Does your IQ increase when you learn new things/skills?

[MichaelD]

I have often wondered if your IQ increases when you learn new things.

For example, someone who is mechanically inclined, like me. If I learned to fix, say a sewing machine, which I did not previously know how to fix, I have learned a new skill, right? Right. So, since my knowledge-base has been enlarged, has my IQ gone up as well?

What about learning a new language. I do not speak Japanese, but if I learned conversational Japanese, has my IQ gone up?

Opinions, please.

 

[Scipionix]

No. IQ is supposed to be a measure of natural aptitude that is not affected by knowledge or experience.

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Scipionix
No. IQ is supposed to be a measure of natural aptitude that is not affected by knowledge or experience.

 

[Electric Amish]

It would only go up if you learned something that specifically helped you on the test to measure IQ.

If there was a question on fixing a sewing machine, your IQ would go up.

amish

 

[Scipionix]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
It would only go up if you learned something that specifically helped you on the test to measure IQ.

If there was a question on fixing a sewing machine, your IQ would go up.

amish

That's just the Army IQ test 🙂

If learning something new makes your IQ test score go up, it's a badly designed test.

 

[XZeroII]

Not really. It's more of a measure of your general intelligence that is independant of specific skills. Kinda like how you have to go to school to learn Calculus, but you can't really be taught how to recognize certain patterns use abstract thought.

 

[vi edit]

According to my psychology professor, IQ can be improved the most by reading at a young age. The brains development phase ends for the most part around puberty. It's because of this, it's much easier for children to learn a new language than it is for adults.

Knowledge != IQ

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Scipionix

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
It would only go up if you learned something that specifically helped you on the test to measure IQ.

If there was a question on fixing a sewing machine, your IQ would go up.

amish

That's just the Army IQ test 🙂

If learning something new makes your IQ test score go up, it's a badly designed test.

All of them are badly designed to an extent. Ideally the IQ should not change by knowledge but of course in many ways it is reliant on knowledge so like amish said if you happen to learn something that is then specifically referred to you may find the score go up...generally speaking you could read a bunch of crap thougha nd it would stay close to the same.

 

[Moonbeam]

Yes it definitely goes up with learning. One time I got to study and learn the answers to an IQ test. My score went way up.