Mensa is the world’s oldest society for those with high IQ scores. Founded in 1946, it promotes learning and programs for the gifted, conducts research, and forms special interest groups. Membership is based on IQ test scores and is not restricted by age. Benefits vary by country, and critics suggest it is overly exclusive. Notable members include Buckminster Fuller, Isaac Asimov, and James Woods. To apply for membership, one must present evidence of a score in the 98th percentile of a standard IQ test or take the test issued by Mensa.
Mensa is a company for those who score high on intelligence quotient (IQ) tests. Invented in 1946, the group is the world’s oldest society for those with high IQ scores. Mensa operates both international and local chapters and attempts to promote learning and programs for the gifted, as well as conduct research and form special interest groups to study pressing issues.
In 1946, the organization was founded by an Australian lawyer named Roland Berrill and Dr. Lancelot Ware, a British scientist and scientist. Their goal was to create a group based solely on verifiable intelligence; one that would have no social, racial or political qualifications to join. It was intended to encourage social exchange among some of the smartest people on the planet, to, in effect, create a worldwide think tank of geniuses.
Admission to the organization is based on IQ test scores. Traditionally, membership has been limited to those who score in the 98th percentile of specific tests, including the Stanford-Binet and Cattel versions. Currently, there are approximately 100,000 members worldwide, mostly in the UK and the US. Membership is not restricted by age, with young children being the only children admitted as members. The two youngest admitted members, Ben Woods and Georgia Brown, were both two years and nine months old.
Benefits for members of the organization vary by country, with some countries offering insurance and even credit card plans. Most national organizations publish a monthly or quarterly newsletter, and local chapters hold meetings to discuss general business and form special interest groups. These groups can vary greatly in purpose, from brainstorming local issues to establishing support mechanisms for scholarship programs. While the group tries to remain politically neutral, it supports educational efforts of all sizes.
Critics suggest that Mensa is overly exclusive and that it prizes standardized tests as the only true measure of intelligence. In truth, most IQ tests are based on logic and reasoning ability, as opposed to emotional or artistic intelligence. The organization does not claim that IQ tests are the only means of determining intelligence, just the easiest to quantify.
Naturally, Mensa has attracted a number of well-known thinkers, some of whom have headed the organization. Architect Buckminster Fuller and author Isaac Asimov have served as president and vice president of Mensa International. Other notable Mensans include Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip, a former Playboy Playmate of the Month, and well-known actor James Woods.
Whether Mensa is overly reliant on measured intelligence or not, the organization’s dedication to improving educational programs and actively brainstorming complex social issues is undoubtedly a good idea. To apply for membership in the society, you must present evidence of a score in the 98th percentile of a standard IQ test or take the test issued by Mensa. Their website provides hands-on training with detailed results, to give you an idea of where you stand compared to some of the best minds on earth.
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