Anti-Intelligence: 4 Components of General Intelligence

Intelligence is the single defining trait of humans that sets us apart from other animals; it is thus that while humans can accept low measurements of physical attributes like strength or speed, they find it difficult to accept low evaluations of intelligence, e.g. via IQ tests.

Luckily, now people count many types of intelligence - some have created lists of 8, 12, or more types - ranging from logical intelligence to emotional intelligence to musical intelligence to visual intelligence or even sexual intelligence; hopefully we all can be scored highly in at least one type.

However, when measuring general intelligence, it is important to consider not only the additive intelligence traits, but also the subtractive anti-intelligence traits. The ancient Greeks noted that humans have the unique trait of logical reasoning (logos), but also retained the emotional, impulsive, desire-based aspects of animals (thymos) as well - the idea being that we struggle in between these aspects, but as humans we should orient ourselves toward our human nature, not our animal nature.

So what are the additive intelligence traits?

• The first is pure intelligence - logic, reason; we can call its measurement "IQ," the Greeks called it "logos."
• The second is sensory sensitivity - qualities like empathy, tactile sensitivity, a good eye or a good ear, etc. - we can call its measurements "Sensory Quotient" or "SQ." While not the ability to reason per se, it is an information source that is key in order to understand related concepts, etc. Most "intelligence types" found in lists popular today can be found here: such as EQ or visual intelligence or spatial intelligence or lingual intelligence. EQ is particularly important if only because emotions are so ubiquitous in life.

The additive intelligence traits are your "base" intelligence potential at any given time. You can also work at increasing these (it is easier to increase a specific SQ trait than the general IQ trait). Unfortunately, most of us are plagued by subtractive anti-intelligence traits that "turn off" our intelligence in many situations, stimying our potentials. These traits are ultimately facets of what the Greeks called "thymos" - the animal traits.

So what are the subtractive anti-intelligence traits?

• The first is groupthink susceptibility (in-group signalling) - from our tribal, pack-like animal heritages, we have various levels of susceptibility to groupthink; in other words, we have a tendency to "give up" our reasoning ability and simply follow the pack's rules, slogans, and ideologies. This is how an accomplished doctor or physicist can also be a raving racist or suicidal zealot or card-carrying Nazi - the result is that the IQ is used only selectively, while it is turned off when the groupthink susceptibility takes over. We can call the trait to resist this "Groupthink Independence Quotient" or "GQ."
• The second is self-bias (unconscious self-deception) - this is the tendency to favor decisions that benefit the self over others; basically, this is control by desire, another main "thymos" trait. This is how an accomplished engineer or architect could also be entirely convinced that his beautiful secretary is the best choice to hire, or that of course he should be the one allotted the biggest pool of bonus money this year. It is why people treat you differently based on your role and possible positive benefit to them. Since humans have both reasoning and desire, what happens is that desire takes over the decisions, while reasoning works to make excuses to justify those decisions - after the fact. The counter to self-bias is morality and ethics - the ability to understand the virtue of doing what is good for all, not just good for oneself. We can call the trait to resist self-bias "Virtue Quotient" or "VQ."

So, overall we now have 4 traits: the additive intelligence traits of IQ and SQ, and the traits of resisting subtractive anti-intelligence being GQ and VQ. Another way to think of these are that we have 2 "yang" traits and 2 "yin" traits. The yang traits are visible and obvious, while the yin traits are invisible and unseen - yet their effects are clear. We can also think of the yin traits as wisdom traits - matching the idea that while intelligence aids the adding of knowledge, wisdom is the paring down of the dross in order to allow the wisdom to emerge.

Overall, this gives us generally 4 domains of general intelligence, as follows:

Intelligence (action/yang): IQ (Intelligence Quotient), SQ (Sense Quotient)
Wisdom (non-action/yin): GQ (Groupthought Independence Quotient), VQ (Virtue Quotient)

• IQ is a general measure of how quickly and deeply your mind works; it is generally difficult to change. Basically, this is potential.
• SQ is a general measure of various senses that you have acquired; it includes aspects such as EQ, etc. Basically, this is sense organs. As there are numerous senses (including combinations), each should be gauged separately (EQ - emotions, MQ - music, AQ - art, LQ - language, NQ - nature, etc.); there is no "total" SQ. (One can be well-rounded by working at least one for each sense category though, e.g. visual, audial, tactile, olfactory, )
• GQ is a general measure of how resistant you are to group susceptibility, i.e. the unconscious absorption of the groupthink and then belief in groupthink as if it is your own thinking. Basically, this prevents "hacking" of the mind via the group bias. People with low GQ are susceptible to groupthink and conformity, tend to be loyal and patriotic, cannot distinguish their own beliefs and their group's beliefs, and will join idiot mobs.
• VQ is a general measure of ethical foundation, basically wisdom and compassion and understanding and being able to explain wisdom and compassion consistently; it is also a general measure of how resistance you are to self bias, i.e. the unconscious replacing of logic with self-benefit in decisions and thought. This prevents "hacking" of the mind via the self bias. People with low VQ are selfish and Machiavellian, do not understand morality and cannot consistently describe it. Their minds are focused on themselves, and cannot encompass others within it.

Examples of high and low scores of each are as follows:

• High IQ: good at math and logic, quick thinkers and learners, high curiosity, many interests.
• Low IQ: struggle at math and logic, slow thinkers and learners, low curiosity, few interests.
• High SQ: keen senses for certain specific skills (perfect pitch, empathic, etc.)
• Low SQ: dull senses for certain specific skills (tone-deaf, daft at reading emotions, etc.)
• High GQ: independent and not really identifying with a group; ideas are own and not adopted from an identity group
• Low GQ: strong group identity, ideas parrotted from group subconsciously due to inner desire to identify, speaks in slogans
• High VQ: decisions and beliefs not linked to own desires, ethical beliefs and interpretation consistent
• Low VQ: decisions and beliefs from desires, beliefs are interpreted loosely to justify desires

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence was popularized by author Daniel Goleman in 1995 as a counter to the then-popular IQ test for measuring general intelligence. Goleman argued that emotional intelligence was even more important than IQ for success in professional life, and those with low IQ scores were of course overjoyed to be vindicated. Today, corporations continue this same message, but if EI is more important than IQ in professional life, that perhaps is more a problematic symptom of corporate systems where politics and favor are more important than intelligence and skills.

Nevertheless, EI is an important skill to have in such environments. Unlike IQ, which is a score designed to assess general intelligence, EI is a specific subset of skills relating to emotions, which can be improved with practice (unlike IQ, which is difficult to increase). In Goleman's model, emotional intelligence involves the following skills (paraphrased):

• Self-awareness - observing one's own emotions
• Self-control - controlling one's own emotions
• Empathy - observing others' emotions
• Social skill - controlling others' emotions

The above model is reasonable and complete; however, Goleman also adds a fifth skill: Confidence - which is redundant and unnecessary, as this is part of self-control for many of us, and a character trait for a few of us. (Actually, Goleman himself removed the fifth skill in his current EI model, too.) It is also important to remember that, like IQ, EI is an ability measurement and not related to personality; both high IQs and high EIs can be used for good or for evil.

With the complete 4-Part Model, we balance two axes: self and others, and observation and control. (The observation aspects can be thought of as sense organs.) This model focuses on these aspects only, removing character traits, which should be studied separately. Thus, EI survey questions that relate to personality (e.g. enthusiasm about goals - which is related to temperament, not EI) are removed as well.

So, the burning question remains - what is my emotional intelligence score?

Use the levels below and click the button at bottom to calculate your EI score. (This is a self-evaluation, so try to be humble and objective with your answers.) Like IQs, this score is normalized to have average scores of 90-110, with higher and lower scores indicating various levels of superiority and inferiority. In addition, separate scores are given for the 4 different skills as well, so that test takers can then resolve to make individual improvements on skills found to be weaker. (Right-click the generated graph to save as an image for reference.)

I can explain my actions in detail

I can explain my strengths and weaknesses in detail

I can accurately describe my emotions as I feel them

I can accurately predict what I will do in what situations

I know how to stay calm in difficult situations

I know how to manage frustration or misery into positive actions

I know how to avoid losing my temper

I get carried away and do things on a whim

People have told me that I am a good listener

I easily sympathize with others' plights

I can easily read others' emotions

I am sensitive to the feeling of a group's atmosphere

I am good at organizing groups

I am comfortable talking to any type of person

I can predict how others will react in a situation

I am good at somehow smoothing out emotions when conflict appears

My EQ is:

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