INTELLIGENCE WITHOUT JUDGMENT, MORAL VALUES AND COMMON SENSE IS A DISASTER

 INTELLIGENCE WITHOUT JUDGMENT, MORAL VALUES AND COMMON SENSE IS A

DISASTER

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

Our modern culture has fallen in love with academic intelligence. As Baby’s parents’ brag how children can pick up foreign language words, memorize science and mathematical facts, recite poems, play complicated video games and do many things of interest to them. As they get into the lower elementary grades, their interests become more specific. They might focus on language arts, math science or artistic interests but not more than one or two at a time. Often they are motivated in only one area and are reluctant to try other ones.

Children who have high-test scores on intelligence tests are often placed in special classes in public school. Their parents are delighted to celebrate their special mental abilities. Many of these bright young people will inform or demonstrate their special mental talents to others with little prompting. These potential academic whiz kids are usually verbally gifted in social situations but have deficiencies in other basic skills, common sense, judgment and moral values. 

As the child gets matures he gravitates to higher education institutions and normally do very well in cloistered and protected “ivory tower” safe spaces. Some stay in academia others venture out into law, medicine, science, engineering, or other specialized institutions. Some do well in their chosen areas but others get bored and have difficulty moving into demanding structured employment.

The behavior of high IQ scoring students does not always match their academic excellence. Many of these students have difficulty navigating in the classroom, as their “social smarts” can be extremely deficient. The self-promotion of these academically bright students does not correlate with their ability to interact wisely or appropriately with others. Being a know-it-all often alienates others. Knowing when to hold one’s tongue goes against their thinking that they are superior to others. Thinking before doing is a rare commodity when parents have over-valued their intelligence.

   There are many variables that make up intelligence. Some scientists count 120 of them while most measure only a miniscule number of them. The way intelligence is defined has an impact on the test results. There are many people in mental and correctional institutions that have superior intelligence. Their cognitive abilities far exceed their impulse control, empathy, frustration tolerance, perseverence in areas difficult for them, and internalization of moral values. When a person has a special talent or proclivity it does not mean the person will make a positive contribution to one’s family or society. Bright individuals can use their powerful abilities for perversion, self-destructive behavior and evil acts rather than for positive contributions to society.

The ability to well in testing is a wonderful attribute to possess if used wisely. A brilliant professional can impress others by his skills but if he becomes addicted to a substance or is mean spirited it can ruin his life and that of others. Highly intelligent people like any others have to establish discipline and balance in their lives to maximize the special gift. The parents should realize that a child born with an incredible ability is not necessarily assured of a successful future. It is the little things a parent or teacher does to teach life lessons that will keep the person on the right track to maximize their talents and ability in the area they chose.

Everyone is unique and should have time to develop and strengthen every aspect of his existence. Intelligence in our modern era is being over emphasized placing many children on a crash course with reality. The best approach to avoid this is to help the child become well rounded in as many areas as possible. The parents should evaluate all aspects of the emotional, social, listening, obedience, frustration tolerance skills of their child and make adjustments to help him to fill in the gaps.

Without a solid moral compass, accurate judgment of all types of situations and basic common sense a bright academic person will be extremely vulnerable to making poor choices. Even though these children can be manipulators, they can be exploited by devious others for their own personal needs and interests rather than for the child’s interests.

It is a parent’s responsibility to role model, teach and clearly explain the outcome of particular behavioral patterns. By constantly explaining and showing the ultimate results of drugging, lying, shirking responsibility, laziness, and a host of other negative behaviors, the youngster becomes aware of the consequences he will suffer from poor judgment. Parental training further solidifies his moral values, lifestyle decisions and social intelligence that will insulate the child from negative influences. 

                        Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of                     several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep                       program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN and  a new just published book, entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World.              You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.