Ask A Genius 721: High-IQ Societies
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2022/02/15
[Recording Start]
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: We’re discussing high-IQ societies for the magazine of the World Intelligence Network, founded by Evangelos Katsioulis. What was the original purpose of founding a high-IQ society?
Rick Rosner: Mensa, one of the earliest high-IQ societies, was formed shortly after World War II in England, a time when the world was recovering from the devastation of the war. There was a prevailing sense of hope and a belief that we could do better. The founder of Mensa, which means ‘table’ in Latin, envisioned it as a round table where intelligent people could exchange ideas to make the world a better place. Mensa is designed for those two standard deviations above the mean, or with IQs of 132 and above on tests with a standard deviation of 16.
It’s one of the more accessible high-IQ societies, as others, which are smaller and more obscure, often have higher thresholds, starting at IQs of 140, 148, or 164. Mensa has been around for nearly 80 years, but it hasn’t solved the world’s problems. We’ve discussed before how people who take pride in their IQs can be eccentric, often socially awkward, and are usually looking for something to be proud of. Mensa, in particular, is male-dominated, with many members, including myself at one point, joining in the hopes of finding romantic connections.
I joined Mensa, not because I particularly wanted to, but because of a feature in Playboy in the early ’80s – ‘The Women of Mensa.’ It showcased female members of Mensa, and that motivated me to join. Not to meet those women, but I thought if Playboy did this, maybe Playgirl would follow suit with ‘The Men of Mensa.’ I figured if I could get into Playgirl, it might help me get a girlfriend. At that time, I wasn’t aware that the primary readership of Playgirl was gay men.
Jacobsen: [Laughing].
Rosner: Playgirl, unfortunately, didn’t feature The Men of Mensa, though they really should have. It would have been interesting. Eventually, I did manage to find girlfriends and got married, but it wasn’t because of joining Mensa. You were asking about the future of high-IQ organizations.
Jacobsen: Considering the background of high-IQ organizations, what do you think their future looks like?
Rosner: Mensa was established in a time when IQ was taken quite seriously, around 1946 I believe. During that period, extending into the ’60s, there wasn’t much skepticism about intelligence testing. However, attitudes have shifted over the years. People have become more skeptical or indifferent toward IQ tests, and boasting about IQ scores is generally frowned upon. Stephen Hawking even said that people who brag about their IQs are losers. Nowadays, it’s not necessarily ‘nerdy’ to be intelligent, but flaunting one’s IQ is seen as a sign of social awkwardness.
Given this shift in perception, high-IQ societies like Mensa have seen a decline in their allure. While they may still have tens of thousands of members, I suspect their membership has decreased. Mensa, as an organization, will probably continue to exist, but its relevance and status have diminished. In the future, it’s likely that Mensa and similar organizations will keep functioning, but perhaps more as social clubs rather than bastions of intellectual elitism. They’ll continue, but in a more subdued fashion compared to their heyday.
Some of the other high-IQ clubs have historically had limited membership, often not exceeding a couple of hundred members. The more exclusive the club, like the Mega Society, which caters to individuals with one-in-a-million IQs and was established in the ’80s, the smaller its membership tends to be. At its peak, the Mega Society might have had around two or three dozen active members, with a few dozen more subscribing to its journal. Currently, there might be around 20 active members in Mega. Generally, individuals in these societies aren’t known for engaging in extensive group activities. Membership is often seen more as a unique credential rather than a topic for regular conversation.
I personally talk about my IQ because it has brought me some publicity. There’s a joke about Harvard graduates always mentioning their alma mater within the first five minutes of meeting someone. While I don’t necessarily broadcast my IQ at parties, it is part of my Twitter profile, and my handle is “dumbass genius.” This gains me a certain level of recognition, and I approach it with a degree of self-deprecation, acknowledging that despite my high IQ, I can still be foolish at times.
Regarding IQ tests and Mensa, the reality is that a significant portion of the population could qualify for Mensa if they took enough tests. Mensa requires an IQ in the top 2% of the population, about one person in 44. But in practice, someone could potentially achieve a Mensa-level score by taking multiple tests.
Most high-IQ clubs or organizations have never had a large membership base, and the members aren’t particularly active. These organizations are likely to continue as niche interests or somewhat quirky claims to fame.
In the realm of television, there have been attempts to create shows centered around intelligence, similar to “America’s Next Top Model” or “Project Runway,” but focused on finding the next great genius. Despite some pitches and pilots, including my involvement, these concepts haven’t taken off. Shows like “Brain Games” on the National Geographic network delve into strategies for better thinking, but the idea of IQ hasn’t been fully exploited in reality TV. Reality TV often focuses on capturing dramatic or outrageous moments, and while smart people can be interesting, they might not always provide the kind of entertainment that reality TV thrives on.
If a reality show centered on intelligence ever became popular, it might boost interest and membership in high-IQ societies. But unless that happens, the status quo is likely to persist, with only a small group of people actively engaged in the world of high-IQ societies.
[Recording End]
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