Why do people lie about their IQ score?

Question

I just posted a question asking "what is your iq ?" and a lot of people said 140 and over. I find that very hard to believe considering that is genius level. And since average is 100, i don't think many people have a 140 -- which is significantly high. Do you think they could be misinformed because they're going off an internet quiz? Or am i just being wrongly paranoid? I mean, my iq is a mere 79. I find iq tests incredibly hard -- mainly spatial reasoning. 79 is a legitimate quantification of my iq, too. When everybody that answered my question said 140 or over, i'm thinking, "wow, i must be the only dumbass on earth." But, ohwell, i'm just going to have to trust their answers.

Answer 1

I know that you "geniuses" out there will thumbs-down me, but certainly IQ isn't everything even in the intelligence realm. It does not take into consideration creativity, and has a slight over-emphasis on left hemisphere-dominant brain functions such as speech and logic.

I also agree with the person who previously answered your question regarding sampling. The peopel who answer a question like that, would ever have to be geniuses, be unusually bold enough to admit they're not geniuses, or just simply lie. So don't think you're getting a representative sample. the only way you could get that is to personally give an IQ test to a randomly chosen group of subjects.
I also would expect your IQ is probably much higher than 79. Cheers!

Answer 2

I've noticed that too. I don't think many people have actually taken a genuine IQ test before. Most just take the Internet tests, which more often than not give out ridiculously high scores. I've actually scored a 200 on a certain online IQ test, but I know that definitely isn't the case. Still, I also noticed on another question asking whether anyone had flunked a grade or not, that 90% of the answerers claimed they'd skipped a grade, though hardly any of them who said it seemed to be able to spell properly. So maybe people do just lie. And I don't really think 79 is a 'dumbass' score. I've met many people with a similar IQ score to you who appear suspiciously intelligent. More intelligent, in fact, than certain people I've known in the past who have high IQ scores (or claim to).

Answer 3

What is a lot? Very few people have IQ's of 140 or more. Probably less than 1% of the population. My IQ is in the top 5% of the population, but when I am with some of my colleges, I feel intellectually challenged in the extreme.

Answer 4

Perhaps you find it hard to believe because you are such a "dumbass"? (Just quoting you.) I thought it funny that you wrote better than at least 50% of the people I have read on here and are still questioning your IQ score.
I find it hard to believe as well unless only all the brilliant people in the world choose to share their score with you.
The last time I took a legit IQ test I thought it was hilarious (I was joking with the tester, etc.)and I got upwards of 120 and I was 4. I needed it to get into kindergarten early and I was already reading, writing and having lucid dreams!! LMAO
My mother was a grad student at the time who went on to be a college English prof. and later on went into a second career as a RN.
Next to her I feel like a brickhead...
Everything is relative.
Look at Savants and others who are not really bright but are a crackerjack at what they specialize in or do as a hobby for instance.

Get a grip- are you happy? Do you get along with others in your life? If so, you got it better than many already- no matter how high the intelligence level.

Answer 5

This is exactly what I was thinking. I often see people posting that their IQ scores are 140-160, which would indicate they are actually at genius level......hmmm doubtful! I've taken many IQ tests and my scores always range between 120-130 and I'm happy with that.

For someone so articulate and expressive, I'm surprised your IQ score isn't much higher. You can always practice on a regular basis and this will definitely improve your score. You are certainly no 'dumbass' from what I can see.

HTH : )

Answer 6

IQ is a good subject, in spite of the undeniable fact that it style of feels if somebody has a good ability in clarification it would be useful to deny mythology to be something different than Stone Age quackery, it merely has no help. It relatively does not count in case you have a extreme or low IQ in case you could no longer arise with a rational and useful diagnosis of a priority you're subject is between here; loss of obtainable info on a priority, psychologically handicapped, religiously indoctrinated/brainwashed or you're merely basic ignorant because of the shortcoming of suitable training.

Answer 7

Most likely the Internet quizes, those lovely quizes in magazine tear outs as well as the good "testers" at the Scientology center. Without the quantitative testing they really have no clue and presume tests provided with self scoring are just as valid. Few people have ever taken a real IQ test since they were determined to be socially bias.

Answer 8

Maybe it's because they either:
A) Want to make themselves look good
B) Don't give a flip about the truth, and just decided to post
C) Didn't take a good test.

Are there any online iq tests that you know of (or anyone answering this question) that I could take for free? I tried the Classic IQ Test at tickle.com, but I don't know how accurate that is...

Answer 9

I thought 160 was genius level. But I really haven't looked into it much. I have taken IQ tests a few times real ones, years ago, and internet ones. I come out around 130. I do well on IQ tests just don't ask me to spell anything!! :) BTW a high test score doesn't mean you are smart it means you have more potential to get smarter. So a low score may mean something such as you may need more practice to learn the same thing as someone with a higher IQ. Technically anything over 70 is considered normal so I would say you are just fine. I just popped on iqtest.com where you can take a free shortened version of an iq test but you have to give them an email address. I got a score of 133 but I would like to know if anyone has tried that site. I took the one on tickle and got 127 :) Like I said an average of 130 :)

Answer 10

You are right. I think most people don't really know their IQ score. But everyone feels like everyone else is stupid because they don't feel like they do about something, so they must be dumb--therefore, they must be really smart. Or if they have been tested they think that couldn't possibly be right, I was drunk the night before, I was only 11, etc. etc. So people give themselves a hefty score because there is nothing worse than being dumb, so I'll make mine way higher than it could possibly be so the other people that fib--well, mine will STILL be higher. One thing noone wants to be is dumb.