Asperger's and importance of IQ

Post Reply New Topic

From people I've met with Asperger's and from posts I've seen on WP, IQ seems to be really important to some Aspies.

So is your IQ important to you? If so why?

Personally, I couldn't care less. I haven't done an IQ test in years. When I was younger I used my IQ as means to brag, but after experiencing a lot in life I've realised it doesn't mean anything
What about you guys?

My dad was an extremely intelligent man. So is my sister. It was a big deal when were growing up to be "smart". My dad always wanted us to do better and better in school. (dad was a college professor and sis was just fascinated with intelligence.)
When I found out that my IQ scores were NOT astounding, it was disappointing. I frequently wish I were smarter. I attribute this to growing up around a smart dad and a smart sister.

Nope, my and other people's IQs are not important to me.

I used to despise myself. I felt like I was the only one in the world like me, and I hated that. Overtime, however, I learned to love myself. That was a process that took many years, even lasting into my marriage, but part of that process was acknowledging the positives about myself, one of which is that I'm intelligent. I don't dwell on it, but I do like it.

IQ surely reflects intelligence of a person to a certain extent, however it can only give a general idea. Lets assume A has an IQ of 160 and B has 70. In this scenario it is clear: A is smarter. However, it is not that obvious when comparing two people with IQ scores of 140 and 160.

In addition, psychological conditions are very important. One may have higher levels of anxiety while taking the test. One other may be uninterested with the test. These conditions would surely have an impact on the results.

IQ reflects something about intelligence level, but its boundaries are not crystal clear IMHO.

I'm 40. I've learned a lot about people.
IQ and other metrics are almost always biased in some way. Everyone has a talent, and everyone sucks at something.
Insert quote about fish climbing trees here.

A guy may have tenure and know how to navigate the complexities of academic life well, but he probably couldn't hold Roy Underhill's claw hammer without breaking it.
We're all enabled with varying gifts.

I voted yes, but my IQ isn't something to brag about. It's just something that explains something about me. Because I'm in the top 5% of IQ, school was always aimed at teaching kids less intelligent than me. It was a big revelation when I realized that in a class of 30 kids, statistically I would almost certainly be the one with the highest IQ. It explained why they weren't moaning 'we went over this already', why they were asking such obvious questions, why I would get uncomprehending looks when I discussed something at too high a level for others... They weren't just being annoying, they really didn't understand it.

I do not think having an IQ of 137 makes me a better person than someone with an IQ of 100, or 80, or even 25. I am more capable in some ways, but my worth as a person has nothing to do with my IQ.

IQ isn't important to me because I don't see my high iq reflected in any way in my life. It never did me any good.

I know what mine is, but it's unimportant to me. The notion that you can take a test and have it tell you how intelligent you are seems ridiculous to me. It only tells you how good you are at taking IQ tests. Also, I don't need a test to tell me how intelligent I am, I can figure that out on my own, in trying to do things. I'm really good at doing some things, moderate (normal level) at doing some things, and horrible at doing some things.

I also don't think that IQs are things people should share. You should keep it between yourself, and whoever gave you the test.

Edit: I have HFA - I was diagnosed with autism as a child. I know the thread topic asks for the thoughts of those with AS, but HFA and AS are practically the same thing.

I don't have a very high IQ, especially compared to a lot of aspies on this site. The last time I took an online test it was 114ish. I don't fare well with my math skills so that's probably a big factor.

I don't think IQ means too much. You can have a high IQ but what's the point if you're not out there using it? I think having a good EQ and good social skills and etiquette are just as important. I actually think social skills are more important than IQ. Now saying this, I don't really have a high IQ or EQ so that leaves me kind of stuck.

I'd be somewhat curious to see how important people judge IQ compared to what their IQ is.

Well, I kind of like it so it is important to me. Not something I brag about, or anything last I checked it was only 115. But it relates to me and I like knowing it so i guess it is important to me =)

No, it frustrates me. I have a high IQ but am doing next to nothing "with it". I'd much rather have a more tangible skill, some kind of talent or particular strength that I can use in the workplace or in life, to make some kind of contribution.

I don't think it says much about me. I've gotten some useful information from the subtest scores, and I'll happily use it to convince people that I can attend college despite being autistic, because they'll listen to an IQ score when they won't listen to me telling them what I know about myself and my ability to learn academic subjects. It feels dishonest, but if a useless IQ score coincidentally says the same thing I'm already trying to convince them of by using actual valid arguments, I'm not going to quibble.

But other than that--no. I don't think it's that relevant. I certainly don't think my IQ score represents my intelligence. It can't--not when all those subtests are scattered all over the place, and when skills not measured on the test are similarly all over the place.