Knowing your IQ

[Mr Spinkles]

I do not know, nor would I want to know, my own IQ. I can't see any advantage in knowing one's own IQ...but I can see some disadvantages. Depending on the score, it could lead to a superiority or an inferiority complex.

How many here know their own IQ?

Is there any advantage to this?

I understand the importance of IQ testing in education, etc...but you can have your IQ tested without being informed of the actual number result.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I forgot to add...how accurately can we measure a person's intelligence? How do we even define intelligence? Musical ability, memory, mathematical skills, imagination?

 

[SoulTYPE]

IMO, there is no ACCURATE way to determine your IQ. ALL the tests done have different tasks.questions, and different results. The internet ones are terrible, leading you on just to buy their bull**** product. If a person's IQ was adequate, they would KNOW not to purchase the product in the end.

 

[cardero]

Though I do not K(NOW) my IQ I am not sure it would make too much of a difference with me.
I K(NOW) that there are many things that I do not understand but I would like to admit that I am confident in the areas that I do K(NOW). I am one of those people who is ALL(ways) hungry (obsessive)for knowledge but just intelligent in things that are usually trivial to other people. I have also met people who are very intelligent (geniuses in fact) but do not have “street smarts” or are not fully aware of the information in their given interests. I believe that we cannot understand everything but I believe we should strive for BEing well-rounded.

 

[Sunstone]

I forgot to add...how accurately can we measure a person's intelligence? How do we even define intelligence? Musical ability, memory, mathematical skills, imagination?

Howard Gardner has identified 8 or 9 different kinds of intelligence. So far, his theory of multiple intelligences has caught on mainly among educators. I expect that his theory will continue to be refined and that one day it will be as common for people to speak of multiple intelligences as it is today for people to speak of a single intelligence.

BTW, there are numerous philosophical implications to the notion that we have multiple intelligences. For instance, the notion would seem to imply that we are all more or less unique mixes of intelligence, and that -- consequently -- everyone's point of view is valuable in some way or to some extent.

 

[cardero]

Sunstone writes: Howard Gardner has identified 8 or 9 different kinds of intelligence. So far, his theory of multiple intelligences has caught on mainly among educators. I expect that his theory will continue to be refined and that one day it will be as common for people to speak of multiple intelligences as it is today for people to speak of a single intelligence.

I wouldn't BE surprised if they have tests/quizzes for open-minded intelligences and/or measurements for awareness.

 

[Druidus]

There are reasons to why I would want to know my IQ, but they wouldn't exist if the schooling system was run a different way. I only want to know so that I can prove to the school that I deserve harder work. Believe me, I will not get a superiority complex no matter what happens. I simply can't believe that one person is better then another. The other reason is that it can help you when you apply for university.

The methods of testing vary, but we can probably all agree that online testing is the least accurate. Below is a scale of how good different methods are, based on my opinions. Top is worst, bottom is best.

Online testing
Testing in group setting by an educator
Testing in group setting by a psychologist
Testing in group setting by a Phd level educator
Testing in group setting by a Phd level psychologist
Testing one-on-one with an educator
Testing one-on-one with a psychologist
Testing one-on-one with a Phd level educator
Testing one-on-one with a Phd level psychologist

Of course, this may vary, depending on the test used.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

Oh Druidus, I wasn't referring to you, or anyone in particular, when I created this thread. Actually I was thinking more in terms of myself and how I might react to knowing my own IQ. I wanted to see what everyone else thought, and if they knew their IQ, what were the consequences psychologically. I completely understand your need to be tested given your situation. In fact, I think most people should be tested so that schools know where to place them.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

For what it is worth, I know my IQ (tested about 20 times over the years). Knowing my IQ (actually a range of the results) does not effect me in any way (that I am aware of) - like Druidus, I don't think anyone is inherently better than anyone esle.

The only benefit I see to someone having a higher IQ is that they seem better equipped to grasp concepts - although even this is not universal within the group.

To the original question, Spinkles - you should contact someone in the Psych department at M of O and ask if they would test you for IQ - tell them you do NOT want to know the results, and they will not reveal the results to you.

Lastly, Sunstone's input about the emerging view of differing types of intelligence is correct. I don't believe it will be that far in the future when people are measured for intelligence in several areas, starting with kids entering grade schools (to help identify areas of strength and weakness).

Side note - many sites online advertise the "Mensa" IQ test - they can be very entertaining, but are not necessarily sponsored or approved by Mensa, so take them with a grain of salt.

TVOR

 

[Irenicas]

I know my IQ - it's 147, but that doesn't actually make any difference. I took it because the British government insist upon it if you apply for a job with them (in certain branches). Personally, I don't think it makes any difference. It's Intelligence QUOTIENT after all.

 

[Druidus]

It really is only your potential, not what you actually are. Plus, no matter what test you take, the margin of error is 15 points higher or lower.

 

[Lightkeeper]

I forgot to add...how accurately can we measure a person's intelligence? How do we even define intelligence? Musical ability, memory, mathematical skills, imagination?

This is something I have wondered about also. Several members of my family have, music, writing, art ability in addition to having a high I.Q. Is having many talents a sign of a high I.Q.?

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Lightkeeper -

That is exactly the type of thing that is being explored by the development of the variety of ways of defining and measuring IQ.
Irenicas is correct - it is a quotient.

To be honest, I think apptitude tests are much better measures of what different people are truly capable of.

TVOR

 

[QTpi]

I know my IQ (top 1%) and I know I have 100% reading comprehension based on the many tests I have had to take. (I would not have taken them if it wasn't required.) None of that matters to me. I am content to know that I can understand a journal when I read it, and that I have good problem-solving skills. I do not need tests or numbers to tell me that. I agree with Lightkeeper in that IQ tests have no way to measure giftedness or talent. They are a measure of only a small part of a person's intelligence and ability.

 

[Ceridwen018]

To the original question, Spinkles - you should contact someone in the Psych department at M of O and ask if they would test you for IQ - tell them you do NOT want to know the results, and they will not reveal the results to you.

I'm curious--what would the point of taking the test be if you're not interested in knowing your score? It seems to me that that would just create one person in the entire world who would either prostrate themselves before you or burst out laughing whenever you walked by, which could get a bit irritating...especially if they were laughing.

As far as different kinds of intelligence go, I think it's a good theory. I'm going to take it one step further and speculate that perhaps its not so much a matter of our intelligence taking different forms, as it is that perhaps different 'forms' of intelligence come from parts of the brain which are more highly developed than others. Someone with rudimentary reasoning skills might be a genius at the cello, therefore, and a Julliard nightmare a mathematical wonder.

The IQ test was developed to test a person's reasoning skills--not how much you know, or something like that. Reasoning certainly doesn't account for creativity, but is creativity really a form of intelligence? Hmmm...

Personally, I wouldn't be bothered by knowing my score. If it was high, I'd be like, "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about." And if it was low, I'd be like, "Dude, these tests are totally inaccurate, and my tester probably screwed up." So you see, I have a superiority complex even without taking it!

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I'm curious--what would the point of taking the test be if you're not interested in knowing your score?

I was thinking the same thing.

It seems to me that that would just create one person in the entire world who would either prostrate themselves before you or burst out laughing whenever you walked by, which could get a bit irritating...especially if they were laughing.

"Prostrate themselves before you or burst our laughing" HAHAHA!! You know how to make me laugh every time.

If it was high, I'd be like, "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about." And if it was low, I'd be like, "Dude, these tests are totally inaccurate, and my tester probably screwed up." So you see, I have a superiority complex even without taking it!

Please, stop...my sides are aching!

 

[The Voice of Reason]

I do not know, nor would I want to know, my own IQ. I can't see any advantage in knowing one's own IQ...but I can see some disadvantages. Depending on the score, it could lead to a superiority or an inferiority complex.

I'm sorry Ceridwen and Spinkles - I misunderstood the original post. I thought Spinkles was asking if there was a way to take an IQ test, without having to know the results. I got this impression from the very first sentence, wherein Spinkles said that he would not want to know his IQ score, if tested. My apologies.

TVOR

PS - for what it is worth, it's not that unusual for me to have people "Prostrate themselves before you or burst our laughing". Happens all the time around here.

 

[Sunstone]

PS - for what it is worth, it's not that unusual for me to have people "Prostrate themselves before you or burst our laughing". Happens all the time around here.

Whenever that happens to me, Voice, I always check to see that I'm zipped up.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Sage advice, Sunstone, sage advice.

TVOR

 

[Mr Spinkles]

Whenever that happens to me, Voice, I always check to see that I'm zipped up.

I am now convinced more than ever that men stop maturing after the age of 18.