How would you define or at least describe human intelligence? Is it something we were born with, something acquired, something constant or changeable? There are many opinions, theories and ideas on intelligence as it is.
Apparently, animals also have intelligence; some species are more intelligent than others are. Are we simply the most intelligent living beings on Earth or in space? The former is possible, while the latter is questionable.
First, we cannot simply define what intelligence, meaning human intelligence was. There are interesting futuristic ideas on very abstract forms of intelligence, meaning more abstract than the very term of our intelligence was, since something immaterial.
Some claim there must be other forms of intelligent life somewhere in space. However, those beings are on even a higher level of intellectual existence than we are.
This is, they argue, the reason why we cannot even recognize, see and register such forms of life. They might as well be immaterial to our exes and senses. We cannot see them.
According to these ideas, we are still on a lower level of intellectual existence, compared to those. In time, we will evolve and reach it. These ideas are intriguing, very interesting and even hopeful, to say.
They give completely different insight into human intelligence and direction it would perhaps evolve. We love to think of ourselves as super intelligent here on earth; however, maybe there are forces that have far more of intellectual potentials than we have.
We cannot even define or measure our own intelligence, to be true. IQ tests are but one way of measuring it, not welcomed by all.
The first problem we encounter when trying to decide parameters we should use in order to define and measure intelligence. The difference between inborn intelligence and acquired knowledge and use of it must be taken into account.
Factors that seemingly have nothing to do with intellectual are also of major importance.
People use IQ test so predict one’s potentials related to life success in the world we created.
What is human intelligence?
It is, by all means, difficult to think of IQ test as the only reliable predictor of life success and the only valid value of someone’s ‘level’ of intelligence. Intelligences could be different, if we take multiple approach to defining intelligence, while basic intellectual mind lies beneath or represents a basis.
It is plausible to think of human intelligence as our specific form of a survival mechanism. Yes, intelligence helps us survive.
How could it be? As one famous scientist has claimed, intelligence represents our ability to adapt to changes. It literally means that it helps us survive. We use intelligence so to acquire knowledge, knowledge from our experience.
We decide what is good and what is bad for our survival (not that we are always in the right, let alone unmistakable). By using our basic intelligence, we learn and see not to repeat the same mistake again.
We experience the world, we have a perceptual reasoning that helps us learn about the world and adapt to it. It is a complex process, since we also create the world, for a part. That is an incredible potential that also comes from human intelligence.
Therefore, not only that we passively adapt to changes, but also we are actively involved with making changes. We adjust circumstances to suit ourselves.
It is, one must agree, truly an impressive fact, although we live with it normally; we are used to it. It is in our nature.
We do not only experience natural phenomena (for instance) and then build houses so to protect ourselves and adapt to certain soil and clime, but we also invent completely new things so to live comfortably, to progress. That is how intelligence is different from instinct. It is creative.
We could say intelligence is a creative potential of human mind to adapt to the world we live in, according to lessons we learn from our experience.
These lessons must also be a product of our intellectual thinking; otherwise, they could not be called lessons, only something that takes place. That is all clear, but how could we ever measure this specific ability? How to score it?
Complexity of the Intelligence
The problem with IQ tests is that they stick with only several parameters and see intelligence very strictly. In fact, they are usually related to verbal comprehension, logic and task processing speed, problem-solving skills, basic perceptual reasoning.
There is not much place for creativity and inventiveness, although these are connected to previously mentioned. IQ test do not recognize individual talents, specific skills et cetera.
An interesting alternative to conventional definitions IQ test are mostly based on is multiple intelligences theory.
According to this theory, intelligence makes a complex of many different intelligences; eight of them, to be precise. Two are added and discussed later.
These eight intelligences include everything from logical thinking to talents such as musical or artistic talent.
Conventional IQ test would never tell if someone was a brilliant painter, but they would tell if the same person was excellent or bad logician. The problem is that, if we take it so, for example, a person who sings like an angel and would could make thousands cry out of pure joy upon hearing that person’s voice could be not good with numbers, words even and logic.
The point is that he or she does not have to be ‘smart’ in order to be successful or just to be brilliant at something. That opens up a whole palette of individuals that are far above average in one particular filed, while average in other, conventionally taken IQ fields to call them so. Is this unfair? Well, it depends on what stance you take.
Of course, a line could be drawn between all of the intelligences and basic intellect. They are partially dependable, yet they could be separately evaluated. All intelligences must have a common denominator, which we could call general intelligence.
However, it would be wrong to take an IQ score as the only parameter to predict someone’s future, success, career or elsewhere. They could be of help, though.
These different types of intelligence enlist verbal and linguistic intelligence, mathematical and logical intelligence, physical intelligence, natural or naturalistic intelligence, musical intelligence, visual intelligence, intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence, even spiritual and moral intelligence.
One must agree these elements, even if they were not taken as parameters of someone’s overall intellectual capacity, definitely affect one’s manifesting intelligence and play a major role in terms of one’s life path. They could be combined, as well. Each person has them all, but not equally ‘developed’.
You have potential for each one of these, according to the theory. Besides types of intelligences offered by the multiple theory, there are other factors we should consider. For example, emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence and personality profile are definitely factors one cannot avoid if thinking about the actual use of the intelligence.
What matters if you have a high IQ if you were a nervous, anxious individual with, say, inferiority complex? Could you make something out of it? Well, of course, but you would have to overcome other ‘problems’.
Some people never manage to do that; others are by nature ambitious, confident and courageous.
It does not have to be connected and correspondent with a person’s IQ as scored on a test. That said, we could agree that IQ score alone cannot guarantee someone’s success, it is not a straight line and a direction that leads only forward.
IQ Scores and Reality
Another important factor is definitely social intelligence, which has to do with the previous one. Intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence, as mentioned in this multiple intelligences theory are of great importance. They will affect the actual course of manifestation of one’s IQ score in reality.
At the end of the day, it seems we end up with a score on paper, while in reality things are different. Not entirely different, though.
To some point, IQ tests and scores do reveal someone’s potential, though specific ones. They are not useless, but we cannot say they define a whole person or his or hers full potentials.
Your attitude is very important. Social adaptability, social understanding, relationships with people, attitude towards people and your own place in the midst of all of it are very important. If you are easily manipulated, your high IQ does not matter much.
It is true that a highly intelligent person (as seen on an IQ test) would be very aware of others trying to take an advantage of him or her, but that does not means he or she would definitely refuse to be taken advantage of.
It depends on your social skills that are, by all means, also associated with your basic attitude towards life, your personality and personal mental, emotional strength.
See? It is all very complex and complicated. Therefore, in reality, any IQ score will manifest affected by other factors that should be taken into consideration.
That is the reason why we cannot guarantee that an individual of a very high score would be successful, in terms of what people usually claim successful that is professional success tightly bound with material success.
IQ Score 122 Meaning
This score falls under the category of ‘superior intelligence’, according to WAIS-IV system of evaluation.
WAIS test is the most widespread IQ test and it belongs to a wider family of different tests (WAIS is an adult test, while there are children tests and other specific ones). This range means one is well above the average scores that are within the range from 90 to 109.
Superior intelligence is also labeled as ‘above average’ on some other scales. In any case, we could think of it as an exceptional score. What does it mean in reality is difficult to say, if we see into thousands and thousands of personal experiences.
High scorers, such as those of score 122 often tell how they get easily bored in conversation with most of people, since it is true their reasoning is more brilliant, their problem-solving skills are more efficient, so many things that appear new and exciting to ‘average’ ones are what a high scorer ‘already knows’.
To look into an academic career is a good way of thinking for a high scorer with IQ 122. If he or she pursues educational development and focuses on academic circle, he or she would employ their intelligence the best way possible, since IQ test actually do measure what is important for this field of life.
According to interpretations of scores, IQ score 122 corresponds with an easily obtained Master’s degree.
Individuals who get such a score are candidates for further tests that are dedicated to exploring possibilities and potentials related to an already high score. Scores within this range are by all means ‘academic’ scores.
These individuals are perfectly capable of theoretical research, scientific research, comprehension of complex materials and drawing their own conclusions from it. The disadvantage commonly associated with high score such as that of 122 is over-thinking. However, it would depend on an individual and his or hers personality.
In addition, it is more likely that you would become a ‘worrying high scorer’ if you actually do not employ your intelligence into some fitting intellectual work. High intelligence requires certain occupation. It is disputable if one’s score would fall down if unemployed.
For a great part, it is something you were born with, although there are theories and ideas on upgrading an IQ score. The thing is probably in employment of capacities.
If you decide to engage with intellectual thinking, your IQ score of 122 would display in full potential and open up new and good opportunities in your life.