Anyone here with an extremely high IQ?

[Curious3141]

Feynman's IQ was 125.

That number and that factoid about Feynman are often bandied about by those skeptical of IQ tests. I believe it's almost certain that that number was an aberration, caused by a multiplicity of factors - a poor test (maybe one emphasising verbal ability, or prior recall of facts/trivia), Feynman's lack of seriousness in taking the test and/or well-known antipathy toward psychometrics in general.

You only have to read his autobiographical "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!" to know how he viewed shrinks and their ilk.

Psychometrics wasn't that far along those days, and there were plenty of bad tests floating about. I'm willing to wager that a properly administered "culture-fair" modern test that tests symbolic logic and reasoning ability would have demonstrated Feynman to have had a VERY high IQ (at least 160), provided Feynman were serious about taking it. Unfortunately, we'll never know.

I believe that IQ is correlated with cognitive ability, and the top achievers in any intellectual field will have high IQs. It's certainly not the only factor that's important - motivation, emotional adaptability (I hate the catchphrase "emotional intelligence") and other factors play very important roles. But it's unnecessary to measure IQs to judge the worth of these top achievers, because their achievements speak for themselves.

IQ remains important in stratifying the cognitively subnormal, but it's really fairly useless in quantifying supernormal cognition, except to provide underachievers with dubious bragging rights.

 

[Andre]

Maybe Feynman used his estimated 160 to judge that one should not take those tests seriously.

I added some comments in an edit.

Agreed

 

[Curious3141]

Maybe Feynman used his estimated 160 to judge that one should not take those tests seriously.

I added some comments in an edit.

 

[chemisttree]

You must be a math guy; I'm unfamiliar with that term.

'Sheesh' means the same thing as "geez" or "golly" or "darn" or "eh?" (in Canadian)... as in, "Significant figures people, eh?"

 

[DragonPetter]

I've never been IQ tested as an adult, but I guess I am probably close to average.

I put about as much merit in IQ testing as I do in horoscopes. I actually think it is the same psychological phenomenon for people to latch on to IQ scores as for people to believe they are a leo or scorpio. They want to put meaning into arbitrary signs or patterns about something they know nothing about in order to explain something about themselves. Now that I think about it, a lot of the same websites with "IQ tests" also offer horoscope quizzes and other meaningless questions that are supposed to identify what you are.

I care much more about what a person has done with themselves than I do about their IQ. People put little merit into the theories of the smartest man in America, and the only reason he's given attention is because of his IQ, not because of his theory.

I have a guess that I have come across a few geniuses through various encounters, and they truly amazed me with their quick and firm grasp of a broad range of advanced concepts, and their ease of using these concepts. I really doubt high IQ is the full story with these people's brains.

 

[Pythagorean]

Forgot to say in this thread: emotional intelligence is way more important that intellectual intelligence. Whiny, petty, know-it-all brats are worthless. So nananana boo boo.

 

[skeptic2]

Back when usenet was active, I used to monitor the alt.mensa.org usergroup. For a long time I was impressed by how much knowledge they had on nearly any subject that came up. That is until they discussed my specialty and I discovered much of what they said was false. Even more than a high IQ society they seemed to be a high ego society.

Ironically menso/mensa in Spanish means stupid. I wonder what the organization is called in Spanish speaking countries.

 

[turbo]

I started Elementary School in the post-Sputnik scare, and my classmates and I got the living hell tested out of us. Not long ago, my father brought a lot of personal papers here to store in my safe, and I was surprised that he and my mother had saved all of my school records from 'way back. I have never been tested outside of a classroom, and have no desire to update.

 

[Chi Meson]

Forgot to say in this thread: emotional intelligence is way more important that intellectual intelligence. Whiny, petty, know-it-all brats are worthless. So nananana boo boo.

nu-'uh!

 

[Danger]

'Sheesh' means the same thing as "geez" or "golly" or "darn" or "eh?" (in Canadian)... as in, "Significant figures people, eh?"

Just when I started to like you...
I honestly have never heard the term "significant figures" and don't know what it means. Perhaps it's the same as "significant digits"? (The only "significant figure" that immediately comes to mind is Marilyn Monroe.)

Ironically menso/mensa in Spanish means stupid. I wonder what the organization is called in Spanish speaking countries.

I'll remember that for the rest of my life, and will point it out every time that I meet someone who brags about belonging to the club. It's embarrassing to me that despite having Spanish blood I don't know the language. (On the same wavelength, I can't help wondering whether or not Zed Zed Topp ever considered how stupid their name sounds in Canada.)

 

[Pythagorean]

Just when I started to like you...
I honestly have never heard the term "significant figures" and don't know what it means. Perhaps it's the same as "significant digits"? (The only "significant figure" that immediately comes to mind is Marilyn Monroe.)

Yes, it's the same. Except "sig figs" rhymes, which makes it awesomer.

 

[Danger]

Yes, it's the same. Except "sig figs" rhymes, which makes it awesomer.

I can dig on that.

 

[skeptic2]

From:
http://www.freetranslation.com/

 

[johnqwertyful]

I have no clue what my IQ is, and think the test is BS anyway. My dad told me when he was a teenager, he tested at like 160+ or something. He joined Mensa with his friend basically just to screw with them. He told me that the whole thing was a joke and that the people were some of the stupidest he's ever seen. They couldn't even tell that he was screwing with them.

He dropped out of high school, and now works as an informal EE (never went to school, just knew someone/right place right time). He's a smart dude, but I wouldn't consider him a "genius" or anything.

 

[skeptic2]

In another discussion here on PF, someone (I don't remember who) mentioned that IQ tests were designed to find those who were not smart enough for the army. (I know, that's a pretty low standard.) The IQ tests are very good at that. But they are not very good at detecting the super intelligent. Does mentally folding a pattern to match an oddly shaped box a few seconds faster really mean you're smarter? True intelligence is a lot more complex than can be tested with a multiple choice test.

 

[Kutt]

In another discussion here on PF, someone (I don't remember who) mentioned that IQ tests were designed to find those who were not smart enough for the army. (I know, that's a pretty low standard.) The IQ tests are very good at that. But they are not very good at detecting the super intelligent. Does mentally folding a pattern to match an oddly shaped box a few seconds faster really mean you're smarter? True intelligence is a lot more complex than can be tested with a multiple choice test.

I took an IQ test in high school and scored within the "average" mean. I thought that the test was kind of dumb and relatively simple. I would have scored much higher if I tried harder.

But like you said, it is probably very inefficient at measuring true intelligence.

And you have to be pretty dim to not qualify for the army.

 

[turbo]

And you have to be pretty dim to not qualify for the army.

My father quit HS so he could join the Army Airborne during WWII. He isn't dim, by any measure. He is over 85 and is attending funerals regularly as WWII veterans are passing away.

When I was a kid, he started studying geometry so that he could lay out sheet-metal ducting without the trial-and-error method that he had been taught. He was actively recruited by mills and contractors though he didn't even have a HS diploma (until about the time I was in HS, and the diploma was awarded after the fact). IQ is subservient to "smarts", IMO.

 

[dydxforsn]

no

Forgot to say in this thread: emotional intelligence is way more important that intellectual intelligence. Whiny, petty, know-it-all brats are worthless. So nananana boo boo.

Good post! I often make the case to people that intelligence is the most important quality in making a well liked individual (assuming they have behavioral axioms like "the golden rule"). I often worry I'm not a good enough human personality-wise because I'm not as intelligent as I could be :( Nobody understands what I mean, nobody seems to see the link between intelligence and being a good human with amazing traits. Intelligence means so much. I usually suspect people who commit misdeeds of stupidity before I assume bad intent. I feel this is a suspicion more people should carry.

 

[Pythagorean]

I think the statistics support that. If you take "stupidity" to mean a lack of education and "misdeeds" to be crime, there's definitely a correlation between the two.

 

[operationsres]

Usually, at 130 or 140 someone is moderately gifted, 150 or 160 highly gifted, and above that exceptionally or profoundly gifted.

I would like to know what these categories are supposed to mean.

 

[operationsres]

I actually think it is the same psychological phenomenon for people to latch on to IQ scores as for people to believe they are a leo or scorpio.

What do you mean?

They want to put meaning into arbitrary signs or patterns about something they know nothing about in order to explain something about themselves.

How do you know "they" know nothing about it? There's an abundance of studies on IQ tests. Clearly your statement doesn't apply to the non-trivial proper subset of all those that have taken IQ tests who have also read these studies.

 

[Evo]

What do you mean?

It seems clear to me.

Clearly your statement doesn't apply to the non-trivial proper subset of all those that have taken IQ tests who have also read these studies.

What do you mean? Please share this information with us, I am not aware there was a study on the number of people that had taken online IQ tests that read studies about IQ tests.

The two senteces you answered were part of one statement. If you read the member's entire post, it should be quite clear what he is saying.

 

[operationsres]

It seems clear to me.

What do you mean?

I'll try to make clearer what I don't understand.

He/she stated: "I actually think it is the same psychological phenomenon for people to latch on to IQ scores as for people to believe they are a leo or scorpio. They want to put meaning into arbitrary signs or patterns about something they know nothing about in order to explain something about themselves."

I don't understand the link (hence my "What do you mean?").

"Arbitrary signs and patterns." - I don't understand what's arbitrary about taking a test and then getting information on your quantile location on the distribution based on a random sample of the population that's also taken the test.

"They know nothing about." - I don't understand how this claim can be made.

More generally, I don't see the link between the belief that planetary movements cause events to occur in their personal life and what I believe to be most people's perception that IQ scores are related to certain types of intelligence.

Please share this information with us, I am not aware there was a study on the number of people that had taken online IQ tests that read studies about IQ tests.

I've read a singular study on IQ tests and I've taken an IQ test, which qualifies me as being outside of the category of knowing "nothing", which is enough to justify what I stated.

Out of the many people that have also taken IQ tests I would be shocked if 0 of them have read these studies. But this being true is not needed for my statement to stand.

 

[AnTiFreeze3]

I would like to know what these categories are supposed to mean.

Nothing. IQ tests are wonderful at determining whether or not you are retarded, but any deep analysis of the upper tiers is more or less meaningless.

 

[nitsuj]

Woo hoo I'm not retarded.

Good thing it's not just testing language, or is it "good thing it's not testing just language."...? idk.

 

[turbo]

IQ testing has to taken in context. As a new student in the Sputnik Scare, my classmates and I got the living crap tested out of us. I only found out recently what those scores were, when my father brought down a bunch of old school records.

 

[Galteeth]

By the way, out of curiosity, I went to the Mensa website and tried some of their workout tests. The questions were pretty easy.

 

[Cerlid]

I can take a very limited amount of information and create a solution, people who are good at IQ tests need all the information to do that, because they simply cannot extrapolate, think laterally or solve a Sherlock Homes murder, they are lacking in the fundamental skills that are what intelligence is all about. May not be dumb, may do very well in school but as someone already said the higher echelons require more than just brute crunching of numbers etc. They have to know how to imagine more than that, to fire those neurons so that the creative process is king, they have to be able to intuitively work something out, something new, not intellectually solve mundane problems anyone could solve because they are already solved by very mundane people.

I don't want to boast but last week, I invented not only a novel way of controlling terrorism, working out what people really think, determining who is a liar, working at optimal efficiency whilst picking my nose, working the envelope, and reprinting the spandle. See most people don't even yet know what a spandle is. You people are way behind me cause I did that all at the same time, whilst checking on my bank account..

Meh the real Rainmen are ten a penny but have you ever invented some new way of thinking? Do you have 100 ideas a day, are you creative? Then who the hell cares, IQ, we all have one, but does it really reflect anything?

 

[Danger]

And you have to be pretty dim to not qualify for the army.

There is a limit to that. Although I didn't qualify for military service, I belong to the Legion. A lot of the soldiers and old vets are of at least "normal" intelligence, and some are above normal. (Probably about the same proportion as in civilian society.) What the military wants is compliance. As long as someone is willing to take orders, intelligence is advantageous. Fighter pilots, for instance, know a lot of math and aeronautical engineering.

I usually suspect people who commit misdeeds of stupidity before I assume bad intent.

That's how I look at it. I've lived by a quote from someone who's identity I can't remember (likely either one of the classical SF writers or Mark Twain). "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

By the way, out of curiosity, I went to the Mensa website and tried some of their workout tests. The questions were pretty easy.

It's probably the same as the one that I checked out back in 1975 that was printed in "Reader's Digest". They give an easy one to suck you in, but you have to pay for a supervised test in order to apply for membership.

I couldn't believe it when I went to apply for a job as a service writer for a Toyota dealership about 15 years ago. The receptionist gave me an IQ test to fill out before asking for my resume, and told me that there was a 45-minute time limit. When I handed it back after 15 minutes, she said, "No, you have to fill out the whole thing." When I pointed out that I had, she looked quite flustered, especially since I had a perfect score. Needless to say, I never heard back from them.

 

[Cerlid]

I would like to know what these categories are supposed to mean.

Nothing at all.

A person with an IQ of 200 may well spend their life doing nothing worth while, where as a mundane pleb with and IQ of 122 may well spend their life revolutionizing science. Richard P Feynamn for example, who was apparently only quite "intelligent", with his mediocre IQ of 122, and yet changed the very nature of how we think about physics.

IQ I wouldn't bother with "intelligence" tests, as most psychologists know intelligence cannot be measured, nor can genius, nor can talent, the only thing you can measure is what you do with what you have and what you achieve, the rest is just mental masturbation for elitists.

High IQ, meh who cares, perseverance, a willingness to learn, to think, to dream. A willingness to think about everything and outside of any box, will serve you far better than a test for the mundane to measure mundane skills that were never designed to test anything other than your skill up to age 18 to pass tests, before you really get to learn how to think for yourself. IQ tests are for children, intelligence is measured by what you do after you lose your training wheels and learn how to really think, not by a score board that is redundant.

Have I got a high IQ, yes, does it mean anything to me, no. Nor should it, nor does it, nor will it ever.

Man that was quite a rant. By the way IQ tests do have their uses, I don't mean to sound down on them, it's just there are better ways of determining peoples talents. Ones we tend to overlook, hell tests are not the be all and end all of people, and this is coming from someone who always flew through tests. I just I suppose get disappointed by people who are discarded because they don't quite measure up to something that does not quite measure up to anything, end of the day put the effort in and you will do better than your predetermined monkey test, predetermined by dumb monkeys.