How Far Does It Get You
How Intelligence Quotient Shapes Lives and Futures
B. N. Dent
A QUOTE FROM THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY FRENCH AUTHOR ANDRE GIDE STATES “THE GREATEST INTELLIGENCE IS PRECISELY THE ONE THAT SUFFERS THE MOST FROM ITS OWN LIMITATIONS.” Gide outlines that individuals with exceptionally high intelligence often face significant challenges due to their awareness of their own intellectual limitations. Gide is thus suggesting that the more intelligent a person is, the more they recognise the vast expanse of knowledge and understanding that lies beyond their grasp. This recipe is sure to lead some geniuses into a state of insanity. Although it may have been conceived earlier, the closest idea of intelligence was first believed to have been manufactured by Greek Philosopher Aristotle roughly 2300 years ago. However, at this time, he called it “reason” – the human ability to resist the urge of our instincts. Ever since this time, and more prevalently in recent times with the increase in scientific studies, the question of how differing levels of intelligence impact human beings throughout their lives has been an extremely interesting and complex query.
IQ, short for Intelligence Quotient, refers to a total score created from a set of standardised tests designed to calculate human intelligence. In 1905, psychologist Alfred Binet devised a test for children struggling academically that would observe the particular areas of reasoning, resulting in the children not performing well. Despite being reasonably rudimentary, Binet’s test created the foundations for modern IQ tests in that they demonstrated a clear ability to assess and compare levels of intelligence. Modern IQ tests measure a range of cognitive abilities, particularly your reasoning and problem-solving skills. IQ scores generally range from 40 to 160, with most people landing between 85 and 115, with people scoring above 120 regarded as having high intelligence. In today’s society, IQ is generally strongly correlated with positive life outcomes, including health and longevity, job performance, adult income, and success in general. But is this a misconception?
In sports, there has been an everlasting debate as to whether raw talent or work ethic and mentality will have a greater influence over an individual’s ability and greatness. Through this lens, IQ and talent are quite homogeneous in the fact that they are the natural traits given to individuals predominantly through genetics and some environmental factors. In relation to IQ, there are a number of other external personal determinants that will shape the likelihood of success throughout life. However, as success is a multifaceted concept, within a group of people with similar IQ scores, the intelligence of one may place greater strains on their ability to achieve success than another due to the differing notions of success defined by each individual. Alongside IQ, other factors that produce success are adaptability, mentality, and emotional intelligence.
The Terman study was an example of a scientific project that attempted to answer the question of how IQ influences outcomes and successes throughout life. For the study, approximately 1,500 intellectually gifted children with IQ scores above 140 were selected and followed throughout their lives. The study tracked their educational, occupational, and personal development over several decades. The study’s key findings showed that high IQ was sustainable over a long period, the majority of children went on to be very successful in their academic and occupational careers, and the physical health of the test subjects was overall very good. In contrast, a few individuals within the selected group still did not go on to be “successful” later on in life.
In light of this information, and in relation to this topic on aggregate, it is illustrated that whilst intelligence may provide advantages for and facilitate success, there is still no guarantee. Intelligence is a resource that an individual must capitalise on through external skills and traits that will enable its full potential to be achieved.
“Action is the real measure of intelligence.” – Napoleon Hill.