Intelligence Assumptions (America, experience, muslims, science)

[Fluffy]

At least amongst the people who I have contact with, there generally appears to be two basic assumptions about intelligence:

1) Intelligence is inherent and largely immutable
Intelligence is something that you are born with. It is either a part of you or it isn't. People might acquire more knowledge and experience as they mature but generally speaking, a 40 year old will be as intelligent as he was when he was 30. A person's ability to learn, process and act on information largely stays the same throughout their life. A person can be characterised as "stupid" or "intelligent". I am/am not an intelligent person.

2) There is a large deviation in intelligence across humanity
There is a large enough disparity in intelligence to suggest that some people are intelligent and others are stupid. A stupid person is significantly less intelligent compared with an intelligent person. Most people are more/less intelligent than me. Republicans/Democrats are stupid (quite a common one). Americans are stupid (unfortunately very common in the UK ).

Are we justified in holding either of these assumptions? If we are, why? If not then why are they so widespread? Are they even widespread (the "Fluffy is talking a load of rubbish" option )?

Poll to follow.

[Radio Frequency X]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

Are we justified in holding either of these assumptions?

Yes, we are. Each individual will have a certain amount of intellectual capacity, constrained and defined by their memory, comprehension, deductive reasoning, ability to learn new information quickly and associating the information correctly (a largely subconscious activity), and being able to act on or regurgitate learned information.

Some people are extremely limited in each of these areas. These people are stupid. Some people have photographic memories, an ability to comprehend almost any idea, flawless reasoning, and can act quickly and effortlessly based on new information (the see it and then they do it). These people are usually referred to as geniuses.

To say that Democrats are stupid makes no sense. To say the Muslims are stupid makes no sense. Here were are insulting what they belief, not the intellectual capacity of their biological brain.

[angellous_evangellous]

I think that there are two types of intelligence.

There are people who are gifted with minds that can assimilate large amounts of information quickly, but the information has to be added and the intellect can sort through the data and find relationships with considerable ease. Most people are better at one type of info or another - art, math, music, languages, concepts.

However, a person of normal intellect can actually increase their speed by constant review - your brain can actually grow and be nurtured.

I've gotten a lot smarter in the past two years... I'm starting to keep up with some folks who are God-given genuises, but I'm not sure that I am as keen as they are.

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

At least amongst the people who I have contact with, there generally appears to be two basic assumptions about intelligence:

1) Intelligence is inherent and largely immutable
Intelligence is something that you are born with. It is either a part of you or it isn't. People might acquire more knowledge and experience as they mature but generally speaking, a 40 year old will be as intelligent as he was when he was 30. A person's ability to learn, process and act on information largely stays the same throughout their life. A person can be characterised as "stupid" or "intelligent". I am/am not an intelligent person.

2) There is a large deviation in intelligence across humanity
There is a large enough disparity in intelligence to suggest that some people are intelligent and others are stupid. A stupid person is significantly less intelligent compared with an intelligent person. Most people are more/less intelligent than me. Republicans/Democrats are stupid (quite a common one). Americans are stupid (unfortunately very common in the UK ).

Are we justified in holding either of these assumptions? If we are, why? If not then why are they so widespread? Are they even widespread (the "Fluffy is talking a load of rubbish" option )?

Poll to follow.

Assumption one is partially true. Intelligence is inherent to some extent. But it is also mutable. We loose part of the fluid intelligence that peaks in the early 20's as we age (on average), speed of processing also declines (on average). On the contrary, crystallised intelligence can increase throughtout the lifetime. Both recede in old age.

Assumption 2 is true, at least by measure of what intelligence testing reports.

[Feathers in Hair]

I imagine I'm either below average or average. I do abyssmally on any test that is timed or has to do with concrete data. On the other hand, I do fairly well on any test that involves remembering a story or verbal information. It seems to balance out to average.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Ozzie

Assumption one is partially true. Intelligence is inherent to some extent. But it is also mutable. We loose part of the fluid intelligence that peaks in the early 20's as we age (on average), speed of processing also declines (on average). On the contrary, crystallised intelligence can increase throughtout the lifetime. Both recede in old age.

This is descidedly not true with those who actually use their minds.

In my experience, I have found that people who think for a living - academics, lawyers, doctors, etc - have much better minds the older that they get. Their 20s are the worst because they are bogged down with data and the workload is too stressful. After 50 years of working, the mind is far better.

As Plutarch said, of all the parts of the body, the mind alone gets younger and stronger with age.

[ChristineES]

You can't judge intelligence by just one thing. Someone may be brilliant in reading or science but not be very good at fixing an engine or other mechanical work. Someone else may have trouble reading words, but may be brilliant in reading music. Someone may be able to program a computer and not be very good at building one. We all have different intelligence in different areas. Some that are book smart may not be mechanically inclined.

[PHOTOTAKER]

i put other for i am very intelligent in some things more so than others, and other things i have weakness like spelling... but as long as people have the idea that we are always learning and can help each other i thank the world will be and is a brighter place!!!