Introduction
Intelligence may be narrowly defined as the capacity to acquire knowledge and understanding, and use it in different novel situations. It is this ability, or capacity, which enables the individual to deal with real situations and profit intellectually from sensory experience. A test of intelligence is designed to formally study, under test conditions, the success of an individual in adapting to a specific situation. There are a number of different methods which purport to measure intelligence, the most famous of which is the IQ, or intelligence quotient test. In the formation of such tests many psychologists treat intelligence as a general ability operating as a common factor in a wide variety of aptitudes. Whilst many IQ tests measure a variety of different types of ability such as verbal, mathematical, spatial and reasoning skills, there is now a second school of thought in which it is believed that the earlier definitions of intelligence maybe to simplistic. It is now becoming increasingly recognized that there are many different types of intelligence and that a high measured IQ, although desirable, is not the only key to success in life. Other characteristics, such as outstanding artistic, creative or practical prowess, especially if combined with personal characteristics such as ambition, good temperament and compassion, could result in an outstanding level of success despite a low measured IQ. It is because of this that in recent years CQ (creative quotient) and EQ (emotional quotient), to name just two examples, have come to be regarded as equally important as, orevenmoreimportantthan, IQ measurement.
Many people still have the outdated belief that there is little they can do to improve the brain they are born with and that brain cells continually degenerate with age, but in fact our brain cells continually develop new and stronger connections and adult brains can grow new cells,irrespective of age. We should all be aware that we have the capacity to put our brain to even more use and unleash many hitherto untapped creative talents by continually exploring new avenues, experiences and learning adventures. By continually exploiting our enormous brain potential, we all have the ability to make more and stronger connections between our nerve cells, with the result that not only our mental but anthropomorphically-term well-being will improve. Whilst the aim of the tests and exercises is therefore two-fold, that of identifying individual strengths and weaknesses and that of exercising the brain, they are at the same time, and equally importantly, designed to provide funandentertainment to those who take them.
Aspects of intelligence
Although it is difficult to define intelligence, indeed it appears to have no formal definition, there is, nevertheless, at least one particularly apposite definition: the capacity to learn an understand. Scores from standardized intelligence tests (IQ scores) are often used to define one’s intelligence level. It is, however, becoming increasingly accepted that they do not reveal the complete picture and only provide a snapshot of a person’s ability in the area under examination, so that, for example, someone who has scored highly on a verbal test can only be said to have a high verbal IQ and someone who has scored highly on a mathematical test can only be said to have a high numerical IQ. Obviously, therefore, the more different types of disciplines that are tested and examined, the more accurately the intelligence level of the individual can be assessed.
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