Few children escape having to take some form of intelligence test. How highly they score depends on a myriad of factors including birth weight, a finding confirmed by a study in this week's BMJ (p 310).
The intelligence quotient (IQ) test is well established as a reliable means of assessing mental ability, and a visit to www.iqtest.com provides information about how the test has been derived and what the scores mean. It is also possible to take an IQ test online and be diverted by a tempting link to “amazing (free) techniques” to improve your score.
Being categorised by your IQ may be threatening. This is acknowledged on the route to self testing, which is littered by protective pre-test counselling about the possible adverse effects of finding out how intelligent you are, and the importance of not overinterpreting the test result. “A high IQ,” the visitor is warned, “is not a guarantee that an individual will achieve happiness, maintain sanity, or obtain spiritual growth.” Quite so. And a low IQ? “Does not mean that the individual will be unsuccessful financially, emotionally, or morally.” And the reassurance does not stop there. “Even traditionally exalted groups, such as physicians, can have individuals who would be measured as having only ‘normal’ intelligence.” Who could dispute that?
Moving on a stone's throw via www.searchtheweb.com, you can click on to sites devoted to emotional intelligence, or EQ, which many judge to be as important a parameter as IQ. Further opportunities for self testing are presented, this time of temperament and self esteem.
When the desire for self knowledge has been sated it is worth checking out www.eiconsortium.org. The consortium aims to aid the advancement of research and practice related to the emotional intelligence of organisations. It is based on the eminently believable premise that self awareness, optimism, and empathy increase job satisfaction and productivity. Several august companies are listed as members, although—and there must be a message here—none appears to be related to health care.