Beautiful Minds

Thanks for giving a better understanding of I.Q. testing and and a better use of the test. It seems to me that the test scores were only used to make it easier for an evaluator to make a decision rather than making a correct decision using other criteria along with I.Q. test results.

Great article. I was particulary interested in your posed question of the stability of intelligence over the life span. Although I don't question the loads of research in support of the relative stability of intelligence, I do question how this is taken into account with special populations ( often the most likely to be tested). This speaks to the importance of the mentioned efforts and training of the evaluator. I work in a mental health agency where all of our teenage clients are given an assessment that includes a Weshler intelligence section. Because virtually all of the young clients have experienced excessive abuse and neglect, our psychologist is very cautious not to over-emphasise IQ scores. Many of the clients show vast improvements in these scores once they are given opportunity to learn and overcome environmental defecits. I myself, fortunate enough to have grown up in a loving home, saw huge gains in my own IQ score once I began treatment for anxiety. My "shyness" as a child seemed to actually significantly hinder my ability to either aquire or express measurable intelligence. Anyway, enjoyable and uplifting article. Intelligent testing certainly seems to be key for using IQ tests in a beneficial way.

Hi,

Thanks for this very informative article. My blog is dedicated to my random theories about the evolution of intelligence, sexuality and other such issues. Unfortunately, there is a lot of disinformation and bias on the blogosphere because most people interested in IQ/neuroscience issues don't have an academic background, so they lack some of the necessary evaluation tools.

My blog attracts a number of people who believe that IQ differences between races are very important and that they must be taken into consideration when developing policy. My take is that IQ tests don't measure all types of intelligence and that cultural context and individual choice plays a large part in shaping how people behave.

I'd love it if you read my blog and contributed to discussions- feministx.blogspot.com.

My issue with IQ tests is that- what was originally intended as an assessment of childrens' education needs- has been turned into a status symbol. I know humans have an inescapable need to rank themselves, but really...the intention of an IQ test is to diagnose that little Johnny needs to be challenged with more accelerated classes, or that Jenny is going to need some extra help. It is NOT meant to say, "Gold star- you're smart!" Or, "You didn't pass, therefore you are not capable of doing anything great. You should aim lower." It is sad that there is an online industry revolving around IQ testing and that there is an elitist group that thinks themselves better than others because their members passed their entrance exam with a certain score. In my view, you are measured by what you create in the world, and the true geniuses are way too consumed with accomplishing things to worry about taking silly IQ tests or paying for a useless membership to a club centered on taking IQ tests. Outside of education assessment, IQ means very little, and people shouldn't concern themselves about it, IMO.