Latest news with #highIQ
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
High IQ people may think something is wrong with them
Teachers gave special attention to the intellectually gifted Mel Jäger ever since the first grade - without making the young student "stand out." "There was no outing: the IQ test didn't change anything in my life," says Jäger, now 34, and a board member of the German chapter of the Mensa association for the highly gifted. To be accepted to the group you need an IQ of at least 130. However not every Mensa member gets such good support. Quite a few feel held back or that they rub people the wrong way, and have been bullied. Sometimes those with a high IQ think they are the problem, Mensa members said in a meeting of the group in Mainz in western Germany. Some only come to realize during psychotherapy that their problems are related to their giftedness. Mensa has many gifted people recognized later in life "All my life I thought I had a screw loose," says an engineer from the Ruhr area, who wants to remain anonymous except for his first name, Peter. After taking the IQ test at the age of 54, he only then understood "why I was always an intellectual outsider and lonely." At work, he usually had to take a back seat. "I did everything on the side to get ahead. That was 30 years of hard work," says Peter, 59. "Late bloomers make up a huge part of our community," says Sybille Beyer, spokeswoman for Mensa Germany. That feeling of relief after finding out they have a high IQ happens often, she says. It's the feeling that "I'm not wrong, I'm just different." She says it's similar to Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the ugly duckling that wanders around, feeling like he doesn't fit in - until he stumbles upon a flock of swans and realizes he's not a duck but a beautiful swan. Beyer, 61, knows what they are talking about. In primary school, she taught herself to read, was top of the class for years, but was held back. "Nah, I'm not taking you on now, you always know everything anyway," she says, describing her experience with teachers. Later, she often had the feeling that, as a person, she was "always running into a brick wall." A book about highly gifted people that she got from her hairdresser was the turning point for Beyer. She was already 53 years old at the time. "As I read, I thought, someone is writing about my life," she says. And her relief: "You can throw off all the guilt about not being able to fit in." Expert: Highly intelligent people on average more satisfied "On average, highly intelligent people get through school, college and training better, are more successful in their careers, and are healthier and happier in life than non-highly gifted people," says Detlef H Rost, an emeritus psychology professor at the University of Marburg. "So giftedness is more of a protective factor than a risk factor for development and coping with life," he says. "It is not giftedness itself that leads to problems for a person, but the behaviour displayed" – and that of their important caregivers, Rost says. Good standardized tests are "very meaningful" in Rost's view. They are even among the best diagnostic tools in psychology. Highly gifted people have an IQ of at least 130 Of the roughly 70 million adults living in Germany, around 1.4 million are highly gifted, says Rost. According to its own figures, the Mensa association, founded in 1979, now has more than 18,000 members, making it the largest network for highly intelligent people in Germany. That means the vast majority are not organized in an association. "Here you can develop acquaintances you can work with immediately - within five minutes or after two sentences," says Peter from the Ruhr area. The realization that she is highly gifted has changed her private life, reports Beyer. Mensa helped her find her way out of loneliness. The average age of Mensa members in Germany is around 38, says Jäger, who prefers plural pronouns. Around two-thirds are men and one-third women, with the proportion of diverse people growing. The professional field is diverse, and the number of members is increasing significantly, partly because autism and ADHD are being tested more frequently and the IQ is often determined from those tests, says Jäger. "You meet interesting people here and learn unexpected things that you would never come across otherwise," says Annette, 54, who does not want to give her last name. She's learned about tax returns, elementary physics, archaeology and artificialintelligence from the group, she says. "You get very interesting ideas here," says another Mensa member named Peter, from Cologne, talking about a 62-kilometre route in Nepal to Mount Everest Basecamp. The computer scientist is now studying physics so that he won't get bored after retirement. There are many facets to giftedness, says Beyer. The Mensa association's activities are therefore very diverse. Both the regulars' tables and the German meetings, such as the one in Mainz, welcome non-members. "It's not as if you're a completely different person with an IQ of 130 or more." Global links too Mensa members say a few preferences and behaviours are often found among the highly gifted: fast speech, an aversion to "meaningless small talk" but a tendency to jump quickly from topic to topic in conversations – and a penchant for tricky games. "Loud noises, harsh light, too many people, a mad rush – that's something that many of us find very difficult to take," reports Beyer. And younger people in particular usually seek contact with older people. Annette, a pharmacist, has daughters who are also highly gifted. She can't say whether this makes family life easier. "At any rate, we've put up a 'nerd sanctuary' sign at home." "Mensa is my chosen family," says Jäger from Münster. "You come into contact with people you wouldn't otherwise have known." This applies worldwide, as the umbrella organization has 150,000 members. "With the Couchsurfing programme, for example, you can find a place to stay anywhere at any time," says Jäger. They have already planned their entire holiday with Mensa members from around the world.
CBC
04-06-2025
- General
- CBC
N.S. boy, 6, who just joined Mensa started multiplying as a toddler
A six-year-old boy from Bedford, N.S., has gained membership into one of the world's most exclusive clubs. Elijah Kodzo Motey is one of 50 Nova Scotians who've been accepted into Mensa International, a high-IQ society for people who score in the top two per cent of standardized intelligence tests. "We are so proud, we're so excited," said his mother, Mercy Mutale Motey, in an interview. "I think we are still in shock in some ways." Elijah is the youngest of three children in his family. His parents said they started seeing clues of his intelligence early on. At the age of two, he would spell complicated words on the fridge with magnets. He taught himself to read and write as a toddler. At daycare, he would lead storytime — reading to his fellow young classmates. Math came naturally, too. "He would be doing three times tables — three, six, nine and 12. And he was like two years old," his mother said. "It was just remarkable to be able to watch." Mensa membership shoo-in The Moteys wanted to make sure they could provide Elijah with the resources and support he'd need as a gifted child, so they turned to Mensa. Since the non-profit organization only tests people who are 14 and older, Elijah's parents had him tested by a psychologist. Those results were sent to Atlantic Mensa, a chapter for members from Canada's East Coast. Elijah's father, Delali Motey, said he wasn't surprised that Elijah was accepted into the society. "Knowing how he was with math and his intelligence level, we were confident," he said. Favourite subjects include math, gym and reading Elijah attends an elementary school that falls under the province's French school board, Conseil scolaire acadien provincial. His parents have a French language background and they try to speak at least two languages with their children at home. What does Elijah like most about school? "Math for solving questions," he said. "Gym for running around and the library for reading." At school, he added, "I can be smart and intelligent." Mensa 'not a bunch of snobs' Barry Schmidel, the Atlantic regional representative on the board of Mensa Canada, said the organization started as a way to provide a community for people "who are highly intelligent." "I have a peer group now that I wouldn't have had before if I wasn't a member," he said. "I know people who may disagree with me politically or on social issues or whatever, but who I can have an intelligent conversation with." "We're not a bunch of snobs," he added. Elijah's mom said she believes it's important for parents to advocate for their children, no matter their skill level. She's in regular contact with the school's principal and vice-principal to make sure Elijah is challenged correctly. As for the future, she said it's too early to say what lies ahead for her son. "We really want him to explore what he loves and enjoys," she said. "He is so enthusiastic about the things that he enjoys and because of his skills he's able to pick up almost anything."
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Everyone can see the pearls, but you need the eyes of a hawk to spot the diamond in less than 10 seconds
HERE'S a puzzling brain teaser that will test your eyesight and intelligence. Everyone can see the pearls, but you will need the eyes of an eagle-eyed hawk to spot the diamond in less than 10 seconds. 2 The puzzle is made all the more difficult because the diamond is hidden among similar-shaped objects. It's nestled between small circles, large circles and even medium-sized ones. And also some shapes that look surprisingly like diamonds. Not easy. As well as a high IQ, you can boast to have laser-focused eyes if you pull this off. If you haven't been able to spot the diamond, you can scroll below to find out where it is. Certain brainteasers and optical illusions, particularly those that involve patterns or sequences, can help strengthen both short-term and long-term memory. 99 percent of people can't find the hidden objects in under 20 seconds - are you up to the challenge By working through puzzles on a regular basis, you will actively engage the brain's memory systems and directly improve your future attempts at visual challenges. Many brainteasers, like this one, require challengers thinking outside the box. This improves creative problem-solving skills by encouraging the brain to come up with innovative solutions. How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me? If you're after another brainteaser to challenge yourself, try this one - as apparently only those with a high IQ are able to find the heart hidden among the spring flowers. Or you can have a go at figuring out the hidden message in this band's cover art that has confused fans for years. Lastly, puzzle fanatics have been left scratching their heads trying to find the lost feather in just 12 seconds. It also translates to real-life situations where you might need to approach challenges in new and inventive ways. If you're after another brainteaser to challenge yourself, try this one - as apparently only those with a high IQ are able to find the heart hidden among the spring flowers. It also translates to real-life situations where you might need to approach challenges in new and inventive ways.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Mensa welcomes youngest-ever member, Joseph Harris-Birtill, a toddler from the U.K. who "loves a challenge
A two-year-old British boy has become the youngest ever member of Mensa, the exclusive club that only welcomes people with an IQ of 132 or above, according to Guinness World Records. Joseph Harris-Birtill, born on November 23, 2021, was admitted to the organization at the age of just two years and 182 days. "It soon became clear that he was an exceptional little being," Harris-Birtill's mother Rose told Guinness World Records. "He first rolled over at five weeks, said his first word at seven months, and read his first book out loud from cover to cover at one-and-three-quarter years." "He's learning morse code, knows the Greek alphabet, and has recently gotten interested in the periodic table," his mother said. "His interests are vast and varied, and he is always keen to learn more and loves a challenge." Harris-Birtill's parents — who both lecture at Scotland's prestigious University of St. Andrews — told Guinness they first decided to reach out to Mensa to find more support for Joseph after seeing how early he'd started reading. Joseph Harris-Birtill, born on November 23, 2021, of the U.K., has become the youngest ever member of Mensa, the exclusive club that only welcomes people with an IQ of 132 or above, according to Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records "I searched online for any further support available, and saw that Mensa offers resources and membership for highly able children," Rose told the organization. "We hope that this accomplishment can give him a sense of pride when he is older – it's a very unusual accolade and the credit is all his!" Harris-Birtill is 13 days younger than the youngest female member of Mensa was when she was admitted to the prestigious club. American Isla McNabb became the youngest member of Mensa in 2022 and held that overall title until Harris-Birtill came along. The tike has also, by default, taken the title of Britain's youngest Mensa member, topping Teddy Hobbs who achieved that rank at the age of just four in 2023. Rose, Harris-Birtill's mother, said she hoped sharing her son's story would help raise awareness about the unique needs of children like her son. "It is a common misconception that everything is super easy for gifted children. But everyone needs appropriate stimulation and understanding throughout their lives, and highly able learners can sadly have their unique talents dimmed by the pressure to fit into environments that simply haven't been properly designed for them," she told Guinness World Records. "Joseph is fortunate enough to attend a brilliant nursery and has an excellent music teacher, and in Mensa we hope to provide him with a community of peers as a source of further support as his formidable intellect continues to grow and develop."
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
British toddler, 2, becomes the youngest EVER Mensa member - after saying his first word at just seven months old
A British toddler has become the youngest ever member of Mensa - the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. Joseph Harris-Birtill was officially welcomed into the elite club at the age of just 2 years and 182 days. To qualify for Mensa, you must have an IQ of at least 132, putting you in the top two per cent globally. The youngster impressed the society after saying his first word at just seven months old. 'It soon became clear that he was an exceptional little being,' explained his mother, Dr Rose Harris-Birtill. 'He first rolled over at five weeks, said his first word at seven months, and read his first book out loud from cover to cover at one-and-three-quarter years. 'By two-and-a-quarter years old he was reading out loud fluently for 10 minutes at a time, could count to 10 in five languages and could count forwards and backwards to well over 100.' Joseph is even younger than the youngest female Mensa member, Isla McNabb, who was 2 years 195 days old when she joined. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Joseph's parents, both 39, work in academic fields. His father, David, is a Senior Lecturer at the University of St Andrews, while Rose is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the same university and Editorial Director at the Open Library of Humanities. 'He's learning morse code, knows the Greek alphabet, and has recently gotten interested in the periodic table,' his mother explained. 'His interests are vast and varied, and he is always keen to learn more and loves a challenge.' Despite scoring at the 98th percentile, Joseph doesn't realise yet just how clever he really is, according to his parents. 'He is very kind and loving, confident and curious, and incredibly determined,' his mother said. 'He loves a challenge and is really exhilarated by complexity, whether learning chess or poring over new words and concepts that he hasn't come across before.' His parents decided to reach out to Mensa to get more support for Joseph, after it became clear how advanced his reading skills were. His parents decided to reach out to Mensa to get more support for Joseph, after it became clear how advanced his reading skills were 'I searched online for any further support available, and saw that Mensa offers resources and membership for highly able children,' Rose said. 'We hope that this accomplishment can give him a sense of pride when he is older – it's a very unusual accolade and the credit is all his!' Rose hopes Joseph's story will help to raise awareness about highly able learners. 'It is a common misconception that everything is super easy for gifted children,' she said. 'But everyone needs appropriate stimulation and understanding throughout their lives, and highly able learners can sadly have their unique talents dimmed by the pressure to fit into environments that simply haven't been properly designed for them. 'Joseph is fortunate enough to attend a brilliant nursery and has an excellent music teacher, and in Mensa we hope to provide him with a community of peers as a source of further support as his formidable intellect continues to grow and develop.' CAN YOU PASS A HIGH IQ TEST? TRY THESE MENSA QUESTIONS The following questions are taken from Mensa's online 'brain workout' and are similar to those in many IQ tests: Which same three-letter word can be placed in front of the following words to make a new word? SIGN, DONE, DUCT, FOUND, FIRM, TRACT, DENSE If you count from 1 to 100, how many 7's will you pass on the way? 10, 11, 19, 20, 21 There are 1200 elephants in a herd. Some have pink and green stripes, some are all pink and some are all blue. One third are pure pink. Is it true that 400 elephants are definitely blue? Yes or No 2 3 5 7 11 13 ? 14,15, 16, 17, 18 If a circle is one, how many is an octagon?2, 4, 6, 8, 12
