths while compensating for or correcting their weaknesses;
- adapt to, shape, and select environments; and
- use a combination of essential skills like creative, analytical, and practical abilities.
2. Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory of Intelligence
The Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory of Intelligence (CHC, 1993) is a widely accepted model that integrates fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence.
It also breaks intelligence down into broad and narrow abilities.
- Broad abilities include cognitive skills like processing speed, visual-spatial reasoning, short-term memory, and auditory processing, which cover general cognitive functions.
- Narrow abilities are more specific skills within these categories, such as the ability to detect patterns in visual data or recall information in short bursts.
3. Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner, a professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard University, proposed the theory of multiple intelligences (1983). He said there are 8 different intelligences:
- Verbal-linguistic,
- Logical-mathematical,
- Visual-spatial,
- Bodily-kinesthetic,
- Musical-rhythmic,
- Interpersonal-intrapersonal,
- Naturalist, and
- Existential.
Intelligence is “the ability to solve problems, or to create products, that are valued within one or more cultural settings.” — Howard Gardner, 1983
4. Psychological Theory of Intelligence
Psychologists classify intelligence into 4 types:
- Intelligence Quotient (IQ). The measure of your level of comprehension and problem-solving.
- Emotional Quotient (EQ). The measure of your ability to keep peace with others, be trustable and honest, respect boundaries, and be authentic and considerate.
- Social Quotient (SQ). The measure of your ability to build and maintain a network of friends.
- Adversity Quotient (AQ). The measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life, and come out stronger and better (resilience).
Intelligence In Psychology vs. Neuroscience
In psychology:
- Intelligence refers to cognitive abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving, and memory.
- These skills allow us to understand complex ideas, adapt to new situations, and learn from experiences.
- It also means an ability to think in abstract ways, make connections between different pieces of information, and apply knowledge to solve real-world problems.
- Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role, involving the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions, as well as empathize with others.
In neuroscience:
- Intelligence is considered a function of brain processes and structures.
- This includes how neurons connect and communicate, allowing cognitive functions like reasoning and memory. The efficiency and complexity of these neural connections are thought to contribute significantly to variations in intelligence.
- Brain activity patterns, such as how different regions of the brain work together, also play a crucial role in supporting these cognitive abilities.
What is Mensa?
“Anyone with an IQ in the top 2% of the population can join Mensa.” — Mensa.org
Mensa is the world’s oldest and largest high-IQ society. It was founded in England in 1946, with a strong presence in the United States.
To be a Mensa member, you require an IQ score in the 98th percentile or higher. This means a Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WAIS) score of 130 or higher, or a Stanford-Binet score of at least 132.
There are around 145,000 Mensans worldwide. Most Mensa members are between the ages of 20 and 60, have a good sense of humor, are very curious, and grasp concepts quickly.
Final Words
So, intelligence is many things together.
- It is the ability to learn, understand, and apply knowledge.
- It also means how we understand and respond to our own and other people’s emotions.
- And it also includes the ability to solve real-world problems using imaginary models.
As Einstein said,
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
√ Also Read: 10 Signs Of High Intelligence (Are You An Outlier Genius?)
√ Please spread the word if you found this helpful.
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