The General Intelligence Factor Friday, May 29 2009
intelligence 9:18 pm
A Scientific American feature article from 1998, Linda Gottfredson on g. Quote:
The debate over intelligence and intelligence testing focuses on the question of whether it is useful or meaningful to evaluate people according to a single major dimension of cognitive competence. Is there indeed a general mental ability we commonly call “intelligence,” and is it important in the practical affairs of life? The answer, based on decades of intelligence research, is an unequivocal yes.
But, what if the fact that I don’t have an extremely high IQ makes me feel bad? Then I’ll dismiss all that research and ignore it. Who needs science that doesn’t make me feel better about myself?
I’m weak. I start weight training. I get strong.
On the other hand if my mind is weak….
The lesson: If you can’t do anything about it, denial is your friend, and those who don’t deny it aren’t.
I’m miffed daily at my puny mental powers. Thanks for twisting the knife.
@The G-man:
You can indeed train your mind. It’s not an easy process, but it /can/ be done. Of course, just like the ectomorph/endomorph/mesomorph “divide”, there’s only a certain range within which it can be done. But pretty much nobody nowadays lives up to their cognitive potential.