Do People with an IQ of 100 Actually Exist?
It is not only possible; it is extremely frequent. As you can see in the graph below, 100 is the exact middle in the distribution of intelligence. 100 represents the “mode” in this distribution. The “mode” is the most frequent result.
To put it in perspective, 68% of people have an IQ that falls somewhere between 85 and 115. An IQ in this range is considered average.
Who Are People with an IQ of 100?
Yes, they do. If you ever serve in a military based on conscription, you are certain to meet them, especially at the boot camp. These individuals are quite common in such settings.
Context Dependency of IQ Levels
Whether you come across individuals with an IQ of 100 depends on the contexts of your social circles and interactions. If you find yourself in a social setting where most people have higher IQs, or you suspect that some individuals are boastful, you may not encounter anyone with an IQ of 100 or close to it. For instance, if you were a physics professor at Cal Tech, I would wager that your intra-departmental interactions are not likely to include anyone with an IQ of 100. However, unless you are a hermit, you will have such interactions every day with people who have varying IQs.
IQ Test Validity and Interpretation
It only depends on what your peers are. I think that only very few people praise IQ scores and have provenly measured it; only valid IQ test scores can be compared in the first place. So for example, if you find an IQ test online with 10 simple questions and it gives you a score, it is not an IQ test, and thus, not comparable with other IQ scores. The majority of people do not care what their IQ is because it does not matter in most day-to-day activities. If your IQ is around 100, the ramifications of it will be very small, given that it falls within the average range.
However, if you are mentally retarded or highly gifted, IQ tests and scoring can help further advising. An average Joe can even take a test and not knowing that it was an IQ test, he gets a score which tells him that he is mentally normal. Then Joe thinks:
“Well, that explains why I didn’t excel in my studies or career, but at least it confirms that I’m not as dumb as I thought I was.”
In conclusion, people with an IQ of 100 are quite frequent and common. Their IQs fall within the average range, which is a significant portion of the population. Understanding the context and validity of IQ scores can help provide a clearer picture of one’s intelligence and its practical implications.