David Vance SubstackRead More
OK, let’s dive into a thorny issue, IQ.
What is it?
IQ, or “Intelligence Quotient”, is a numerical score based on the results of a standardised test. It is meant to quantify or measure the participant’s intelligence. It was originally developed by French psychologist Alfred Binet. He wanted to measure the mental ability of children but it is now used to test adults of all ages. Modern tests involve a combination of several intelligence scales to provide a general indicator of intelligence. The actual term IQ was coined in 1912 by German psychologist William Stern. The basic test developed by Binet and his colleague Simon have been built on and expanded over the last few decades. Modern IQ tests are now based on the normal distribution of scoring. Due to this fact the term “intelligence quotient” is, in reality, defunct but still widely accepted.
Which brings me to Somalis. The AVERAGE Somali IQ is 67.7.
Did you know that the UK has more than 100,000 Somalis living here. It is the largest Somali population in Western Europe. I am unsure HOW we got so many, but they are here.
Here’s the problem.
Historically, intellectual disability (previously termed “mental retardation”) has been defined by significant cognitive deficits—which has been established through a standardised measure of intelligence, in particular, with an IQ score of below 70.
To put even this into perspective the US military has minimum enlistment standards at about the IQ 85 level. There have been two experiments with lowering this to 80 but in both cases these men could not master soldiering well enough to justify their costs So, the US Army will not countenance recruiting anyone with an IQ <85. This is because such people cannot follow orders and complete tasks.
How can 100,000 Somalis living in the UK with an IQ defined as being so low it is disability contribute, on average, to the UK?
The answer is that they can’t. It’s not their fault, it’s just what it is. Of course there will be some higher IQ Somalis but the average is where we need to focus.
