IQ is supposed to measure intelligence, but does it? Head to https://brilliant.org/veritasium to start your free 30-day trial, and the first 200 people get 20% off an annual premium subscription.
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A huge thank you to Emeritus Professor Cecil R. Reynolds and Dr. Stuart J. Ritchie for their expertise and time.
Also a massive thank you to Prof. Steven Piantadosi and Prof. Alan S. Kaufman for helping us understand this complicated topic. As well as to Jay Zagrosky from Boston University's Questrom School of Business for providing data from his study.
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References:
Kaufman, A. S. (2009). IQ testing 101. Springer Publishing Company.
Reynolds, C. R., & Livingston, R. A. (2021). Mastering modern psychological testing. Springer International Publishing.
Ritchie, S. (2015). Intelligence: All that matters. John Murray.
Spearman, C. (1961). " General Intelligence" Objectively Determined and Measured. - https://ve42.co/Spearman1904
Binet, A., & Simon, T. (1907). Le développement de l'intelligence chez les enfants. L'Année psychologique, 14(1), 1-94.. - https://ve42.co/Binet1907
Intelligence Quotient, Wikipedia - https://ve42.co/IQWiki
Radiolab Presents: G. - https://ve42.co/RadioLabG
McDaniel, M. A. (2005). Big-brained people are smarter: A meta-analysis of the relationship between in vivo brain volume and intelligence. Intelligence, 33(4), 337-346. - https://ve42.co/McDaniel2005
Deary, I. J., Strand, S., Smith, P., & Fernandes, C. (2007). Intelligence and educational achievement. Intelligence, 35(1), 13-21. - https://ve42.co/Deary2007
Lozano-Blasco, R., Quílez-Robres, A., Usán, P., Salavera, C., & Casanovas-López, R. (2022). Types of Intelligence and Academic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Intelligence, 10(4), 123. - https://ve42.co/Blasco2022
Kuncel, N. R., & Hezlett, S. A. (2010). Fact and fiction in cognitive ability testing for admissions and hiring decisions. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19(6), 339-345. - https://ve42.co/Kuncel2010
Laurence, J. H., & Ramsberger, P. F. (1991). Low-aptitude men in the military: Who profits, who pays?. Praeger Publishers. - https://ve42.co/Laurence1991
Gregory, H. (2015). McNamara's Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam War; Plus the Induction of Unfit Men, Criminals, and Misfits. Infinity Publishing.
Gottfredson, L. S., & Deary, I. J. (2004). Intelligence predicts health and longevity, but why?. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13(1), 1-4. - https://ve42.co/Gottfredson2004
Sanchez-Izquierdo, M., Fernandez-Ballesteros, R., Valeriano-Lorenzo, E. L., & Botella, J. (2023). Intelligence and life expectancy in late adulthood: A meta-analysis. Intelligence, 98, 101738. - https://ve42.co/Izquierdo2023
Zagorsky, J. L. (2007). Do you have to be smart to be rich? The impact of IQ on wealth, income and financial distress. Intelligence, 35(5), 489-501. - https://ve42.co/Zagorsky2007
Strenze, T. (2007). Intelligence and socioeconomic success: A meta-analytic review of longitudinal research. Intelligence, 35(5), 401-426. - https://ve42.co/Strenze2007
Deary, I. J., Pattie, A., & Starr, J. M. (2013). The stability of intelligence from age 11 to age 90 years: the Lothian birth cohort of 1921. Psychological science, 24(12), 2361-2368. - https://ve42.co/Deary2013
Flynn, J. R. (1987). Massive IQ gains in 14 nations: What IQ tests really measure. Psychological bulletin, 101(2), 171. - https://ve42.co/Flynn1987
Why our IQ levels are higher than our grandparents' | James Flynn, TED via YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vpqilhW9uI
Duckworth, A. L., Quinn, P. D., Lynam, D. R., Loeber, R., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (2011). Role of test motivation in intelligence testing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(19), 7716-7720. - https://ve42.co/Duckworth2011
Kulik, J. A., Bangert-Drowns, R. L., & Kulik, C. L. C. (1984). Effectiveness of coaching for aptitude tests. Psychological Bulletin, 95(2), 179. - https://ve42.co/Kulik1984
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Written by Derek Muller, Casper Mebius, & Petr Lebedev
Edited by Trenton Oliver
Filmed by Derek Muller, Han Evans, & Raquel Nuno
Animation by Fabio Albertelli & Ivy Tello
Additional video/photos supplied by Getty Images & Pond5
Music from Epidemic Sound
Produced by Derek Muller, Casper Mebius, & Han Evans
IQ tests are very misleading and only really messure one type of intelligence. IQ misses too many veriables like emotional or practical intelligence. I am not surprised they found all these correlations, but I am surprised how much bias they allow into the finding by completely ignoring the multitude of other kinds of intelligence or other veriables that might give someone a lower score then they would otherwise get. Having a time pressures and having anything to do with memory are two really big biases. Another big bias would be a blindness for those with mental disorders that effect ability to interact but not overall intelligence. An IQ test would definitely under score someone with dyslexia. Vocab, spelling, and grammer are laughable to use to messure IQ (hello doctors with bad handwriting and spelling) especially for english which is NOT a standardized language; There is no governing body dictating 'proper' english and the dictionary is just a reference. Not to mention the bias presented as soon as one is told theirs and/or someone elses IQ; Almost comparable to an infohazard in some cases. By this I mean, if someone has say...anxiety that kills their IQ score and peole treat them like they are stupid, no matter how smart they are, they might accidently be trained to be stupid. IQ is an antiquated old eugenics era ideal :P
@GeneGirard007 Says:
The graphics of the US Supreme Court decision show the Supreme Court of Virginia first page.
@GeneGirard007 Says:
I can answer that question without watching this video. IQ tests measure how well you perform on IQ tests.
@GMRF1708 Says:
I marked 139 on qi test when I was 11, it is still my ghost after 9 years
@sidneysun5217 Says:
honestly being in the gifted program didn't teach me more than what others learned, but it sure gave me more motivation to do better, 'cause i think i'd just be super lazy otherwise lol
@alainashariff Says:
I wonder if there is a test that measures common sense
@brokensoul2446 Says:
What website have true iq test ?
@travesty-studios Says:
Isn't it verified that people practice and train specifically for the test and achieve better scores?
@mattharper3231 Says:
First mistake is revising. You just gotta do the test
@garvisrobot9274 Says:
Whata his IQ?
@berkefeil5646 Says:
How did you get 134 while being so visibly confused about those easy Raven questions 😂
@charmedbycharlie Says:
The more you hear/learn about IQ the stupider it gets.
@muhammadfaisalemir3172 Says:
#29 😀
@heartofram1473 Says:
3,5,8,12 isn't fibannoci ? next answer is 20 not 17
@kallmannkallmann Says:
Issue is partly time sensetivity. Can say as a dude with adhd i would prob have an iq of 80. But i was rly gd in school.
@HarshilTanejaofc Says:
Well, high IQ is seen in many entrepreneurs and also many people with financial success, because they grasp the things like "How money works" What decision they make so that they can grow their wealth" and high IQ is often associated with curiosity, the more you wonder, the better your imagination gets.
@gbfguy Says:
Derek flexing on us
@nerdycuber Says:
Multiple times I have scored above 130 and 140 but for me, i believe my mind works at an insanely amazing way when I'm in serious trouble, financially emotionally etc. It's like I get magical powers when I'm put under pressure 😊 Maybe because i solve Rubik's cube and a genius, haha just kidding ❤️
@MORTYCJA Says:
18:15 i don't understand what's wrong with it, you make eugenics sound awesome
@Byzs Says:
How much IQ do you need to actually fail a test and pass as an IQ lower individual? This was very interesting.
@stevel9678 Says:
All that so Derek could brag about his IQ ...
@StephenBrewer-ue4wl Says:
I've always wondered if a writer of an IQ test needs to have a 200 IQ.
@carljablonski3112 Says:
I’ve never taken an IQ test, but I scored very high on the college entrance tests. My ACT score was eligible for Mensa membership. Meanwhile, being told I was ‘smart’ was a constant compliment in my life, from elementary school to the present day- in my 60s. But my frustration is how frequently people’s regard for me as ‘knowing things.’ Because it’s ’not knowing things’ that drives me. IQ may be more of a measure of curiosity, and a willingness to pursue problems to resolution, than some innate measure of intellectual capacity.
@Ayo22210 Says:
Contentiousness matters the most I think. I don’t think the IQ test measures that very well.
@Ayo22210 Says:
I think they are going to have to start shifting the average 100 score the other way in the coming decades. Because of too much consumption of drugs and alcohol.
@rokpodlogar6062 Says:
I always wondered, do the IQ tests factor in the chance you get points by simple luck of selecting the right answer?
@MrSlaughterrific Says:
I think a lot of people that harshly dismiss IQ are coping a bit. It's not worthless. Things like the SAT have been helpful for getting people into schools that otherwise wouldn't. People with no connections that have the capability deserve a chance
@maladyofdeath Says:
My IQ score was over 150, multiple degrees at the top of my class, but crippling anxiety and depression resulted in a useless human being, broke, and alone.
@MrPzyt Says:
What those tests omit is what kind of human subjects are. IQ score doesn't tell whether someone is nice or awful, good or bad, selfish or altruistic, and so on. Also performance definitely differ depending on circumstances. Both external and internal. Famous Einstein's outfits. Whole wardrobe of exactly same ones. Genius and idiot at the same time. I had math professor with similar issues. Always in two different socks, and other funny mishaps. Genius at math though.
@Bozemanjustin Says:
25:12 The amazing part to me about the sub-Saharan African today, almost all of them have cell phones which means they have the internet which means they have access to all the knowledge that's ever existed and yet they still have not advanced themselves.
Just look at when they try to build a flying machine, all they need to do is duplicate. What white man did a hundred years ago but they can't. They're trying to reinvent it from scratch and they fail 100% of the time
How dumb do you have to be to know that over 100 years ago flight was achievable with the technology that they had and you have modern-day technology and still can't do it
@Bozemanjustin Says:
24:52 cultures without printed materials... That alone should tell you their IQ. They never came up with writing
Do you see any of them sitting in chairs?
Do you see any of them with an oven?
They are living like 30,000 years ago
@Bozemanjustin Says:
21:41 oh geez, another one of these guys that says IQ tests don't measure stuff
Compare Nigerian University students that are the children of millionaires, to American students test scores, and you have to go down to Middle School in the USA to find test scores comparable
So a rich Nigerian University student is as smart as an American 7th grader
@Bozemanjustin Says:
All these idiots that say that you can't judge IQ and human beings.
Okay, let's just take some samples.
Let's go to Maine and let's go to Haiti. We will grab a hundred random people and we will give them tasks to complete.
Oh wait, people have been living in those places for hundreds of years. Perhaps they've already completed tasks.
See what kind of a city Maine can build and then we'll compare it to the kind of cities that Haiti can build.
Oh, it's not even comparable, one. Looks like a human civilization, and the other looks like an African village 12,000 years ago.
I wonder if it's because Haitians have an IQ nearly identical to sub-Saharan Africa, because they didn't spend hundreds of years breeding with whites like American blacks.
African Americans have the highest median IQ of any blacks in the world... 85
A standard deviation lower than whites
This is very apparent in society, the more blacks you have in your community, the worse your town is
@Bozemanjustin Says:
8:22 any good IQ test will have nothing to do with language that is nonsense.... You can have an intelligence quotient through the roof and you've never heard somebody speak with a proper vocabulary and therefore you don't know those words. It's not like back in the olden days. When everybody read a book the modern-day people don't ever read and therefore they never see words like that
@Bozemanjustin Says:
7:34 You're only talking about the white population that bell curve does not apply to places like sub-Saharan Africa where the median instead of 100 is between 66 and 68
The majority of their population is literally considered mentally challenged according to the Western standards of 70 being the bare minimum
@morticias5043 Says:
spearman thought he was einstein, and wrote "general intelligence" as if it was relativity :'D
@EliasGomezSainz Says:
16:42 Because it can't be changed, unlike habits for example
@peronkop Says:
Had no idea sanguine ment optimistic. English is not my first language but I knew the etymology. The connection of "blood" and "optimism" is not obvious. Should IQ tests always be done in your native language?
@piglink10 Says:
15:23 definitely onlyfans
@umuterturk9361 Says:
wish you hadn't revealed your IQ, it reminded me Hawking's statement :)
@rfvtgbzhn Says:
I do think that infelligence is inherited, but not by genes. I think Spearman's notion that general.intellligence can't be improved by education is false. And in most countries the school system in part relies on parents helping their children, which more jntligent parents just can do better.
@rfvtgbzhn Says:
16:02 or high-school teachers. If I am not mistaken they also need a master's decree and at least in some subjects that isn't easy to get.
@packno1729 Says:
My IQ is 214, that makes me the greatest man on earth!, suck it!
@robertbdavisii9801 Says:
This seemed very balanced and I appreciated the direct comments from moderate experts.
It did seem like you were setting up to say, "oh, I trained for this so my score got better" (maybe compared to a correlational guess from the SAT), but you didn't go that far or it was edited out. That's good because obviously a hypothetical score compared to a post-training score is not a robust comparison. I also think the "it can be trained so therefore its not vapid/significant" is silly and overplayed in general. You have to show that higher starting IQs don't train better than lower, otherwise potential training would shift individual scores but not distributive norms... training wouldn't close the gap, as many claim. I haven't seen any research one way or another on that (not that I have been diligently looking).
I think the question at the end was very important. What is IQ good for? On its face it doesn't claim to be 1:1 predictor of success. It is, however, a remarkably strong predictor across surprisingly many domains COMPARED TO anything else we have. So it's useful, but certainly not destiny. There are errors, outliers, and people under the radar, and still many unknowns yet. Doesn't mean its not useful tho.
@speedoflight3539 Says:
Is English language best? Probably not.. Running for the President. Running for old person? Perhaps should quit and get some other kind of work. Like using a drill. No and not military drill they also use running to keep in shape! Fat American is also a shape. This is almost like Intelligence on Soviets and as if they didn't have any. Communists Capitalists create about same amount of idiots just under different name. Other people on both side just want to have good life.
@ryanhenderson8908 Says:
Of course we're getting smarter. Have you seen those old game shows? Complete morons.
@johnspathonis1078 Says:
Will a higher IQ mean that a person will invent more innovative solutions? What role does motivation play?
@DSP_Visuals Says:
I don't know... The arguments for why high IQ don't just make more money was laughingly bad. Like they just some want to, it college professors don't make that much. Well, maybe because it actually doesn't matter. It was easy enough to jump to causation from correlation in the video, but then this part excuses are being made, when it just seems to be that really IQ doesn't matter much to get you better work/pay. What really helps is a high EQ, where you can manage relationships and yourself in the workplace environment successfully.
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