Nathan and Nolan: Supersmart People Who Like Science and Math (Which I Don't Understand)

         This past week in AP Psychology, we finished up learning about intelligence. While the whole thing about standard deviation was a bit difficult to grasp, I was still interested in the extremes of intelligence.

         Basically, when individuals take intelligence tests, aptitude tests, or achievement tests, there needs to be way to score them fairly in regards to everyone else who has taken the same test. In order to do such a thing, people will standardize the test by administering it to a representative sample of future test takers to create a foundation for comparison. Once standardized, the tests will produce a normal distribution of scores, aka a normal curve:
    
         As you can see, the scores are evenly distributed around the mean, with more clustering at the mean and fewer at either end. The percentages show that 68% of the population score within one standard deviation from the mean, 95% score within 2 standard deviations, and 99.7% score within 3 standard deviations.

         While this is all fine and dandy, what about the scores that do end up at either end of the curve? What about the extremes? On one hand, you have scores below 55, which is also rare and known as "intellectual disability." This disability can range from mild to profound, with scores ranging from 70 to below 25. These people's abilities also range from reaching 6th grade or 2nd grade levels and contributing to their own support with assistance to requiring constant aid and supervision.

         On the other hand, you have the scores above 145, which is rare and known as "gifted". While studying those considered gifted, it is important to keep in mind the differences between a bright student and gifted learner. A bright student may be interested, attentive, learns with ease, good at memorization, etc. while a gifted learner may be highly curious, constructs abstract ideas, good at guessing, keenly observant, etc.

         While blogging, I came across an interesting video about raising a gifted child. This specific kid, Nathan, began speaking full sentences at 1 and had a "philosophical breakthrough" at 10. In the video, his mother and him talk about certain difficulties that can arise from being gifted, such as not meeting educational and social needs and being bullied. Eventually, they found a school that suited him and that serves "profoundly gifted children", and there he takes college level, middle school level, and high school level courses, even though he is technically supposed to be in 6th grade.

         Another example I thought of was Nolan Gould, who plays Luke Dunphy on the ever-popular show Modern Family. In an interview with Ellen, he discussed his IQ, which is apparently 150. They discuss how he is a part of Mensa, the largest IQ society in the world, and his love for strange instruments. He mentions at one point that his brother is also "advanced," which I thought was interesting, as it could provide evidence for the whole genetics vs. environment deal.

Link to Nathan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP9Ntay5Oxg

Link to Nolan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYpHexLNS2I