Intelligence trap

I have spent years discussing the intelligence trap. I could have sworn that I had written something to explain this concept. When I searched my blog, I came up empty. Perhaps I missed it, but I'm going to play it safe. It's time for me to explain what I mean by the intelligence trap.

IQ testing might be the best example of and the best way to explain the intelligence trap. IQ testing provides an imperfect measure of a subset of a subset of a subset of an opinion. The idea that something as subjective as intelligence can't be measured in a truly accurate and objective manner should be common sense. We shouldn't take these tests too seriously, but we generally do. Why is that?

A lot of this comes down to personal bias. People like to think that they are intelligent. If they have something seemingly objective such as a number that validates their views of themselves, they are more likely to embrace it. This means that individuals who have been told that they have high IQs are likely to accept this as a valid measure.

What about people who might be low on the IQ scale? Do you really think they're going to introduce evidence that makes them look bad? Even questioning IQ testing can raise questions about their own IQs. They may not agree with the validity, but they're not likely to speak out against the concept. As a result, validity is pretty much irrelevant to the portrayals.

As a general guideline, if something has successfully been attached to intelligence, it's nearly impossible to convince people that the idea is flawed. People who look good embrace it. People who look bad distance themselves. It's rare for anyone to even try to debunk these ideas. This is what I'm discussing when I bring up the intelligence trap. Once something has been connected to intelligence, we are trapped into maintaining the association.

This isn't just about IQ testing. Pretty much anything associated with intelligence can create victims to the intelligence trap. Schooling is another good example. Some people view grades as a measure of intelligence even though success in school is far more dependent on obedience and conformity. Similarly, academic credentials are frequently used. If you dare to criticize a well credentialed individual, you could be criticized for being anti-intellectual.

I spent a year in a community college. The primary reason that I didn't last was because it was the exact same mind-numbing environment as high school. I couldn't handle the mindlessness being demanded from me. I have also met my share of college graduates who have left me seriously unimpressed. There is no way that I will personally accept paper acquisition as proof of intelligence.

Since the intelligence trap is built around the problem with personal bias, I'm sure there are other traps that people can fall into. Anything that people like to think about themselves can follow these same patterns. Fortunately, I don't think other opinions are subjected to flawed measures nearly as much as intelligence.