On IQ testing and measures of intelligence.

IQ stands for "Intelligence Quotient." The test is usually given as a series of multiple guess questions, with the instruction to go with your first response when in doubt. It measures pattern recognition in ratio and proportions to time needed to evaluate, the final result being determined by dividing by a number based on age. As such, a person of high IQ at age six would be at some pains to make the same score at the age of 47. To reiterate, IQ is a function of Pattern Recognition. Since all good scientific theories are subject to controversy, we should take a moment to observe that there are other ideas about measuring Intelligence. For example, Jocks may do badly at 'official' pattern recognition, but exhibit high 'Spatio-Relational' intelligence by timing and aiming a long bomb down field to a wide-receiver. This same measuring stick (could we but devise it,) would apply equally well to two other groups. 1. Mechanics, who must optimize, (for instance,) access to a water-pump on a car, without a) breaking it down to individual nuts and bolts, b) fixing the water pump by replacement, and then c) reconstructing the entire vehicle. 2. Cabbies, who daily optimize routes from random locations in the city to other locations. If guessing an answer to an old (NP-Complete) Traveling Salesman Problem was my Herculean task, I would consider it a good trade to have a cabbie guess on my behalf. To further investigate the IQ phenomenon, spatio-relational intelligence is not alone in being different. There is also Social Intelligence and (more recently identified) Emotional Intelligence. The relationship of Social Intelligence to Pattern Recognition IQ, is illustrated by Penny versus the Fab Four on the sitcom "The Big Bang Theory." Since Sheldon compulsively wins all possible arguments, paying the associated social penalty without regard to "human cost," it is humorously absurd to see him bested by a High School drop-out; Penny may well have been Prom Queen at her Alma Mater's homecoming instead of Chess Club Prince. Emotional intelligence is so new that the very name is subject to discussion, but might be observed to be more pronounced among the religious and those who excel at Martial Arts. Sam must wait for his own comment on "the marital arts," until 5t Syndicate transits this territory naturally. That's all I know about shrimp for today...