About Intelligence
Intelligence is your aptitude for
learning and solving problems. It is largely an inherited trait. Your
scores on I.Q. tests are likely to remain the same throughout your life,
from about age 5 on. An I.Q. (Intelligence Quotient) is a score that
compares you to others your age.
There are at least three main types of intelligence:
- Verbal: aptitude for thinking in
abstract terms, with words, ideas, numbers and logic. This is the type
of intelligence you need to do well in school classes like English,
social studies, history and math.
- Spatial: aptitude for solving
problems using your eyes and hands. This is the type of intelligence
you need to type, build or fix things, draw, sew and use hand tools.
- Memory: aptitude for remembering
what you have learned in the past.
Usually, a person's I.Q. scores on all
three of these areas will be about the same. Some persons have very
different scores, which is important to know. For example, if your
verbal I.Q. is very low but your spatial I.Q. is average, you will have
difficulty in school classes requiring reading, writing and arithmetic
but do alright in classes like art, sewing and wood shop.
It is helpful to know your intelligence
levels, for they will help you choose careers in which you are more
likely to succeed and enjoy. In general, the higher you intelligence,
the more successful you will likely be in the career you choose. There
are other traits important to job success, but intelligence is one of
the most important. This doesn't mean you have to have very high
intelligence to succeed but your I.Q. will help determine the level at
which you will "peak out" (e.g. worker, manager or company owner).
Success in four-year college and
university programs usually requires at least average intelligence.
Graduate study success usually requires above average intelligence.
You are likely to most enjoy friends and
a spouse with an intelligence level about the same as yours, as you
will understand and be able to talk about experiences on the same
level. Success in careers and
in social relationships, such as marriage, also depends on other
traits, including personality and factual knowledge. You can learn
about your personality by taking tests on this site. Factual knowledge
is what your learn about a specific life area, such as truck driving
regulations and driving techniques, sewing machine operation, computer
programming, bookkeeping and surgery.
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