Someone made a rather plaintive comment in this Google+ conversation, and it’s been stuck in my mind ever since: “So, again, what is the point of being smart if it does nothing for you? If you really are so smart, why can’t you get what you want?”
There are so many myths floating around about being smart and what that might mean. Even defining “smart” is full of pitfalls. I realized when I tackled the subject of intelligence a few weeks ago that it was a bit taboo, but I didn’t realize the full extent of it until I was reading other people’s reactions. So of course I had to write a follow-up.
A Few Intelligence Myths Exploded:
1. What is the point of being smart? There is no intrinsic point. It is not something you choose for yourself, just as you can’t choose to be naturally athletic or flexible or have perfect pitch (although I keep hearing rumors there are ways to train this) or be gifted with languages. There are things you can do to take advantage of any of these things (hard work and training), but not everyone will choose to use these skills or have the opportunities to do so. In the same vein, recent studies suggest it is quite possible to train yourself to be smarter if you are interested in doing so.
2. Smart people can get what they want. Ha! I wish. I don’t know if any studies have been done on this subject, but I haven’t read anything about how smart people are so much more happy than less smart people. Plus, what if a smart person wants something that requires additional skills besides just being smart (and most accomplishments do require additional skills)? And what if said smart person doesn’t have the right additional skills and fails (for whatever reason) to develop them? Or what if the smart person in question is on track to get what she wants and then is deterred by any of a host of reasons, including ill health (either hers or a loved one’s), economic realities, or her background? Or what if the smart person does get what she wants and it just doesn’t look like the societal norm?
3. Smart people look down on those who they perceive as less smart. First off, I mentioned before that many genius-level people (and perhaps particularly women) suffer from impostor syndrome, meaning they don’t believe they are as smart as they are. Secondly, I also mentioned the Dunning-Kruger effect and the false consensus effect back in March: the idea that people who are above average (including having above average intelligence) tend to assume everyone is just the same as they are unless presented with quite explicit proof to the contrary, thereby often underestimating their own intelligence. How all these people who don’t even realize how intelligent they really are can be looking down on everyone else is beyond me.
Secondly, even if they do realize they are intelligent, that still doesn’t mean they feel superior. Sure, there are a few people who do, but just because you are smart does not mean you are automatically arrogant and non-appreciative of other people’s abilities. Which leads me to my next point…
4. A specific kind of intelligence is more important than anything else. Um, no. There are many kinds of intelligence, and basic IQ test-measured smarts are no more useful than a host of other mental attributes. These include emotional intelligence, charisma, experience, wisdom, empathy and insight, kindness, courage, determination, a strong work ethic, and leadership skills. For example, if a very intelligent person wants to complete a difficult project but is not willing to work hard to do so, they probably won’t do as well as someone who isn’t quite as intelligent but is willing to work her ass off. Ultimately what matters about our lives is what we choose to do with them, not whatever set of attributes we start out with. Intelligent people who realize the truth of this aren’t likely to be very arrogant at all.
Any other intelligence myths you can think of? (Besides the whole “women aren’t as intelligent” thing we already talked about.) I’d love to hear from you.
The Practical Free Spirit 
This is interesting, and I’ve come in so late in the game, it’s hard to know what’s already been covered.
There is a correlation between intelligence and introversion, which often labels smart people as antisocial loners when all they’re really trying to do is recharge and reflect. This can also come off as disinterest and pretension. And, God help you if you’re an introverted woman (crazy cat lady).
What about confusing creativity and intelligence?
This topic is vast. I appreciate you bringing a little perspective to it.
Oh, creativity is a great point to bring up. I wonder how often creativity and intelligence are confused…or perhaps creativity is a type of intelligence? Who knows, but interesting to think about!
False Consensus effect! I never thought about that, but recently I realized that I do hold other people to the same standards I give to myself, and find myself disappointed sometimes as a result. Fortunately I’ve managed to surround myself with a set of friends and co-workers who are pretty smart, and none of them are arrogant pricks. Well, except me. ;P
right there with ya! 🙂
I too often hold myself to higher standards than the rest of the world, which can lead to disappointment. I’m trying to go easier on myself to even things up.
OK, the title of today’s post just made me laugh. 🙂
On the subject of smart people getting what they want, I’d add that a very common misperception I’ve seen among smart people is that simply being good at their (generally technical and specialized) field is somehow enough to have a successful career. When they find out that doing this requires things like interpersonal skills as well, it’s generally a traumatic event. They’d often made it through school thinking that in the “real world,” just being smart would count for everything.
Oh, yes. Interpersonal skills can be extremely critical, both in the workplace and outside of it.
Yep. I know school left me with this impression, all you have to do is get A’s and be good at what you do and you’ll have a successful career. I’m going to say that that’s at least partly the result of the “they’ll be fine” mentality, at least for the gifted kids who do happen to be performing well in school, teachers (no not all of them, but mine did) devoting less attention to those who meet the standards no problem, and more attention to those who are not meeting the academic/behavioural standards.
In my view this makes gifted education all the more crucial, give gifted kids both bigger intellectual challenges AND the emotional support they need (they may not get either in an ordinary classroom) so that they will along the way develop the personal and interpersonal qualities they need to make the most of their potential in a way that’s fulfilling to them. Non-gifted kids deserve that too, but that’s exactly what it’s about, tailoring the support and resources to students’ unique attributes and needs.
If by “interpersonal skills” you mean learning to deal with those who are trying to get ahead by some way *other than* being good at what they do (bullying, kissing up/kicking down, office politics, smarminess), then yes, interpersonal skills.
I prefer this post to the previous one.
I find discussions on intelligence and success are merely expressions of self-validation or a not-so-veiled expression of the conceit that some are better than others.
Gladwell talks about this in one of his books. He talks of geniuses who pump gas because they lack the social skills to negotiate with others. IIRC, he claims that intelligent people are just as likely to be winners or losers as anyone else. This conceit that someone pumping gas is a loser and someone smarter needs to run his life annoys me.
Maybe the genius is happy with the lifestyle of pumping gas and having the mental freedom to think about all kinds of interesting things. I think in general how much we as a society equate people with their jobs is often unfortunate. The same thing sometimes happens with education levels as well–the assumption, for example, that someone who hasn’t been to college is somehow stupider than someone who has. Totally not true.
Do you think a more accurate, more ecompassing IQ test will ever be developed? Or can be? I don’t do well on standardized testing, and I’ve been wondering if knowing what I know now (dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD) what kind of difference, if any, it would make on my IQ testing scores. Not that they were low (my dad and I were both in MENSA for shits and giggles while I was in high school :snort:). I just get curious about some things sometimes. Because I’m a dork. 🙂
I don’t know. I think these kinds of standard tests can be limiting by their very nature. Some people simply do not test well, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t brilliant when not taking a test. Grades aren’t necessarily a great indicator either. Any kind of test that would take more factors into account would have to be highly individualized and time consuming, with very astute testers. Can’t see why we’d bother to develop such a thing.
Nice post Amy! I’v’e shared it on my social networking outlets.
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