Well, I have been on here for quite a while now so a few of you have a decent idea about who I am, and lately (for the past 24 hours) intelligence has been a mild concern for me. I sense that I am at least average (100 IQ), but I wanted to know, if I come across as intelligent or less intelligent than average. Think of me as an adult as well, since I am turning 17 later in the month. I earned decent grades, but that does not prove anything to me because grades are earn only by how hard you really work (A’s if I try hard enough for math class; everything else comes easily so those are easy A’s; Detroit educational system so it could be off a bit too).

I was just reading a book off the internet saying that IQs in the range of 126 and above (5% of pop) are good in cognitively demanding occupations. IQs in 111-125 (20 % of pop) can easily comprehend serious articles in newspapers and magazines or serious fiction. IQs between 91-110 (50% of pop) can read and comprehend simple magazines, newspapers, and popular magazines, so I am at least the minimum of this range I believe. IQs 76-90 (20% of the pop) are for semi-skilled jobs such as custodians and fast food services. I hope, I am not in that range, but I do not feel that I am. IQs below 76 (5% of pop) are high risk of failing in school and have difficulty doing simple jobs like reading a letter, understanding doctor’s instructions, and cannot cope with this world.

Now, the reason why this has concern me because IQs also correlate with income, and life achievement. I know that the acting business is trickier because all you can expect is opportunity rather than success. Everything relies on intelligence, it's the difference between a good life and a bad life. It causes all these problems, while the more intelligent the person is the higher chance that person would not go into such a life.

Also mathematically there's this equation; IQ x Motivation x Opportunity= Success

I believe in that (this comes from my research of studying goals a few months ago), but if any of them are low than success is unlikely to happen. If someone has high IQ and motivation, but lives in Kansas than chances are low. If someone has high IQ and lives in Hollywood with all the right opportunity coming in, but lacks the motivation to carry through and gives up than success won't happen. If a low person has the opportunities coming in, and has high motivation, but is too dumb to realize what is actually happening around him or her than it won't happen. The higher it is for every factor the chances of success is increased drastically.

I also had been reading many of the bad effects of having low IQ, like poverty, college graduate, single mother, and others. Well my family could fit into that, since my father is mentally retarded (from birth; but not extremely), and my mother is on the borderline but she is not. He has left our family a while back, so I hold a job with my mother to keep the family stable for now. So that is why I am beginning to wonder if my intelligence is being affected by this hereditarily, since the chances are it would be, at least in the book I read. Environmentally, well the slums of Detroit are not exactly the greatest place for intellect.

Additionally, that is why there is a lot of pressure for me to go to college (for a reputable career; family), so I would be the first one to be successful. I know I could do it, since my gpa is 3.89, but to me personally I rather just get lessons from conservatories. The next six months is probably the last months I would have to consider careers seriously, and I am sure I am heading to acting as of now.

Do I come across highly intelligent, average, or less than average? Be absolutely honest, since I really want to know. There's more personal reasons to this question other than I stated, but if you want to know that PM me.

Here is the book,

http://books.google.com/books?...&printsec=frontcover

also, wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I...he_Wealth_of_Nations

I wouldn't worry too much about that, M. Only an intelligent person would have asked the question in the first place.

It's pretty clear that you're a smart young lady. But you're just a teenager, so you still have a lot to learn (even with that, I think you have more natural intelligence and maturity than many "adults" on this board).

I think far too much has been placed on things like I.Q. instead of the things that really matter. Things like joy in your work, having good friends, staying healthy, and being comfortable in social situations. These are much more conducive to a happy and fulfilled life.

www.robertkim.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/

Mystique, motivation trumps all else if you have a modicum of intelligence. I see too many people with high IQ's that just get by and fail to achieve what I would call success. I also see teens that seem to be searching for what interests them with no goals in sight.
You seem to have a head on your shoulders, have a goal and express yourself with a reasonable amount of clarity. I wouldn’t worry. But, I do think that a college education before picking up and moving to LA would be in your own and your families best interests.
Good luck to you.

Have you taken the SAT?
A 1400 is about 140 IQ.

Intelligence can be a hindrance in acting. I have known people who try to analyze acting too much. This is NOT always the case

On the other hand, there are many very stupid actors. I don't think the intelligence=income thing applies in the acting field.

Mystique, your posts do not come across as unintelligent, but I have noticed they are a bit immature at times.

Mystique is sixteen years old.

quote:

Originally posted by Iceman:
Intelligence can be a hindrance in acting. I have known people who try to analyze acting too much. This is NOT always the case

On the other hand, there are many very stupid actors. I don't think the intelligence=income thing applies in the acting field.

I disagree. Most of the good actors I know are extremely intelligent.

If someone is constantly in their head, then they really aren't that bright, because a smart actor knows not to do that. A good acting process is an extremely complex thing, and I can't imagine a dummy understanding it.

In modeling, intelligence can definitely be a hindrance.

That industry generally tends to want their models to be dumb, barefoot and pregnant (with men, that can be much more difficult).

But in acting, I must strenuously disagree. Many of our best performers are among the most intelligent people on the planet, several having graduated from the top ivy league universities. In fact, many of them border on genius (Jerry Lewis, Jodie Foster and Edward Norton, just to name a few).

Dumb actors are usually referred to as, "unemployed."

Thanks Robert Kim,

Also thank you serjil, since I know that you're not lying about the intelligent part especially since I said something in someone else defense rather than you. So that's a good thing.

I think it takes intelligence to take modeling into other fields after their peak rather than vanish. For example Tyra Banks, but if she was dumb she would had vanish way back in the early 2000s, since youth can last so long.

Where has all the 80s models gone to? All those cosmopolitan models (I have a huge stack of them), all forgotten. The only one off the top of my head is Gia that is still moderately relevant (not that relevant though), and that's because Angelina Jolie made a movie off from her.

Thanks everyone that removed a worried that I was having for a moment.

I'm sorry, I should have added "considering your age...."I know you are only 16.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon_K:
If someone is constantly in their head, then they really aren't that bright, because a smart actor knows not to do that.

Perhaps we have different ideas of what it means to be "in your head", but I'm not so sure intelligence is the main opponent. Sure, it's part of it, but knowing what to do and executing are two different things. I say this because I've known people (who I felt were fairly intelligent) that could not execute a shred of emotion.

As for actors being intelligent/unintelligent, I guess I have a slightly different take on it. In my opinion, there are a lot of other variables that make someone a good actor.

But I do believe that being great and successful stems from hardwork and determination. And intelligence also stems from hardwork and determinition.

So while they are indirectly related... I can't say one is a direct major cause of the other.

But that's just my .02

I agree with PW.

Being "in your head" has no direct relationship with I.Q. It's all a matter of technique. If it did, it follows that all geniuses would be great actors, and we all know that isn't true.

But I don't believe that, "intelligence stems from hardwork and determination." The potential for intelligence is inborn. You only get so many brain cells at birth, and that doesn't change. Unintelligent people can 'work hard and be determined' 24/7, but they'll STILL be unintelligent at the end of the day. An ignorant person can learn, but a stupid person can NEVER learn.

I think that being a good actor requires a least an average degree of intelligence, otherwise you might find the next the next Marlon Brando running in the the Special Olympics.

quote:

Originally posted by PaulyWally:
Perhaps we have different ideas of what it means to be "in your head", but I'm not so sure intelligence is the main opponent. Sure, it's part of it, but knowing what to do and executing are two different things. I say this because I've known people (who I felt were fairly intelligent) that could not execute a shred of emotion.

About five years ago, when I first started to get involved with the theatre, I was very much in my head (meaning I was not connected to my body). I was also very emotionally closed off. Like you said, I knew what I had to do, but I just couldn't execute it.

But, I do feel that I'm a pretty smart guy, and this drove me to search for an answer. I'm by no means perfect at it, as I'm still a growing artist (always will be), but I can say that the two aforementioned items are now two of my strongest points when I get up to work. It took more hard work than anything, but it was my brain that told me what I specifically needed to do to get there.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Kim Photography:

I think that being a good actor requires a least an average degree of intelligence, otherwise you might find the next the next Marlon Brando running in the the Special Olympics.

Funny!!

That was example I believe, I don't believe Robert Kim was making a joke on mentally disable people, just stating reality in an amusing way.

Anything possible, maybe not the next Marlon Brando but a star in his own special way.

quote:

Anything possible, maybe not the next Marlon Brando but a star in his own special way.

I suppose a lot of people are stars in their own special way...

quote:

Originally posted by Jon_K:

quote:

Anything possible, maybe not the next Marlon Brando but a star in his own special way.

I suppose a lot of people are stars in their own special way...

Yes. A lot of people; anybody can be a star.

Please don't mention Paris Hilton!

When God was handing out brains, she was shopping for a new Gucci bag.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Kim Photography:
Please don't mention Paris Hilton!

When God was handing out brains, she was shopping for a new Gucci bag.

She's a bigger star than me as of now so she's living proof that anything possible... It's cuter to play the dumb blonde at 21, but it's tasteless and ackward pass 35. But good for her that she's succesful at what she does currently.

If you're that rich. I don't think she's as dumb as she portrays herself as though, but she's not a genius, just not so completely airheaded.