Human intelligence is so hard to define. There is such a range of different types of intelligence aren’t there? The standard IQ test merely identifies certain attributes of intelligence which it consequently gives greater importance to. One thing is for sure – IQ tests are extremely limited and in no way reveal the extent of human intelligence.
As a teacher I have encountered students who were incredibly bright and academically capable but were also incredibly stupid. Some were so limited in other areas they were virtually unemployable. On the other hand I have encountered students who were very low down on the IQ scale and had limited academic prowess but were as sharp as needles and incredibly sharp witted and streetwise.
So IQ is not easy to pin down. There are different types.
Interestingly, as a biologist, I find it interesting to look at from a genetic and evolutionary perspective.
We humans are basically a third group of chimps. We are genetically very closely related to chimps – sharing 99% of our genes. The difference between us is largely the size and complexity of our brains. We have larger brains, are more intelligent and hence have developed greater language skills and tool making skills. We are better at solving problems and hence developing technology.
Intelligence is largely inherited. It is a polygene system. A number of genes all work together to create intelligence. There are different versions of these genes all chipping in their quota. If we inherit a set of genes with high values we will have a tendency towards high intelligence.
But that is where environment comes in. We can maximise the input of those genes through a number of factors:
Good diet to enable the brain to grow to its maximum;
Good exercise to enable good vascularisation and oxygen supply;
Good stimulus to help develop neuronal connections.
So good parenting and education can help a child reach his/her potential.
The two essential biological attributes that enabled us to develop intelligence, and tool making, probably both came from our arboreal ancestry. We have binocular vision which enables us to judge distance and do fine tool work. We have an opposable thumb which enables us to grip tools and use them with precision. So what evolved to enable us to swing through a tree canopy without falling now enables us to build nuclear weapons and the Hubble telescope.
Ain’t intelligence wonderful?
You seem to forget that you were by no means living at the centre of the universe in this respect.
I guess by hanging out in some secondary school in the north of England, one couldn’t be further away from the cutting edge psychometric analysis developments. For two reasons, a) they were a closely guarded industry secret and not available to all and sundry, b) they were very expensive.
Andrew – we were using psychometric testing way back in the 80s. I was using it at university. I did psychology remember? I’ve been psychometrically tested many times – particularly when I got the role as County trainer for PSHE and education training. I used it to appoint staff and put teams together.
What planet are you on? Is there no end to your arrogance? A closely guarded secret? Expensive? Joking aren’t you?
I was first introduced to them in 1978, whilst I was studying accountancy, hating every minute and couldn’t wait to get out of there.
Well, I think you found a difference to their use at your work as opposed to playing around with them at uni. They weren’t lying around like beer mats, right?
They did cost a reasonable amount money so I entirely disagree with you there. Of course, I’ve absolutely no idea, as neither have you as to which models were used. My first firm’s were all bespoke designed in California.
Plus the fact that any form of administrative procedure change is an expensive enterprise to any company, particularly when it is implimented right across the board. Therefore, I hasten to add that I am not talking quite the crap you have alluded to at this juncture. I would suggest you are inexperienced of the ensuing costs of roll-out costs of multiple operations.
I would also add that I very much think they are over used and if I know somebody I never once considered using them. Generally, I seldom hired anybody that I didn’t know anyway.
I’ve used a variety of tests in a number of context – none too expensive. Education was at the forefront.
Do you believe that someone can educate themselves, may have little or no experience of schooling yet is so eager to learn they teach themselves to read to write. Talking to others, reading, life, is all sometimes one wants.
Yes I believe they can but it would be hard. Reading is extremely fulfilling. It can give you plenty of vicarious experiences – the most valuable skill of all.
Thank you Opher, we agree on something then, joking! Yes I love reading, Jonathan is an avid reader. I find reading here on the internet has helped me a great deal, writing as I do has been a tremendous help to me.
I think we agree on lots Anna. We just disagree on others. That’s life. If you’re passionate then you express it.
Yes, Anna, I have a friend who had only 2-3 years of elementary schooling before age 11 and is self-taught. She has written and self-published several books – two of which tell her story. She had a horrific childhood and yet she had an insatiable thirst to learn. She writes under the pen name Stacey Danson.
Hello John, I shall look her up. I know of someone else who had very little learning yet taught himself and he too had such an abusive background yet became to date the biggest selling Poet in History. He greatly influenced myself and countless others into writing. I think if you have that thirst to learn to succeed you can.
Her memoirs are under the name Stacey Danson, but her novels are under her own name, Suzanne Burke. She’s in Australia and also writes poetry that I enjoy.
She sounds interesting John.
She went through hell writing the memoirs – PTSD flashbacks throughout. She’s in her early sixties now and she’s a wonderful person.
I bet in the end it was cathartic though John.
Life would be boring Opher if we agreed on everything. When David and myself disagreed or argued (rows caused by others mainly), after a few minutes I would say to David “bet you’re sorry you upset me now” and he would laugh and say “you …..”.
Say it how it is. That’s all you can do.
Opher, not your sort of education.
Nor did you ever work for any firm with 175,000 employees worldwide.
You’ve zero understanding of large scale operations. You’re such a micro-management guy.
I doubt you could read the budgets, too many digits, you’d mistake them for telephone numbers.
What were you doing? You’re telling me you were responsible for 175,000 employees? I’ll check and tell you how many people work in education in Britain. That’s the organisation I worked for. Your silly attempts to big yourself up are laughable. Grow up Andrew. It isn’t a competition.
Read the posts Opher, FFS, you make such slow progress.
No, I was one of. It was a global company. I at one time or another would be responsible for 5-6,000 employees = all the operations in my region x the number of employees. Plus the new incoming ones as I did regional new openings. New openings being the #1 feature of my responsibility.
The company Director of Human Resources would be responsible for 175,000.
I was principally a Regional Operations Director. I was not a senior board member.
Everything is split up into regions and areas / countries and areas, other wise its unmanagable. The pecking order being:
Board Member – Regional Operations Director – Country Operations Director – Unit General Manager.
I was replaceable.
Big myself up? Opher, FFS, there are 200 countries in the world. It is not too difficult to understand that any competitive hotel company on the international circuit will have several hotels in most countries, in some cases dozens of, perhaps hundreds of. There are 100,000+ hotels operating in the world today.
Stop thinking of your one wee school in one little building. Stop thinking micro-management – think big scale.
As for bigging myself up. Excuse me, but was it me who decided to write a book all about myself and my own achievements, all my own doing of course?
There must be loads of your peers looking at that thing, shaking their collective heads going WTF! How did you have the front to make such claims?
And only holding the job for 5 years! Just 5 lousy years. That’s the first 12 months setting objectives, and 3 implementing them and the final year bowing out.
So in reality its 3+ years of decent work and you write a book about it?
You sad cunt. You actually do think the world owes you a living, don’t you?
And you accuse me of bigging myself up? Pot fucking kettle black or what?
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
A look in wonder.