I’ve always felt that intelligence is not quite fixed. Yet, over the years, I’ve encountered a lot of people who believed differently. Some of them vehemently disagree with the idea that you can increase your intelligence even though neuroplasticity would indicate that there is at least some validity to becoming smarter through practice.
A few years ago I read How We Learn by Stanislas Dehaene. I’ve taught students in different subjects and on different levels throughout my life and this is an area that I’ve always found interesting. My own sense is that we can become smarter by focused effort. My sense is also that most people might not want to exert the kind of effort required to increase IQ.
I realise that IQ tests are in some sense narrow in scope but it does give some indication of a person’s level of focus and logical reasoning. So, having a high IQ isn’t a bad thing. That aside, I was delighted to find out that How We Learn confirmed something that I already believed to be true.
Here’s a quote that speaks to plasticity and training:
“Attention and executive control develop spontaneously with the progressive maturation of the prefrontal cortex, which extends over the first two decades of our lives. But this circuit, like all others, is plastic, and many studies show that its development can be enhanced by training and education.“
Here’s a second quote that speaks to changing one’s IQ:
“Training in executive control can even change one’s IQ. This may come as a surprise, because IQ is often viewed as a given—a fundamental determinant of children’s mental potential. However the intellectual quotient is just a behavioural ability, and as such it is far from being unchangeable by education.“
And finally:
“A recent meta-analysis examined the effect of education on intelligence, and concluded that each additional year at school yields a gain of one to five IQ points.”
I remember reading that last quote and thinking, Wow, someone can go up one whole standard deviation in three years. If a student increases their IQ with five points every year for three years, they can go up fifteen points—a standard deviation. That’s a big jump. Maybe my assessment is a bit ambitious but even if someone just goes up two to three points per year for multiple years, it would be encouraging and beneficial. This obviously wouldn’t be the case if a student is put through from grade to grade without passing. This is done in some South African schools and we’re already seeing the dismal effects of these sorts of practices. I’ve taught students at university level who weren’t able to calculate the diameter from an equation for the area because they were not able to manipulate the equation correctly. Not something that should be difficult. Also not something that requires insight. Merely something that can be practised. But this is not about the South African educational system. This post is really about the idea that intelligence can increase with training.
Intelligence (IQ) is not fixed, and can in fact increase. That’s an empowering idea. It means that you don’t have to feel like you’re not intelligent enough to do something. It just means that it might take time and attention to become better. Because I write about emotional work, I feel compelled to mention that I also believe that emotional stability is important for focus and attention. A student that has deep unprocessed trauma will have a difficult time focusing on anything. But that’s a post for another time.