Have you ever thought about the effects of intelligence on your life and those around you? Is the quality of life of intelligent people with high IQ the same as people who do not have high intelligence?
Do you think that all successful people have a high IQ, and this is the only factor of their success? I don’t know your opinion, but I believe IQ is one of the most critical factors that determine the quality of people’s personal and social life and has an important impact on people’s success.
But is it the only benefit of a high IQ for success in life, or does it also affect personality traits such as kindness, anger, warmheartedness, etc.?
In this article, you will find the answer to this question, especially whether people with high IQ are better and nicer. This article comprehensively examines IQ, its effects on life, how to evaluate IQ, etc.
What Is IQ?
Intelligence Quotient, also known as IQ, is an overall score obtained from a series of standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence.
These IQ tests are tools that measure intellectual ability, such as problem-solving, reasoning, short and long-term memory, and cognitive skills in general.
It is interesting to know that having a high IQ does not necessarily mean being smart; that is, it is possible that a person with a high IQ only has a high ability in a series of skills, such as problem-solving, but is not a very smart person.
It is also possible that a person is known as intelligent in an academic environment such as school or university and gets excellent grades in exams but does not have a high IQ.
People who perform well in school, university, or the workplace in academic matters but their mental abilities, such as cognitive ability and problem-solving, are weak are good examples to prove that having a high IQ doesn’t necessarily mean being able to solve mathematical and physics problems, in addition, being smart doesn’t mean being able to provide logical solutions to crises consistently.
Therefore, while IQ and being clever are related, the existence of each does not guarantee the presence of the other.
How Is IQ Measured?
The first intelligence quotient test was the Binet-Simon Scale, developed in 1905 by Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon. This test was designed to identify underperforming students for admission to special schools.
These tests are not a new thing; they are IQ over 100 years old. And till now, to measure the IQ of each person, these standard tests are used, and according to the score obtained from these tests, the IQ of each person is determined.
IQ scores have different levels, for example, average, high, and low. The average of IQ tests is 100. If a person’s score is higher than that, it means that they have a high IQ, and if it is less than that, it means that they have a lower IQ.
It is also good to know that most people have an IQ between 85 and 115. People who score more than 130 are called “superior,” and those who score below 70 are called “borderline impaired.”
Each person’s IQ test score depends on many factors, such as age, gender, place of residence, and nationality. Therefore, many factors affect your test score.
As mentioned, to measure your IQ, you can use related tests, some of these tests are free, but you have to pay a fee for some. The important thing is to choose a test that gives you the right results that many people have used and are satisfied with.
What Is A High IQ Score?
As mentioned in the previous section, each person’s IQ score depends on various factors such as age, gender, nationality, etc. This section will examine what is a high IQ score and its meaning.
IQ scores are classified according to the following:
- 130 and above: Extremely high or superior
- 120-129: Very high
- 110-119: High average
- 90-109: Average
- 80-89: Low Average
- 70-79: Very low
- 69 and below Extremely low or borderline impaired
A score of 116 or higher is considered above average. A score of 130 or higher indicates a high IQ. As a high IQ society, Mensa membership includes people who rank in the top 2%, which usually is 132 or higher.
IQ scores follow a bell curve, and most people’s IQ score appears in the middle of the bell, between 85 and 115. Overall, about 98% of people score below 130.
But, If someone’s IQ score is higher than 130, which is in the 2% list, their score is an outlier.
Characteristics of Intelligent People
- They are open-minded:
Intelligent people with a high IQ always welcome new ideas and are open to accepting them; they don’t involve themselves in old and traditional beliefs and always try to obtain new angles of every subject to discover new experiences. In other words, they try to keep their minds updated.
- They are curious and ask good questions:
Such people are curious about the issues and the world around them and ask the right questions about things they don’t know to find the correct answer.
It is said that being curious about essential issues and asking questions about them is one of the early signs of high IQ.
- They are adaptable:
Smart people can quickly adapt themselves to any situation. In other words, instead of being disappointed when they find themselves in a new position that is not to their liking and does not know how to control the situation, they try to adapt their behavior to the environment and adapt themselves to that situation or environment, so they can easily and correctly pass those conditions.
- They accept their weakness or lack of knowledge:
When intelligent people don’t have enough information about a subject, they easily say that they don’t know anything about it, which means they are open to accept their lack of knowledge.
Instead of giving wrong information about a subject, these people try to study and improve their knowledge.
- They have self-control:
Smart people are patient and have better self-control; they can think logically and wait for their wishes to get the best result.
These people plan better for their goals and do not make hasty decisions.
- They are sensitive and understand other’s feelings:
People with high IQ can guess and empathize with other people’s feelings; in other words, they can imagine themselves in their place and understand them. Therefore, such people are sensitive to what others experience and feel sympathy for them.
Does High IQ Affect The Quality Of Life?
So far, we have talked about IQ and the characteristics of people with high IQ but does having a high IQ affect the quality of people’s lives? In other words, does a high IQ guarantee a successful life?
In this section, we will discuss this matter.
IQ test scores are an excellent way to learn more about cognitive abilities. Still, it’s important to remember that such tests have severe limitations and can’t predict everything about a person.
Besides, research shows that IQ test scores can predict academic success, such as getting perfect scores at school or university exams.
The critical point is that people with high IQ make better decisions in life than others.
For example, these people make better decisions in financial matters, health, education, and social relations, which is why they are more successful.
All these things are essential parts of life that significantly impact the quality of life.
But this does not mean people with lower IQs have less decision-making power for these issues. Still, according to research and statistics, people with more ability to solve problems, reasoning, and cognitive ability have a much better quality of life.
However, it is not possible to talk about the 100% impact of IQ on the quality of life, but its effects on life are also undeniable.
Are People With High IQ Nicer And Happier?
In the previous section, it was said that a high IQ affects people’s quality of life, but are people with a high IQ nicer and happier?
People with average IQ have high standards and significant interests, but research shows that people with higher IQs are more likely to be happier and friendlier to others.
Research data shows that people with the highest IQs are much happier than those with the lowest. But what is the reason?
As mentioned, having a high IQ means high ability in cognitive skills, reasoning, mental abilities, and problem-solving.
People with such skills can make better decisions in life, have a better academic education, have better social relations, communicate with better and more successful people, have a better ability to solve problems, and better control and manage situations.
In general, such people understand life better and strive to make life better, which makes them happier, and this happiness makes them kinder to others and behave better.
The overall finding shows that people with higher IQ scores do not exhibit negative externalizing behaviors like cheating, stealing, breaking the rules, or deliberately harassing someone else. Therefore, people with higher IQ scores are nicer and happier as well.
Conclusion
Knowing the IQ level is helpful in many cases; as it was said, you can use the tests designed for this purpose to determine the IQ level.
Remember that IQ level depends on various factors, so don’t blame yourself for your low IQ test score, and try to strengthen the skills that intelligent people have so that you can benefit from these abilities.
Also, don’t forget the impact of a high IQ on the quality of life, success, happiness, and better relationships with others. All these things are the main factors that make you a better person and treat others better.
In this article, we tried to explain IQ comprehensively, examined the characteristics of people with high IQ, and most importantly, talked about the impact of high IQ on the quality of life and better people.
We hope that the contents of this article will be useful for you, and with the help of it, you will increase your knowledge about IQ and your skills and abilities.
