Two Sides of a Coin: IQ and EQ
Albert Einstein. Stephen Hawking. Marilyn vos Savant. Nikola Tesla. Benjamin Netanyahu.
What do all of these individuals have in common?
They all have some of the world’s highest IQ scores.
Surely, we have all heard the term IQ before. Generally IQ, which stands for intelligence quotient, is thought to measure how intelligent or smart someone is. A person with a lower IQ, therefore, is often stigmatized as being illiterate or uneducated.
However, IQ goes far beyond simply intelligence. (IQ is measured via a professionally administered test containing difficult, logical questions. The scores range from 70-130>. Anything above 130 is considered “very gifted”.) A researcher at the University of Edinburgh stated that IQ can also predict, “longevity, prosperity, and health”. In fact, the author, Stuart Richie, wrote a book called Intelligence: All that Matters, in which he stated that “IQ doesn't necessarily set the limit for what we can do, but it does give us a starting point. And the truth is some people start ahead”. It is important to note, however, that your IQ does define how smart you are or long you will live or how healthy you will be, it is simply a test that some find useful and others not so much.
Did you know that most people, in fact, have an average IQ (around 100). Another thing you should note is that IQ is somewhat related to success in a career field, but not always happiness. Since IQ is not related to personality traits, an IQ score in no way reflects how happy you will be in life. Also, you are likely to retain your IQ over time. While you can improve your score, some studies have shown the score over one’s lifetime does not increase by a significant amount. Based on this, most people reach their “peak-intelligence” during their mid-20s.
Some researchers have found that genes and genetics play a large role in IQ, but environment (education, nutrition, access to good shelter, etc.) can always greatly impact results. There is truly never a way to assess whether someone is actually far smarter than someone else because of the large variety of occurrences that can affect IQ results. However, fear not! It has been found that the average IQ has been steadily rising - so yes, you are getting smarter! This is known as the flynn effect and is most likely due to improved technology, education, and nutrition. Surprisingly, IQ is growing at a far faster rate in developing countries than it is in developed countries.
So now you know about all IQ and what it means, but surely there has to be another test? Not everything is based on intelligence? And you are right! There is something called EQ!
EQ, or emotional intelligence, is all about social communication, emotions, and empathy and how well you can control them and that of others. The EQ test score average around 100 with a maximum score of 160.
Many employers consider emotional and social intelligence far more important and impactful than intelligence or IQ. Some studies have also shown that a higher EQ can lead to more career success as well. In fact, EQ is responsible for around 60% of our job performance whereas IQ is only responsible for 4%-25%. You can also “learn'' emotional intelligence through a process called “plasticity”, where the brain changes as it adapts to different situations and learns different emotions,
EQ helps us deal with negative and destructive emotions and can help us become more emotionally stable individuals. The core concept of EQ is recognizing one’s emotions. However, only around 40% of people can correctly identify their emotions. Similar to IQ, EQ is also on the rise and has risen about 30% in the last century.
There are 4 domains and 12 components to EQ, as seen below in the chart.
So, if you want to test your IQ or EQ, here are some online tests you can take.
IQ Test **
EQ Test **
** The actual IQ and EQ exams are around an hour-long and are given by professional administrators. So remember! These tests all differ and the results can be affected by a variety of factors so don’t let the results make you feel down in any way. These tests are not an accurate reflection of what your actual IQ or EQ score is, but are still fun to take!
Vocabulary:
Stigmatized: portrayed as a bad stereotype
Iillterate: uneduated
Developing Countries: countries that mainly depend on agriculture but are trying to become more advanced economically and socially (Example: India, Brazil)
Developed Countries: countries that are already advanced economically and socially (Example: Canada, Australia)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Annik Brar is a student at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. studying International Affairs and Psychology. In her free time, she manages a support page for people with Type 1 Diabetes. She also loves photography and traveling and can speak Punjabi and Hindi fluently!