What is Genius Intelligence?

Answer 1

Opinions from contributors:

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The information below (concerning Lewis Terman) is a century out of date. It is not the score that determines superior intelligence, but the percentile or standard deviation. A score of 140 on one IQ test is not equivalent to a score of 140 an a different test. The term "genius" is also highly subjective. Only the median score of 100 is consistent across these scales. For example, a score of 130 on the Wechsler scale is actually higher than a score of 140 on the Cattell Culture Fair scale.

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The current consensus in the field of psychology is that a score of two standard deviations above the mean is an indication of intellectual giftedness. Conventional IQ tests have a ceiling of about two standard deviations and are not useful for assessing intelligence beyond that point. Scores above 160 are generally arrived at through the analysis of psychologists trained in psychometric measurement rather than an individual test.

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For someone to actually be considered a genius, one should have an intellect equal to an authority in an occupational field requiring abstract reasoning and creativity. A genius should be able to fully understand or even make advancements in mathematics, science, medicine, law, or literature, etc. No one is considered a genius on the basis of a standardized IQ test alone.

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Opinion:

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"Lewis Terman (1916) developed the original notion of IQ and proposed this scale for classifying IQ

scores:

Over 140 - Genius or near genius

120 - 140 - Very superior intelligence

110 - 119 - Superior intelligence

90 - 109 - Normal or average intelligence

80 - 89 - Dullness

70 - 79 - Borderline deficiency

Under 70 - Definite feeble-mindedness