It’s about time someone seriously explored the disabilities inherent in ‘high IQ’. In a way they’re far worse to deal with than those which come along with ‘low IQ’ because those with ‘high IQ’ are invariably assumed to ‘be blessed’ and with the wherewithal to sort themselves out..

The bottom line, as you imply, is that all these measurements and labels are socially created and mediated. In a purely agrarian society where ability to master and persist in mindless, back-breaking toil for example those with the restless curiosity and sensitivities of a ‘high IQ’ could even be at significant disadvantage.

I write as one with an academically generated IQ placement at 140 who, late in life was assessed as having ‘non-verbal learning disorder’ – whatever that means (I think it’s a polite, non-stigmatizing way of saying that ‘Well, perhaps, maybe you’d have been diagnosed as having Aspergers when you were a kid’ !! In the academic and professional worlds there are MANY of us as, no doubt, you can see as you look around at your colleagues as I do mine Ever wonder why e.g. a survey last year gave that c.50% of patients admit to wanting to murder their doctors?! Seems clear to me that so many of us with ‘advanced IQ’ and paper qualifications are so woefully lacking in empathy, kindness and common sense…).

No I think Malcolm Gladwell is from New York