Intelligence is what we wholeheartedly believe to make us ‘special’, different from other living creatures of the earth. Well, it is true, at least for some part.
While our intelligence definitely is something that marks us as what we love to call intellectual beings, one might think it is our type or our level of intelligence that makes us so different from other living beings, animals, in particular.
Where our intelligence comes from? Why are we intelligent? Why we have this mind, but still do not, in fact, understand it? These have been existential troubles of all civilized human since ancient times.
We have been searching for answers within spiritual realm, within science, always in conflict between what we see and comprehend and phenomena we cannot fathom.
The uncertainty of our existence awakens our mind and make us think- We often curse the Tree of Knowledge, while at other times, bless it.
Sometimes we think about higher intelligences that may perhaps live in another universe, far always from our earth. Maybe they are much nearer, but our own level of intellectual existence is not enough to fathom it.
Perhaps deities and spirits some people believe in are, in fact, forms of another intelligence. These are all alluring and interesting ideas. Whatever the cause of our intelligence might be, here we are; we have it and let us see what we could do with it.
It seems we have an inborn need to measure and calculate things, human intelligence, amongst all others. We count and put on scales both material things and abstract ideas. It helps us organize our lives and take the best out of our time on this world, at least.
Definition of Human Intelligence
No one can tell what human intelligence really is nor there was a straightforward, complete definition of human intelligence. The dictionary says intelligence represents our mental ability to gather information and to apply it in real life or something very similar to that.
Well, for a great part, it is true. One of probably the simplest and yet very attractive and plausible definitions says that human intelligence is our ability to adapt to changes.
One of the greatest minds of our time, the genius physicist, Hawking, proposed this opinion. Simple definitions often prove the best. Our intelligence definitely helps us adapt to the world around.
There is even a theory that claims it comes as a substitute for our poorer instincts and physical fitness, compared to animals.
Why our instinct got worse, we cannot actually explain. This is just an idea that should be further examined.
In any case, intelligence does help us adapt to changes. We use it to reason our surroundings and find the best way to adapt to them. In addition, our intelligence plays even more spectacular role. It creates. It brings changes into the world.
Therefore, not only that we use it merely as a survival defense mechanism, but it also allows us adjust the surroundings to our needs. The imaginative and creative potential of human mind should not be neglected, when talking about the intelligence.
The problem with IQ testing is that they focus mostly on purely rational ground of the intelligence. Well, there must be more to it.
We could even say that our instincts are intellectual, although it definitely sounds paradoxical.
Moreover, human intelligence is complicated and it rather represents a complex of many aspects, not only ratio, logic. Many identify it with being smart in terms of academic success, but it is more than that.
Human Intelligence as a Complex
Human intelligence is not easy to define, let alone to be measured and evaluated. Not all those attempts on defining it tell on how to measure it and what should be measured, anyway.
Many experts and people in general share the opinion of unreliability of testing human intelligence. Common, conventional tests are limiting, since they focus only on several parameters.
They are of use, however, in terms of academic and professional overlook. However, even if we stick to academic circles and profession, we still cannot use IQ test as the only reliable predictors of life success.
No conventional IQ test would tell if a person was a talented singer, an excellent spokesperson, a fit athlete, a handy craftsperson, whether the person was emotionally stable, impulsive or patient and persistent.
They do reveal none of thousands other things that would definitely affect one’s life path. In terms of parameters, they are too exclusive. There are various manifestations of the same IQ levels in individual personalities.
For example, one could be quick-minded, excellent logician, excellent rhetoric with a high score, while another of the same score could be much slower thinker, a person who focus on details, who thinks through things more thoroughly and so on.
It does not make one ‘smarter’ over the other; it speaks about different personalities and sensibilities.
A person of an average IQ could present with just impressive physical skills or with a beautiful voice, which would definitely place them high above the average in certain areas, while they would perhaps score lower on a common test.
Well, this is the main problem with the question of the IQ test; what they measure and what should the measure. It has been a subject of debates ever since.
Types of Intelligences
Theory of multiple intelligences calms down those spirits convinced that IQ test cannot reveal how intelligent one was, in the first place.
According to this approach, we have but many different types of intelligences, eight, namely. The two were suggested later.
They types enlist verbal or linguistic intelligence, mathematical or logical intelligence, visual-spatial intelligence, musical-rhythmic intelligence, natural intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, spiritual and moral intelligence.
According to the theory, one has all of these intelligences. Each could be evaluated separately, although all are interconnected and associated with general intelligence. These types are some kind of potentials.
It means that one has potential for all, but not all will be equally distributed. This is a theory that challenges basic postulates on which IQ test functions. It includes what many call ‘talents’ amongst the ‘intelligences’.
If you stick to this theory, IQ scores in fact do not mean much. They evaluate only some of those aspects or ‘intelligences’. They will not show if you are gifted in arts or if you were excellent in sports.
While these categories by some are not considered intelligences at all, they do involve the ‘intellectual’.
None of them comes entirely from an instinct or whatsoever. It is a complex question and this theory is often considered too vague or too broad.
Classification of IQ Scores
Let us return to conventional testing. In order to see where score 114 belongs, let us see how the scores were classified.
According to the most widespread IQ test, WAIS-IV (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), scores go as follows. Those that fall below 69 on the scale are extremely low scores and we cannot consider them fitting for independent functioning of individuals in real life.
Scores from 70 to 79 are borderline intelligence, while those from 80 to 89 are just below average.
This range is often characterized as employable, capable of independent functioning, but not especially fitting for any position that requires decision-making, when exposed to situations with multiple choices.
Scores from 90 to 109 are average, independent, self-aware, of average reasoning, processing speed, problem-solving skills.
The average score is the range shared amongst 70% of population. Scores from 109 to 119 are high average scores, while those from 120 to 129 are superior intelligence. Scores that are above 130 qualify one for Mensa, according to WAIS system.
They are labeled as very superior or ‘gifted’. In some scales, scores of 140 and above are ‘genius’. Score 114 falls under the category of ‘high average’.
IQ 114 Score Meaning
IQ score 114 means you are of high average intelligence. In practice, it could be vaguely described as a score that fits the college format studies, BA degrees, theoretical learning, positions such as that of a manager or a teacher.
This is a very rough description and it should not prevent one of further development and working on their skills. In other words, it is not set in stone that you could get only BA degree or anything that ‘fits’ the score.
It means you have better perceptual reasoning that the majority of people, probably better verbal comprehension, quicker mind and sharper logic. This does not make one a genius, but definitely opens up many opportunities to use your talents in reality.
Yes, we say talents. Higher IQ does not serve only to express skills evaluated on your test alone. Those skills could be used to enhance other gifts you might present with.
In this regard, IQ score 114 is a very good one. It makes you smarter, but not ‘too smart’, if we could say this, so to better illustrate the following idea. In other words, you understand the world very well, but you do not stand out that much.
You are perfectly capable of getting along with the greatest majority of population, both those of lower and of higher scores.
While some would say this is not a very pleasing situation, since one might feel separated from those of ‘lower’ intelligence, while not as good as those ‘above’, it would for a great part be a matter of personal attitude and personality profile.
In other words, IQ score alone cannot be a single determinant on how would you fare in life.
Emotional intelligence is has frequently being mentioned as an extremely important factors in actual manifestation of someone’s score.
IQ score 114 or a score of average higher intelligence still counts you amongst the average, but also opens the doors to higher, you could take it as that.
Do not obsess yourself with the score; the very fact you are interested in it speaks for your willingness to widen up your own perception and horizons, which is a characteristic of a higher scorer and it is, by all means, only a positive thing.