10 Myths of Intelligence (And Many Interesting Facts)

Reading time: 7 minutes

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 Common Myths of Intelligence

1. Intelligence is fixed at birth. No. Stop believing that your intelligence is unchangeable, as research shows that learning, experiences, and efforts can improve your cognitive abilities over time.
2. IQ tests measure all aspects of intelligence. No. Don’t assume IQ tests cover everything about your intelligence. They mainly assess certain cognitive skills like logic and problem-solving but don’t measure emotional, social, or practical skills.
3. A higher IQ means greater success in life. No. Your IQ alone doesn’t determine your success in life. Success depends on a range of factors, like emotional intelligence, luck, opportunities, perseverance, efforts, connections, social skills, and others, not just IQ.
4. Intelligence is the same as academic achievement. No. Just because you excel academically doesn’t mean you’re more intelligent. And being intelligent doesn’t guarantee academic success.
5. People are either ‘smart’ or ‘not smart’. No. Intelligence is not binary. It isn’t black and white; it’s a spectrum. And you can be intelligent in various ways across different domains. It’s a spectrum that varies across different domains, and people can be intelligent in many ways.
6. Intelligence is solely determined by genetics. No. While genetics do influence intelligence, your environment, experiences, and education also play undeniable roles in shaping your intelligence.
7. Creative people are less intelligent. No. Creativity is a form of intelligence. Many theories, like Sternberg’s and Gardner’s, recognize creative thinking as a key aspect of overall intelligence.
8. Emotion and intelligence are separate. No. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a valid and a key part of your overall intelligence. EQ allows you to understand and manage emotions. People with high EQ can be just as successful as those with high IQ.
9. Intelligent people don’t make mistakes. No. Everyone makes mistakes. Intelligence involves learning from those mistakes and adapting, not avoiding them altogether.
10. Only children and young adults can improve their intelligence. No. Your brain can keep growing throughout your life. Studies show cognitive decline occurs with age, but the brain remains plastic. You can continue learning and enhancing your cognitive abilities as an adult.

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, that 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 Adult Intelligence Scale.

Most IQ tests take around 30 minutes.

Two Parts of Intelligence

Most researchers agree that intelligence includes two main parts:

1. Fluid intelligence — the ability to reason abstractly and solve new problems
2. Crystallized intelligence — knowledge acquired from experience and education

These two components can work independent 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 — 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:

1. Verbal-linguistic,
2. Logical-mathematical,
3. Visual-spatial,
4. Bodily-kinesthetic,
5. Musical-rhythmic,
6. Interpersonal-intrapersonal,
7. Naturalist, and
8. 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:

1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) – the measure of your level of comprehension and problem-solving.
2. Emotional Quotient (EQ) – the measure of your ability to keep peace with others, be trustable and honest, respect boundaries, and be authentic and considerate.
3. Social Quotient (SQ) – the measure of your ability to build and maintain a network of friends.
4. 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 Adult 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 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.

• Our Story!