Do you know a stupid person? Do you know how it manifests itself? Let's take a flight through the world to explore intelligence and its connections!
What is IQ?
So, to the heart of the matter...
This question is probably best answered by Mensa. That is, an organization that brings together people with IQs between the top 2% (in our country it is for people with IQs above 130, the average value in the Czech Republic is around 100). It is a kind of mental ability.
The original concept in 1912 was basically "mental age". Simply put, if someone is 30 years old and as mentally mature as a 30 year old, we get an IQ of 100 using the formula mental age / real age*100, so 30/30*100. If a 10 year old is mentally at the level of a 15 year old, he comes out with an IQ of 150 (i.e. 15/10*100) and if we meet a 20 year old who thinks like a 15 year old? 15/20*100=75.
We are quite a few years away from the original concept, but IQ is still measured. Tests. These are themselves for a longer discussion: what do they actually say about a person? And do they measure everyone the same regardless of education? Can one prepare for them? But let's leave such questions alone for now.
Dev Karlekar defines IQ as a measure of level of understanding. According to him, IQ at a certain level is needed to solve mathematical problems, remember things and recall information (literally lessons).
According to VeryWellMind, IQ tests are designed to measure a person's ability to solve problems and reason. And no, it is not a test of knowledge, although many people who have never taken the test think it is. In theory, a person with no education and a college graduate should understand the test at the same level. Although that's debatable...
What does low IQ mean?
Although online tests are not exactly reliable, I'll put a link here to IQ Tests Online. I highly recommend going directly to Mensa to take the test - it's not expensive and you know you can rely on the results. However...
IQ Tests Online (and not only them) publish on their site the scaling as it is with IQ. Like we said, a hundred is average. But what about the other values? When is a person a genius and when... not?
Before we get into how to recognize a "stupid person", I ask you to think about everything that was written above. In particular, you need to realize that low values don't necessarily mean a first-rate jerk that you look up at. Many disorders, disabilities and diseases come into play as well. And it is in no way okay to target people with lower IQs in any way.
I also borrowed the scale from IQ Tests Online.
AnIQ below 20 means profound mental retardation. It's hard to measure this value at all because such a person will be unable to complete the test.
AnIQ between 21 and 50 indicates severe to moderate mental retardation. Even for these people, it is not possible for them to take care of themselves. In this range are people who have previously been labelled as suffering from "idiocy" and "imbecility", by which I do not mean widely used insults, but professional terms!
An IQ between 51 and 70 means mild mental retardation (formerly technically "idiocy", again please not in a connotatively pejorative sense!) If given intensive care, these people are said to be able to be educated in special facilities and manage basic daily activities on their own.
AnIQ between 71 and 80 indicates a lower degree of mental retardation. These people can easily manage studies in special schools. The source states that they can also graduate from a mainstream primary school with difficulty. They are then able to work in unskilled jobs and can live fully independently.
IQ between 81 and 90. These people are mentally capable of completing primary education and of entering the labour market - especially in manual occupations.
AnIQ between 91 and 100 means we are close to average. These people are said to almost never work in managerial positions, but often find employment quite easily - for example, in specialised manual jobs.
AnIQ between 101 and 110 means average to slightly above average. These people are said to make it through college, but with difficulty, effort and diligence. Consistent individuals can even get into higher-level jobs.
An IQ between 111 and 120 already indicates above average intelligence. College is said not to be a significant problem for these people, and if they are hardworking, they can reach leadership positions.
AnIQ between 121 and 130 is strongly above average. These people are said to often graduate from college and have a good chance of excelling in their field.
IQs between 131 and 140 are exceptional. These people are very talented, studying is not a problem for them, and they often become top managers and scientists.
An IQ above 140 indicates excellent aptitude for creative activities. These people set the direction of knowledge for others. These are geniuses!
How to recognize a "dumb"?
There are several common signs by which stupid people "give themselves away".
Once again, I urge that in communicating and reading this lifestyle (!) article, we strongly distinguish whether we are really dealing with an arrogant person on the subway or a mentally handicapped person.
If it is the arrogant person, then we can cheerfully go about dissecting possible indications that we are indeed dealing with a "moron". PersonalityAnalysisTest lists the following signs of his obtuseness:
- Lack of curiosity,
- lack of intellectual humility,
- a closed mind,
- disinterest in learning,
- not seeking news and current affairs (disinterest),
- avoidance of thinking,
- reduced capacity for reflection,
- lack of critical thinking,
- refusal to change opinion,
- black and white thinking,
- lack of creativity,
- lack of cognitive flexibility,
- short-term thinking,
- poor decision making,
- unrealistic thinking,
- and poor interpersonal skills.
As you can see, perhaps social skills come into play as well - just a reminder that IQ cannot be completely purged of other influences in a person's assessment, even if we try. Humans are complex creatures, and a low score on an IQ test just doesn't make a moron.
BScholary thinks about other traits as well. According to this source, stupid people are not only not curious (or rather inquisitive), not interested in learning, not accepting of a different opinion or point of view, not capable of critical thinking and rational decision making, but they also do not excel at expressing empathy, for example. They do not understand the emotions of others or even try to. They are not tolerant of difference and have a problem with self-control - and not just in terms of anger, which is the first thing that comes to mind. They are usually not even able or willing to actively listen - it's just like talking to an oak tree.
To help me think through how to spot a jerk, I invited YouTube. And Real Men Real Style sees the clear signs as follows:
- Stupid people can't separate opinion from fact. You can explain to them all you want that something is a matter of attitudes, values, and something is scientifically based fact... They'll still ride theirs as the only truth. And it's right because they think it's right. So!
- It doesn't matter how much you argue. It doesn't matter how much logic and substantiated information you bring to the debate. There is no train running over "their truth" as they like to call it. No changing your mind! Twenty done!
- Fools look down on others from the floor. Especially when it comes to people they feel have, for example, "worse" jobs or maybe less money. Minorities are also ideal targets for them. They often draw conclusions based on first impressions and will quietly condemn a person for having dirty shoes without knowing where they are coming from.
- They're bullshitting. Can't think of any examples? How about the moron who brags about driving a hundred in the village? That's a hell of a guy! Oh, yeah...
- They repeat what they've heard, but they don't think about it. And when you ask them for detail, reason or context, they don't understand, they don't know...
- The noisier, the more true! When a stupid person doesn't know which way to go, he starts shouting. Other communication fouls such as insults, ending contact, or turning the topic to unrelated nonsense are also popular.
- As Einstein said, repeating the same thing expecting different results is proof of insanity. I'm paraphrasing, but it's true. If someone keeps repeating the same mistakes and can't see that something is wrong and is again raising hell... what advice do you give them? Would he even take advice?
That's it. That's all from me to the fools today. This topic deserves a lot more space. A whole book. Or two... Generally speaking, the word "intelligence" is very complicated, misused and overused. Sometimes by mistake, sometimes perhaps on purpose... This article is just some insight and a light-hearted insertion. If you want to know more (and especially more professional) information, check out the Mensa website. Jump on the test (It doesn't take an hour!) and do your research. After all - it's been mentioned many times here that the proof of intelligence is curiosity. So hurray for that!
