The Cubicle Chronicles: Intelligence? What's that?

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Intelligence? What's that?

Nanoo-Nanoo!

I'm willing to bet that you've met somebody who's "intelligent"; hell, you probably consider yourself at least of average intelligence. But, what is it about them or yourself that you perceive as "intelligent"? To kick it up a notch, what the hell is "intelligence"?

Is it knowledge of facts or concepts? Isn't that just exposure, memorization, and regurgitation?
Is it their analytical ability in dissecting concepts? Isn't that learned through training, particularly in higher education and science?
Is it their ability to think "outside the box"? Isn't that someone who may conceptualize things differently than the majority of people?
Is it an Intelligent Quotient Score (IQ)? Isn't that just based upon cultural norms of verbal, analytical and quantitative skills relative to a persons age group?

I would argue that one's intelligence potential is beyond the bag of genes you're given, which in themselves vary person to person, but also includes environment and experience into the complicated equation. I concede that perhaps, biological and genetic factors may "lower the ceiling" of possibilities (i.e. being mentally disabled, pre-birth nutritional & chemical factors etc.); however, I would maintain that environmental and experiential factors play a significant role in developing a person's intelligence.

Don's (current) Conceptualization of Intelligence:

Intellectual Capital (foundation of logic/reason/creativity)- this is a complicated equation of cognitive processing factors; including the potential speed & capability with which one processes different types of information, as well as assimilates and accommodates that information into their knowledge-base. This is not only a capacity to "intake" information, but also to "process" and "utilize" that information. Factors that may impact the potential of this capital: may be pre and post birth nutrition & chemical exposure, parental genetics in regards to rate of cognitive development, socialized value of intellectual stimulation, and environmental stimulation level and opportunity to expand and further intellectual development.

Do you believe in such a thing as "intelligence", and if so, what is your conceptualization of "intelligence"?

Is intelligence something that is static, or is it something that may evolve over time?

Does intelligence really matter? What's the value?

And the magical question, "Can Intelligence be measured?"

You know how we kick it; hit us with your mad wisdom mon!

13 Comments:

Me Terry. Me like big words, they make tinee pickures.

By Anonymous, at 3:36 PM
It's late at night. I just spent 8 hours counseling drug addicted teenage girls, my head hurts, and I just watched figure skating on T.V. Measure that, my friend.
Les = Dumbass(squared).
Intelligence, in my own words:
1. There is intelligence. It's in the dictionary. It's a word. Every person on this earth is good at something; yet shitty somewhere else. I am not good at math. I am more of a science girl. Intelligence is finding your niche in this life; and doing a damned good job at it while loving it also. Intelligence is not something that can be battled over Jager shots...not something that can really be argued over. It's very nebulous. My guess; you believe everyone on this blog is intelligent..or you wouldn't have asked us this. In addition to your definition, intelligence can also be divided in several ways. E..not book smart. But he could take a DVD player apart and have it back together without even thinking about it. Me..in the center. I read and spell well; my best subjects were Psychology and Chemistry; I also can read people in an instant. However, a friend I have, Jenne; could speed-read a page out of a Physics book and regurgitate it word for word like that dude in Good Will Hunting. Was offered a free ride to U of M. She chose to get married...(church going woman)..and have kids. Sadly, her husband is a drug addicted, sterile imbecile, who, if thrown into a pool full of boobs would come up sucking his thumb (and she won't get divorced..against the ru-ules). Smart? Intelligent? Idon'tthinkso. But she almost had that scholarship.
2. Intelligence may evolve over time, as more and more technology is used. However, that also may be construed as cheating. Look at Ben Franklin. I believe that man had something like 3000 patents in his life (give or take a couple thousand..I am going with give). Einstein. Now take a look-see at Kevin Federline and his POPOZAO. Christ. But, that's an unfair comparison. Ok, Bill Gates. He had classes, and consequently developed Microsoft. Who is more intelligent? Bill or Thomas? There's about 300 years between them..Also, wisdom is passed on. But we're not talking about wisdom.
3. The value is in the dollars you pay for continuing education...as well as the dollars you receive while working the job that you were hired for because of said education.
4. Not really. I.Q. tests.. they are the most "reliable" measure...but they don't measure street smarts.
Okay. That's it. Now I am going to bed. I have to make a plan for a girl tomorrow..and it ain't gonna be purty.

By Anonymous, at 12:27 AM
Hmm this is discussion is sounding eriely similiar to that silly tests and measurements class I had....do I believe in intenlligence almost like asking do I believe in love or do I believe that someone who falls twice during the long program can still win a silver medal...which I can's still figure out or why can't the United States win in the cross country...anyways I don't think itelligence really exists...I'd rather call it knowledge...knowledge is a lot more objective...either you are knowledgable about quantum physics or you are not...and just because you are not doesn't mean you are any less intelligent...has less knowledge as it relates to quantum physics yes but of course that fella who knows quantum physics maybe less knowledgable in other areas of life, lets say dating or social skills...so does that make that person less intelligent...can you really be all that intelligent if you have no social skills...so thats why I go with knowledge. 2...since I am going with knowledge, then yes it evolves over time. 3...I don't think intelligence has much value...who cares if you know quantum physics if you can't relate to anyone. Knowlegde can be measured but intelligence is measured by whatever test says that measures intelligence...from I what I remember...vocabulary and freedom from distractibility are the biggest indicators of intelligence on those tests...but does that mean you are really inetlligent.

Les...good luck with those girls...used to work at a juve hall myself but dealt with conduct disordered and add boys...good times...

By Anonymous, at 12:27 PM
Know-Alledgedly

Utlaw
I would argue that knowledge may be more relative to what one has learned; but intelligence is related to the potential learning capacity and rate at which one learns.

In regards to intelligence tests; I believe that all intelligence tests that utilize mathematics and vocabulary are culturally and experientially biased. With that said, I believe the Raven Matrices are among some of the most un-biased measurements around because they are pictoral logic problems that don't rely on language; but then again, is "analytical & logical reasoning" really a complete measurement of intelligence? I would say "no"; but it is a snapshot.

Les

I would argue that education is usually related to income because the higher the education, the higher knowledge and/or specialization which leads to more complex jobs. (i.e. you don't need much education (skills & knowledge) to pack boxes on a truck; therefore, the minimum requirements don't require a college degree, and since the task is rather simple, the pay is rather low. The strength of the relationship between income and education would depend upon: Industry, Complexity of the KSAOs (knowledge, skills, abilities, & other personal attributes)required of the job, supply & demand of personnel with those KSAOs, how much impact the job has on the organization, as well as the wealth & success of the organization.

All
I guess the closest theory that would relate to my described definition of intelligence is the General Intelligence theory (g) which posits that there is a higher-order factor that is "g" that is the foundation of multiple "types" or "facets" of intelligence. Think of a Ven diagram where the center field has a bunch of other fields that overlap the outside; the middle field would be "g", and the other fields would be all the other abilities related to intelligence like; "analytical reasoning", "verbal ability", "mathematical reasoning", "creativity", etc.

I guess I'm just expanding upon the "g" theory by integrating the social, biological, and experiential influences that may impact the "g" potential in a given person.

Terry

Good boy! You're a good boy! Yes you are! Ohhhhhh yes! Good boy! Go play now Terry! You're a good boy! Yes you are!!!

By Don the "Head Chimp", at 12:55 PM
Don talks gooder than me.

By Anonymous, at 12:59 PM
Big ole' Head

Oh yea, I forgot to add; supporting the biological relationship to intelligence, research has found significant correlations between the mass of sections of the Frontal Cortex (top-front wrinkly folded part of the brain) with intelligence factors.

Big head (usually)= Big Brain (usually)= higher intelligence.

Also, this meshes well with the nutritional & chemical relationships to nuerological functioning; meaning, the healthier the brain, the better it functions.

However, that is not to say it is the only factor that impacts intelligence capital; seeing the other factors in my definition.

By Don the "Head Chimp", at 1:04 PM
Thanks, Utlaw. Some girl called me an f*ing bitch today and told me she hated me. I said, "Thank you."
Don: while you are inclined to discuss the facets of intelligence..you omit the whole "street smart" or "common sense" part of your argument. Sure, I could have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth in Grosse Pointe; I could have been sent to a prime academic private school that made me wear a matching blazer and knee socks. I could have succeeded in that academy...gotten a hella good job.....BUT -- drank it all away. I WAS smart, I WAS intelligent enough to earn A's at a GREAT institution; (not to mention, wealthy enough)..but then I decided to just sit around, with a pint of whiskey, piping tunes on a harmonica. If I were to do that, I would not be intelligent. You need to incorporate every facet in a
theory of intelligence.
I will also argue that common sense is at least half of intelligence. If you don't have any common sense -- you may as well be a retard. Wasting the intelligence is also not intelligent.
Terry has the biggest head I have seen so far of the people who write on here. That's meant in a CLEAN way.

By Anonymous, at 2:48 PM
It is true, Common Sense is Uncommon

Les,

I read what you're writing, but I would beg to differ. Common Sense is only a perception of "what one would normally do in a given situation". Common Sense is not an underlying intelligence, but perhaps based upon an integration of multiple intellectual abilities, knowledge and social norms.

The analysis and explanation of your example:

Silver Spoon Child: probably had good genetic potential if his/her parents had larger and faster developing and cortexual attributes. Also, health and nutrition are associated with higher education and income; so he/she has that in their corner to aid in brain development.

Good Academic Schooling: exposed to a higher quality opportunity for learning, such as an "academy", which usually includes higher learning standards and more stimulation for intellectual development. This extra stimilus may increase the cognitive functioning of the child.

The "good job": Perhaps the "straw man" obtained a "good job" (whatever that means) which would make sense given his/her opportunities of: better genetics, nutrition, and education.

However, what is missing from your scenario are the experiences and events that happened, or didn't happen, that triggered a depression and resulting self-destruction. That combination of incidents and experiences are the vital pieces missing in your hypothetical situation.

The "drinking" it away is a self-destructive behavioral adaptation, either learned from parents or other sources of socialization, and is more of a symptom of the underlying problem. It just so happens, that the symptom actually worsens the situation. (alcohol damage to the brain, as well as impact upon the everyday activities of a "normal" and "healthy" lifestyle)

Basically, the problem is that you are taking snapshots of behavior without incoporating the analysis of "where" that behavior is rooted (you should be ashamed given your choice in fields). You're attributing those behaviors as indicative of the underlying level of "intelligence" which is an erroneous assumption. With this perspective, your evaluation of someone's intelligence is based upon observable behavior and your own value judgments of that behavior. (Skinner would be proud, but he over-simplified psychology)

"Intelligence Capital" is the underlying foundation of cognitive inputing, processing, and application of information, based upon genetics, nutrition, socialization, and experience; intelligence is not a behavior.

Someone who is highly intelligent can easily do things that are considered "unintelligent".

By Don the "Head Chimp", at 4:29 PM
My head is actually getting bigger. Infact I'm starting to look like a pep-boy. I may have to start wheeling my head around in a wheel barow.

By Anonymous, at 4:46 PM
I can't discuss the children I work with. Unless I am pissed. And then, no names will be used.
Okay, in my purely awesome and powerful definition:
Bio-psycho-social factors that combine to form the way a human being thinks, acts, and feels.
That's about as clear as it can get, my dear.
And let me say this much:
I do a damned good job in both academic and practice situations. I will be sending you an e-mail.

By Anonymous, at 5:37 PM
You're giving me Design and Mesurement flashbacks, Don.

I'm at work right now so I have to heek this short.

I tend to think of intelligence as a persons ability to fuse previously known "things" (thoughts, concepts, ideas, etc) together to create or understand new "things." Since a wide knowlege base and logical thinking factor into how well someone can do this I'd say they are also a component of intelligence.

By D a n i e l, at 9:44 AM
... but then again I just spelled "keep", "heek".... so take when I said with a grain of salt.

By D a n i e l, at 9:45 AM
... AND I spelled "what", "when". Man, I suck.

By D a n i e l, at 9:46 AM

The Cubicle Chronicles

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Intelligence? What's that?

13 Comments:

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