How To: Determine Someone's Intelligence
By Iain Ilich
Lifestyle Correspondent - Every Wednesday
Does the salesman extolling the glories of a new computer you've got your
eye on actually know what he's talking about, or is he just repeating what
he read in a brochure? Is the potential employee at a job interview truly
knowledgeable about the things he claims to know, or is he just feeding you
the answers and buzzwords he thinks you want to hear?
Whether we like it or not, we're constantly judging the intelligence of
others, estimating their level of competence by evaluating their responses
to our questions. Some people are better at detecting intelligence than
others, but that doesn't mean you can't learn how.
With practice, you should be able to gauge the intelligence of others with a
decent degree of accuracy, though you should always be prepared for
surprises. Judging a book by its cover is impossible, but judging a book by
its first few chapters might just get you somewhere.
multiple intelligence
Intelligence is a hard thing to measure since there are so many different
forms of it and just as many ways of assessing it. In 1983, Dr. Howard
Gardner, a professor at Harvard University, introduced a new, more inclusive
concept of intelligence, which he called Multiple Intelligence. His theory
moved away from the traditional "can you memorize facts, do math, think
logically, and write perfect sentences?" types of measurement criteria, and
opted instead for a more varied approach to judging mental abilities.
The initial classification system consisted of seven categories, each
covering a different area of intelligence:
* Linguistic intelligence: The skill of working with languages and
words. While some people can master multiple languages, others struggle to
learn just one.
* Logical-mathematical intelligence: Problem solving in a logical,
Vulcan-like way. The form of intelligence most frequently associated with
geek-ish book smarts.
* Musical intelligence: The ability to think in terms of notes, pitch
and rhythm, whether in the playing or composition of music.
* Spatial intelligence: Solving problems visually, inside one's head.
Navigation and orientation are the more obvious examples, but abilities in
art, sculpture or design are also key.
* Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: Being in full control of muscle
movements, hand-eye coordination and other sporty things. The opposite of
awkward, klutzy behavior.
* Interpersonal intelligence: The ability to pick up on the moods,
feelings and emotions of others. Social skills.
* Intrapersonal intelligence: Being aware of ourselves, our own
feelings, and our own thoughts.
With a few questions, you can tell if someone is a genius or a dunce...
factors to consider
One of the most fundamental rules of assessing intelligence is to never
assume that education equals brainpower. If you haven't already noticed, not
everyone with a degree from an Ivy League university is bright, and not all
people who lack a high school education are dumb. As the concept of multiple
intelligence shows us, we don't all learn in the same way, and we're not all
equally interested in the same forms of knowledge.
As a general rule, the brightest members of our society are also the most
aware of just how little they know. Never trust anyone who thinks he has all
the answers, paints everything in black and white, or believes that any
argument can be reduced to good versus evil. Intelligence is about
understanding that many problems have multiple solutions, even if you prefer
one to the others.
Contrary to what you might think, admitting that you s.
how to do it
There is no reliable, perfect way to test intelligence, and there never will
be. That said, there are plenty of clues that you can follow to a logical
conclusion -- as long as you ask the right questions. Keep these handy
pointers in mind when sizing up your subject's mental abilities:
Ask general questions, not specific ones
Anyone with enough time can memorize facts, figures and the like.
Understanding larger, more abstract concepts is very different and more
complex.
Look for considered, rational answers
Does it sound like they're repeating what they read in a newspaper, or have
they actually thought things through on their own?
Be wary of big words that seem out of place or are used incorrectly.
Some people feel the need to puff themselves up by using words that sound
impressive. If their choice of words sounds awkward or forced, take note.
Look out for buzzwords
Words like "proactive," for example, should give you an indication that the
person is talking in clichés that are devoid of any real substance.
Listen for clichéd phrases
Heavy use of clichés is a bad sign, but getting the clichés wrong is even
worse. Make sure that you allow for cultural differences, as these idiomatic
expressions are often hard for non-native speakers to learn.
Testing logic, opinions and people skills...
Ask specific questions to which you know the answers
If they respond correctly or admit to simply not knowing the answer, good
for them. If they start making things up, talking in circles or dodging the
question, beware.
Ask a question that you already asked them, but reword it
See if they answer the same thing. This helps test actual knowledge rather
than simple memorization.
Test their logic and common sense.
Don't just test their memory and how well they can elaborate on facts. See
if they are able to make sense of things by asking questions that require
them to deduce the answers through logical reasoning.
Ask them to troubleshoot a problem for which you've already asked for help
from others.
This way, you'll be able to compare their answer to other ones you've
received. Ask them to evaluate the situation and use analytical skills to
solve a problem. But do try to be subtle about it.
Ask them for their opinion on something
Do they have an opinion or do they simply state facts? A differing opinion
on a divisive issue isn't always a bad sign, but repeating bland,
pre-scripted rhetoric is.
Gauge their people skills
Anticipating the reactions of others before saying something potentially
offensive or inflammatory shows both class and tact. Smart people know how
to sugarcoat the bitter pills of controversial subject matter, whereas dumb
folk don't understand the subtle nuances of being polite.
Determine whether or not they are articulate
Presenting ideas clearly is much more important than using big words to do
so. Using big, inappropriate words to present small, simple ideas is a
decent indication that someone is trying to sound smarter than he actually
is.
"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his
intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci
don't be smart, you know-it-all
This system is in no way fail-safe, and you'll find that sometimes a person
that you'd written off as incompetent is actually fairly bright. Digging
deeper over time is bound to yield more thorough results, either confirming
your suspicions or forcing you to re-evaluate your own intelligence
assessment criteria.
While intelligence is generally a good thing to have, it should be evaluated
as part of a complete package of desirable human traits. Being smart is one
thing, but knowing how to use that intelligence is another thing entirely.
Those who succeed are not always the best and brightest, while the best and
brightest can only succeed if they're capable of capitalizing on their
mental skills.
Resources:
www.education-world.com
www.edwebproject.org
source;
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