Posted on 10/05/2018 9:48:18 PM PDT by MtnClimber
People too often forget that IQ tests havent been around that long. Indeed, such psychological measures are only about a century old. Early versions appeared in France with the work of Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon in 1905. However, these tests didnt become associated with genius until the measure moved from the Sorbonne in Paris to Stanford University in Northern California. There Professor Lewis M. Terman had it translated from French into English, and then standardized on sufficient numbers of children, to create what became known as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale....
The result was a group of 1,528 extremely bright boys and girls who averaged around 11 years old. And to say they were bright is a very big understatement. Their average IQ was 151, with 77 claiming IQs between 177 and 200....
The story goes from bad to worse. Of the many rejectsthe children with tested IQs not high enough to make it into the Terman sampleat least two attained higher levels of acclaim than those who had the test smarts to become Termites. Here are their stories: Luis Walter (Luie) Alvarez was born in San Francisco, just up the peninsula from Stanford. He was around 10 years old when he took Termans test but scored too low to enter the sample. The story goes from bad to worse. Of the many rejectsthe children with tested IQs not high enough to make it into the Terman sampleat least two attained higher levels of acclaim than those who had the test smarts to become Termites. Here are their stories: Luis Walter (Luie) Alvarez was born in San Francisco, just up the peninsula from Stanford. He was around 10 years old when he took Termans test but scored too low to enter the sample.
(Excerpt) Read more at nautil.us ...
Sorry, I do my best which is usually counterproductive. ;)
I never tire of serving as a bad example.
IQ helps, but other ingredients are drive, common sense, education, talent, sanity, looks, and other traits.The trick is to use these to your advantage.
I think you have confused the MMPI with another test. The MMPI is not scored high or low. It is used to evaluate your mental health.
The best I can do to describe it is that they ask you about 500 questions which are variations of a much smaller bank of questions.
By asking the same questions in various ways they presume to be able to judge; truthfulness, paranoia and other personality traits.
It is meant to be followed up with a session with a psychologist or psychiatrist.
I have had to take it every 5 years for the last 35 years to maintain my security clearance.
It takes about a half a day to complete the test and interview.
But some of the questions are really off the wall. One of memorable one is Do you ever have black tarry stool?. Of course there is the Do you hate your mother
Ah, there is nothing better than living down to your critics worst criticisms.
I recall it did take a very long time, and it did ask the same questions using different verbiage. (As if you couldn’t figure that out, right?)
Anyhow, I do know that I was turned down for one position because I wasn’t “like” the other employees and wouldn’t fit in to their “atmosphere”. I translated that to, “You’re not a robot, and never will be a robot. We don’t want you.” LOL!
Whatever test it was, it was interesting.
That is interesting as Chile is a stable and prosperous country and Argentina has been a basket case for generations.
I think Chile has always been relatively decent as far as Latin America is concerned. Then, in the 1970s, Chile almost fell to communism. Fortunately, Augusto Pinochet stopped the commies. He invited American economists, who were Milton Friedmans followers, to help him reform the Chilean economy. The governments interventions in the economy were reduced. Chile began to prosper. Unfortunately, in recent years there have been some left-leaning governments so Chile isnt as pro-market as it once was any more.
Years ago I took their proctored IQ tests out of curiosity, then joined MENSA and attended several of their events thinking they might be interesting. I learned they could drink... a lot... and have fun, but yes, they are for the most part a bunch of misfits. I even dated a woman in that group, and eventually had to have her jailed for stalking.
I also joined Intertel, which has higher entry requirements than Mensa... but they had so few members there wasn't much going on in terms of meetings/events.
I also was a member of IEEE (only an interest required to join that)...now that was worth it. Got to visit Boeing helicopter plant in Phila., visit a high-tech trash plant being built, Conrail's control center and fun stuff like that.
It isn’t claimed that IQ is a perfect or total predictor of success. But it is the most persistent associated factor that we have. The highest end measurements among children historically had the most statistical error. The tests has been refined over the decades and of course the exceptions don’t prove the rule.
Watching a critic choke on something unexpected until the paramedics come (too late) is better..
Sitting on their grave and toasting the devil his newest acquisition; priceless.
Assembly language is the most efficient programming language to date. I worked on the Modcomp computers (not for NASA) that helped to put the Man on the Moon. It ran mostly assembly compiled code and a good many programs were both Assembly and Fortran.
Yep, those were the days, core memory and washing machine size hardrives with platters the size of a dinner plate.
Using different tests results can be different. If a person is not strong in mathematics, but is developed in another industry, the IQ does not work properly at all.
Could be worse. I met my ex in Mensa.
Turns out she didn’t have a screw loose so much as the entire access panel dangling by a thread. Her high IQ enabled her to camouflage that pretty well...
Ever been to a Mensa meeting? High IQ often correlates with eccentric habits. Those who think for themselves don't always make conformity to norms a high priority.
A study I read decades ago put work and social success with the 120-130 range.
While it served me well to have that ability, I found that perseverance, tact, and inquisitiveness along with this talent overcame an innate shyness. I was able to achieve but probably not to the standard the nun thought I would. So, my feeling is the test is a tool in a tool box, nothing more. It still comes down to the individual and their ethical and moral upbringing.
Life is tough, especially if you have a lower I.Q.
‘I agree, how can the ability of thinking of new and revolutionary ideas be measured?’
Especially when so many people are eager to steal credit from others? Even subonsciously.
‘work and social success with the 120-130 range.’
A high IQ can harm communication with lower IQs. Too large a lexicon AND alienation, such as stilted proper grammar.
I deliberately try to avoid words that are too fancy when a plain word works just as well.
‘Turns out she didnt have a screw loose so much as the entire access panel dangling by a thread.’
— ROFL!
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