Does a High IQ Mean You are Intelligent?

We all recognize someone who is bright and has an able mind. The responses they give, the energy about them is different from someone who is less able. But what do intelligence tests evaluate?

What the old IQ tests looked for was the ability to answer questions quickly, using one type of intelligence. It was something that could be taught and preparation for,

It is agreed nowadays that there are a number of different levels of intelligence. Everyone has heard stories about absent minded professors. Brilliant in their own field, they have to be reminded which bus stop to use. Their field of focus is narrow. We need their expertise and concentration. But, they need minders to keep them functioning in the everyday world.

Most of us have to function on our own without someone helping. So how do we use our intelligence? Having a high score on the old system is no use if you can’t manipulate it. Being able to make connections between obscure events, connecting implications in someone’s disjointed speech patterns, (but checking you’ve got the right idea!) lateral thinking and being open, are useful tools for the intelligent. It’s frustrating dealing with someone who knows they have a high IQ but cannot do any of these things. They can actually look stupid.

It’s all about using different types of thinking and skills. Luckily the world is full of people who have a wide variety of abilities. It makes everything more interesting – even if we have difficulty understanding with, or agreeing with, their ideas. Sometimes it’s hard to see where ideas have come from, but connections trigger strange responses in the mind.

Common sense is another level of intelligence. What a relief it is to work with someone who is ‘sensible’. Their IQ might not be that high, but they can be trusted not to do daft things because the obvious hasn’t occurred to them.

Emotional intelligence is another important factor to consider. An individual can be clever but has not sorted out their underlying responses to living and relationships. Daniel Goldman wrote a brilliant book called ‘Emotional Intelligence’ which explores how this can be developed and the silly things we do because we are not emotionally intelligent.

Intelligence is variable. It has different capacities, different levels. It’s possible to be good at one form and quite useless at another. Knowing this helps to frame how we live. What jobs suit us best, how we can interact with others more successfully.

Intelligence is more than a high IQ score and variety is the spice of life.