Intelligence Essays (1487 words) - Intelligence, Psychometrics

Intelligence The increasingly difficult life for low IQ people is not caused by high IQ people, but by other factors. Segregation and tension occur across IQ lines by the nature of humanity and not by the implications of high IQ people. Let's face it, life is tough for everyone regardless of his or her placement on the intelligence scale. You're too smart, too stupid, too beautiful, too ugly, too hard, too soft, too nice too mean; we've all heard it. Almost everyone can indicate some inherent trait that has made his or her life difficult. Individuals with a low IQ may point out that their low level of g has been the cause of problems in life. Intelligence researchers have found strong evidence that suggests a higher success rate for individuals of higher IQ. A high IQ is an advantage in life because virtually all activities require some reasoning and decision-making. Conversely, a low IQ is often a disadvantage?there are many exceptions, but the odds for success in our society greatly favor individuals with higher IQs. (Gottfredson, page 14). Murray says, It is better to be born smart and poor, than rich and stupid. With the constantly growing number of g-loaded tasks playing a more significant role in our daily rou tines, life may be increasingly difficult for low IQ people. An individual's IQ, they found, is a better predictor of his prospects in life than his parents' wealth or education or all the other factors that taken together are called socioeconomic status. (Seebach - interpreting Murray's findings). Now that we've spotted a potential problem, we're going to want someone to blame for the increasingly difficult life of a low IQ person. Placing this fault on the high IQ people may feel like a good idea initially (revenge for the brain that always ruined the teacher's test curve in high school algebra class by scoring 100% on an exam that Pythagorean himself couldn't pass). However, it is simply not feasible to claim that those of a higher IQ are creating an increasingly difficult life for low IQ people because there is no solid evidence to support this allegation. We can't blame the high IQ people for pursuing the American dream and using their abilities or for taking advantage of the increasing number of opportunities that are given to them. Perhaps the increasingly difficult life for low IQ people is being brought about by a general change in the attitude of society as a whole. Occupations that require a higher IQ are much better paid than those that are barely affected by the workers' level of g (Gottfredson). This displays that society is actually rewarding high IQ people and placing a great value on intelligence. A recent article in the New York Times reports about a couple who were willing to pay up to $50,000 to an egg donor with high SAT scores. Although some may argue against the shallowness of this plight, these individuals are candidly willing to admit the importance of intelligence in the world today and they are seeking the best opportunity for their child. Whichever way one sees it, placing intelligence at a price of $50,000 really puts the value of a high IQ into perspective. The government seems to be doing a fair amount of regulation these days. With the presence of HMO's and the control of schools, one may say that the government is playing a significant role in the increasingly difficult life of those with lower g. The government provides us with items such as the perpetually complicated tax form, which is placed at a level four or five on the NALS scale. A recent article entitled High-tech parking meters prove too taxing, describes the installation of newfangled computerized 'pay stations' that seem to be causing problems for low cognitive thinkers in St. Petersburg, Florida. The government sponsors horrendous welfare programs and sets the terribly low minimum wage; two faculties that are abundantly used by the low IQ people in our society. For the most part, everyone in the United States is given equal opportunities in the sense of equal provisions and not in the sense of equal outcomes. Is the United States government making a low IQ person's life