It’s one of the most familiar words in our vocabulary: Intelligence. But what does it mean? Most of us think of intelligence as how smart you are. But is that the only way to think of intelligence? In recent years, scholars have argued that there are other forms of intelligence, but they can’t agree on a number (8,9, and 12 are often cited). The fact is that we don’t have an accepted view of what it means to be intelligent.
The most common measure of intelligence is a number generated from an IQ test. The origins of IQ measurement in America are based on the eugenics movement, where a method was needed for determining who was weakening our national gene pool. The two pioneers of IQ testing argued for forced sterilization or colonization of those whose IQ identified them as being feebleminded. IQ tests were also used to argue against immigration into America, mostly from Europe (e.g., Irish, Italian, Poles, and those from Slavic countries).
IQ is a measure deeply flawed because many of those things which are critical to our daily lives aren’t counted. IQ also doesn’t consider other critical factors that could affect the results of an IQ test. There has never been a valid test that shows that IQ is a predictor of successful and desirable social outcomes in a person’s life.
Other forms of intelligence also try to reduce it to a number. Reducing intelligence to a number is promoting the concept of a fixed mindset. We now know that our brains change as we experience life, but a simple number, generally determined at a young age, doesn’t reflect this aspect of intelligence. We need to think of intelligence as being developmental.
Measures of intelligence are exclusionary in practice. They measure what makes us different from others. What intelligence tests don’t consider is what is common to all of us. Our personal intelligence is vital to how we live our lives.
Measures of intelligence are also used as comparative indicators. Often these are used in ways that are harmful to those who are in a certain biological group. There are those who try to use statements of a person’s intelligence to raise their own status.
So how should we think of intelligence? Here are some generalizations that make intelligence more useful.
- Intelligence should be considered as being developmental, not a static number.
- Intelligence should reflect the gap between where we are now and where we want to develop.
- Intelligence should not be thought of as a number but as a collection of behaviors leading to successful and purposeful living.
- Intelligence should focus on each person and not be used for comparison to others.
In summary, intelligence should be considered the way we live our lives as we continue to better ourselves.
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“Intelligent individuals learn from everything and everyone; average people, from their experiences. The stupid already have all the answers.”-Socrates