Understanding Intelligence Quotient and Cognitive Development

The Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

The IQ is the ratio of a person's mental age (MA) to their chronological age (CA) multiplied by 100. IQ = (MA/CA) × 100.

• When mental age is the same as chronological age, the IQ will be 100.
• When mental age is greater than chronological age, the IQ should exceed 100.
• If the mental age is less than chronological age, the IQ will be below 100.

According to the AAMD (American Association on Mental Deficiency), mental retardation regards intellectual functioning below 70, significantly below the average, arising during the developmental period (before 18 years), and is associated with a shortfall of adaptive behavior.

Stages of Cognitive Development

Sensorimotor Intelligence (0–2 years)

The child knows the physical and social environment through the use of sensory systems (vision and hearing) and motor actions (the use of the mouth and the hand to explore the world).

• The newborn has only reflex actions (sucking, crying).
• The child distinguishes the image of the parents from other persons and coordinates perception and understanding; they take objects.

Intelligence: Preoperational (2 to 6–7 years)

At this stage, representative thought arises. The child can use words, pictures, and other symbols to refer to entities that exist in their environment. Children imitate gestures and movements of various models.

Concrete Operations (7–11 years)

The child performs operations with objects, manipulates them, and learns the concepts of change and permanence. They realize conservation.

Formal Operations (12–16 years)

During this period, adolescents manage to discard immediate objects to reason about what is possible. Abstract and hypothetical thinking appears; they start doing conditional reasoning.

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is knowing ourselves (strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and impulses), realizing what we feel or need to direct our lives. This competence occurs best in people who think before acting and take responsibility for their actions.

Emotional Self-Control

It is the ability to control our emotions and impulses to achieve a goal. People who have this competence control stress and anxiety about difficult situations and are flexible to changes and new ideas.

Motivation

It is the ability to motivate oneself to achieve our supposed objective. This involves delaying gratification and stifling impulsivity, not surrendering to anxiety or defeatism when encountering difficulties and setbacks in life.

Recognition of Others' Emotions (Empathy)

Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in the place of other people. Empathetic individuals are able to listen to others and understand their problems or needs. This allows moving beyond prejudice and stereotypes, accepting differences, and being tolerant—an attitude very necessary in a multicultural society.

Control of Relationships

It is the talent to manage relationships with others, learning to persuade and influence others. A socially skilled person knows how to lead groups, drive change, work in teams, and create a positive atmosphere within a group.