IQ

intelligence quotient (IQ)

a score that presumably indicates a person's general ability to reason, remember, & solve complex problems.

ratio IQ

a way of scoring IQ in children by dividing mental age by chronological age. It was the ratio of (a) the age you'd think a child would be based on their test score and (b) the child's age. This ratio was multiplied by 100 to avoid decimals.

ratio IQ (example)

A 10-year-old child who scored as well on an IQ test as a typical 13.5-year-old would get a ratio IQ score of 135.

deviation IQ

an IQ score based on how far above or below a relevant mean a person scores on an IQ test. This works for both kids and adults.

deviation IQ (example)

a person who scored exactly two standard deviations above the population mean on an IQ test would get a score of 130 - because the mean IQ score is 100, with a standard deviation ("typical variation") of 15.

g

the presumed general nature of intelligence, Spearman's idea that IQ represents a broad ability that spans all kinds of reasoning and problem-solving skills.

absolute pitch (aka "perfect pitch")

the rare ability to hear a single musical out of context and name the note. This was long thought to be an inherited form of brilliance, but it turns out that anyone can be taught to do it.

prodigy

a person with a normal IQ who is an extreme expert or genius in a specific area of complex human performance (e.g., music, art, math, sports).

savant

a person with a disorder (such as autism spectrum) that impairs many intellectual activities but who performs at a genius level in a specific area (e.g., art, math, sports).

multiple intelligences

H. Gardner's idea that there are many forms of intelligence. His original eight forms were: music, body, picture, people, self, logic, word, & nature. Gardner recently added existential (spiritual/philosophical) intelligence to the list.

deliberate practice

K. Anders Ericsson's route to becoming a genius (true expert) in a specific area. It involves frequent, intense efforts to improve, often with guidance from an expert mentor.

learning styles

the popular but incorrect idea that people differ dramatically in exactly how they learn best (e.g., that visual learners learn best by seeing).

fluid intelligence

a highly flexible ability to think quickly and creatively about novel problems; it requires working memory and quick learning.

crystallized intelligence

a form of intelligence that people develop through extensive practice (it relies on the deep knowledge that comes from deliberate practice).