Blog - Intelligence and IQ - Brendan Kelly Ph.D. March 12, 2025

Can Someone without much education or Background have a high IQ?

IQ is an approximate measure of a person’s intelligence. Research has revealed that our potential intelligence is highly attributable to the genes that we inherit. See: What is the average percentage that genes contribute to our overall intelligence/IQ? – Intelligence and IQ However, the interaction of our genetics with the environment is a major determinant of …

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What is the average percentage that genes contribute to our overall intelligence/IQ?

Blog / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

This is a complex question because it presupposes that we can assign a precise percentage to how much of an individual’s intelligence is a result of their genetic makeup. When a psychologist says, “70% of intelligence is heritable and 30% is environmental,” that does not mean that 70% of your IQ score is attributable to your inherited …

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Can you find two whole numbers whose product is 899?

Today's Brain Challenge / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

You may remember from high school algebra the difference of squares identity x2– y2 = (x – y)(x + y). Since 899 = 900 – 1 or 302 – 12, we substitute x = 30 and y = 1 into the identity to obtain 899 = 29 x 31.

Is Intelligence Genetic? Can Everyone have the same level of intelligence?

Blog / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

In 1690, English philosopher John Locke stated that we all come into the world as intellectually “blank slates” (Tabula Rasa, in Latin) and acquire knowledge and intelligence that are written on these slates by our experiences. The political view underpinning Locke’s assertion was that if, indeed, we all enter the world as blank slates, and …

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What prompts the most intelligent people to acknowledge their lack of knowledge?

Blog / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

Michael Jordan, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time, once stated, “I’ve missed more shots than I’ve made. I succeed because I fail.” Jordan knows that he is highly regarded in the world of basketball, so he is not shy about admitting his basketball failures. In a similar way, highly …

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Were ancient people smarter than we?

Blog / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

The answer to this question depends upon what you mean by “smarter.” Those who are currently living in countries, where education is widespread, are much more sophisticated in their knowledge of science than the ancient cultures that knew little of physics, chemistry or biology. Our current civilizations enjoy the benefit of thousands of years of …

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Happy Memorial Day to all Americans

Blog / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

From the earliest times in human history, most members of the human species have been subjugated by some form of enslavement, whether from a dictatorship, a feudal system, a slave economy or an autocratic government. In 1651, Thomas Hobbes described the life of man as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Then, in 1776, fugitives from …

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What’s the difference between intelligence (IQ) and Emotional intelligence (EQ)?

Blog / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

Intelligence is perceived differently by different people, but perhaps the most widely accepted definition is one articulated by psychologist Linda Gottfredson: Intelligence is a very general mental capability that, among other things, involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly, and learn from experience. It is not merely …

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What is the value of providing Special programs for Gifted Students?

Blog / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

Most criticism of gifted programs come from those who regard them as “elitist” or a form of “racial discrimination.” The equity movement denies individual differences in intelligence and the concept of giftedness. (see: California Recognizes Giftedness – Intelligence and IQ) However, a look at the greatest innovations in technology and business have come from the highly …

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It costs $1000 to paint the 2 lines that divide a Particular street into 3 traffic lanes. How much would it cost to paint the lines necessary to create 6 lanes on a similar street?

Today's Brain Challenge / By Brendan Kelly Ph.D.

Since the cost of 2 lines is $1000, the cost of painting one line is $500. Each new line creates one new lane, so 3 more lines must be painted to create 6 lanes. The total cost of the 5 lines at $500 per line is 5 x $500, or $2500.