MENSA: Intelligence

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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A Community Built Around Intelligence

Mensa is one of those organizations that tends to spark curiosity the moment its name comes up. People often imagine a secretive club of geniuses solving impossible puzzles in dimly lit rooms. The reality is far more grounded—and far more interesting. Mensa is, at its core, a global community built around a single criterion: high measured intelligence. But what that simple requirement has created over the decades is a surprisingly diverse network of thinkers, hobbyists, professionals, and lifelong learners who share a fascination with ideas.

Founded in 1946 in England, Mensa began with an idealistic mission: to gather the brightest minds regardless of background, politics, or profession, and to use that collective intelligence for the betterment of humanity. The founders envisioned a society where intellect could be a unifying force rather than a dividing one. Over time, Mensa expanded far beyond its origins, eventually becoming an international organization with chapters in dozens of countries and members from nearly every walk of life.

Membership is based solely on scoring within the top two percent on an approved intelligence test. That threshold is intentionally simple. Mensa does not evaluate academic degrees, professional achievements, or social status. It doesn’t matter whether someone is a scientist, a mechanic, a student, or a retiree. If they meet the cognitive requirement, they’re in. This openness is part of what makes the organization unique. It creates a space where people who might never cross paths in everyday life can connect through shared intellectual curiosity.

What draws people to Mensa varies widely. For some, it’s the appeal of belonging to a community that values quick thinking and problem‑solving. For others, it’s the social aspect—local chapters host game nights, lectures, dinners, and special interest groups that range from astronomy to cooking to science fiction. Mensa’s annual gatherings, especially in larger countries, can feel like a blend of academic conference, festival, and family reunion. Members often describe these events as energizing because they offer a rare environment where lively debate and quirky interests are not just accepted but encouraged.

Another dimension of Mensa’s identity is its commitment to intellectual enrichment. Many chapters run programs for gifted youth, offering support to children who may feel out of place in traditional school settings. Others organize scholarship competitions or community service projects. While Mensa is not a research institution, it does foster an atmosphere where learning is a lifelong pursuit. Members frequently share articles, host discussions, and create clubs centered on everything from mathematics to creative writing. The organization’s publications, both local and international, serve as platforms for essays, puzzles, humor, and commentary contributed by members themselves.

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Despite its positive aspects, Mensa is not without criticism. Some argue that relying on standardized intelligence tests oversimplifies the concept of intelligence. Human cognitive ability is complex, multifaceted, and influenced by culture, environment, and opportunity. A single score cannot capture creativity, emotional intelligence, or practical problem‑solving skills. Others feel that the organization can sometimes lean toward self‑congratulation, attracting people who are more interested in the status of membership than in contributing to the community. These critiques are not new, and Mensa itself acknowledges that intelligence is only one part of a person’s identity.

Still, the organization’s longevity suggests that it fulfills a real need. Many members describe Mensa as a place where they finally feel understood. Growing up, they may have been the kid who asked too many questions, finished assignments early, or felt out of sync with peers. Mensa offers a space where intellectual intensity is normal rather than unusual. That sense of belonging can be powerful, especially for people who have spent much of their lives feeling different.

In the modern world, where information is abundant and attention is fragmented, Mensa occupies an interesting niche. It is not a think tank or a political group. It does not claim to solve global problems or dictate what intelligence should be used for. Instead, it provides a framework for connection—an invitation for people who enjoy thinking deeply to meet others who share that inclination. In a sense, Mensa’s greatest strength is not the intelligence of its members but the community that forms when people with curious minds gather.

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Ultimately, Mensa is a reminder that intelligence, while often treated as a competitive metric, can also be a source of camaraderie. It shows that people with high cognitive ability are not a monolith; they are as varied in personality, interests, and life experiences as any other group. What unites them is not superiority but curiosity—a desire to explore ideas, challenge assumptions, and engage with the world in a thoughtful way.

Whether one views Mensa as an elite club, a social network, or simply a gathering of people who enjoy mental stimulation, its impact is undeniable. It has created a global space where intellect is celebrated, conversation is valued, and learning never really stops. And in a world that often rushes past nuance and depth, that kind of space is worth appreciating.

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EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit an RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: Ann Miller RN MHA at MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com -OR- http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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FLYNN: The I.Q. Effect

Posted on February 21, 2026 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.HealthDictionarySeries.org

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Understanding a Century of Rising IQ Scores

The Flynn Effect is one of the most intriguing and debated findings in the study of human intelligence. Named after political scientist James R. Flynn, who brought widespread attention to the phenomenon in the 1980s, it refers to the steady and substantial rise in average IQ scores across many countries throughout the twentieth century. Although intelligence tests are designed so that the average score remains 100, test publishers must periodically “renorm” them because people keep performing better than the previous generation. The scale of this rise is striking: in some nations, average scores have increased by roughly three points per decade. The Flynn Effect forces us to rethink what IQ tests measure, how societies change over time, and what “intelligence” even means.

At its core, the Flynn Effect highlights the dynamic relationship between human cognition and the environment. IQ tests do not measure intelligence in a vacuum; they measure how well individuals navigate the kinds of abstract, symbolic problems that modern societies increasingly demand. One of Flynn’s key insights was that the twentieth century brought a shift toward what he called “scientific spectacles”—a way of thinking that emphasizes classification, hypothetical reasoning, and abstraction. These cognitive habits are not innate; they are cultivated through schooling, technology, and daily life. As societies modernized, more people became accustomed to the mental tools that IQ tests reward.

Several explanations have been proposed to account for the rise in scores, and no single factor tells the whole story. One major contributor is improved education. Over the past century, schooling has become more widespread, more rigorous, and more focused on analytical reasoning. Children spend more years in school, encounter more complex curricula, and are exposed to problem‑solving tasks that mirror the structure of IQ test items. Even subtle changes—like the shift from rote memorization to conceptual understanding—can have a large cumulative effect on cognitive performance.

Another important factor is the transformation of everyday life. Modern work environments often require employees to manipulate symbols, operate technology, and adapt to rapidly changing tasks. Even leisure activities have become more cognitively demanding. Video games, digital interfaces, and information‑rich media encourage multitasking, spatial reasoning, and strategic thinking. These experiences may not directly teach the content of IQ tests, but they strengthen the underlying cognitive skills that such tests measure.

Nutrition has also been proposed as a contributor. Better prenatal care, reduced exposure to environmental toxins, and improved childhood nutrition can influence brain development. While nutrition alone cannot explain the full magnitude of the Flynn Effect, it likely plays a role, especially in countries that experienced dramatic improvements in public health during the twentieth century.

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Family size and parenting practices may also matter. Smaller families allow parents to invest more time and resources in each child. Parenting has become more child‑centered, with greater emphasis on verbal interaction, exploration, and educational enrichment. These shifts create environments that nurture the kinds of cognitive abilities reflected in IQ tests.

Despite the broad upward trend, the Flynn Effect is not uniform across all domains of intelligence. Gains tend to be largest on tests that measure fluid reasoning—abstract problem‑solving and pattern recognition—rather than crystallized knowledge such as vocabulary. This pattern supports the idea that environmental complexity, rather than simple memorization, drives the effect. It also suggests that IQ gains do not necessarily mean people are “smarter” in a general sense; instead, they may be better adapted to the cognitive demands of modern life.

In recent years, some countries have reported a slowing or even reversal of the Flynn Effect. This has sparked intense debate. Some argue that the earlier gains were driven by rapid modernization, and once societies reached a certain level of development, the effect naturally plateaued. Others point to changes in education, technology use, or immigration patterns. Still others suggest that the apparent decline may reflect changes in test design rather than real cognitive shifts. The truth is likely a mix of these factors, and the debate underscores how complex and multifaceted intelligence is.

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The Flynn Effect also raises philosophical questions. If IQ scores can rise so dramatically over a few generations, what does that say about the nature of intelligence? Are we measuring an innate trait, or a set of skills shaped by culture and environment? Flynn himself argued that intelligence is not a fixed quantity but a reflection of the cognitive tools that societies value and cultivate. In his view, rising IQ scores reveal not biological evolution but cultural evolution—a shift in how people think about the world.

Ultimately, the Flynn Effect challenges simplistic interpretations of IQ. It reminds us that human cognition is deeply intertwined with social, economic, and cultural forces. It shows that intelligence is not static but responsive to the world we build around ourselves. And it invites us to consider how future changes—technological, educational, or environmental—might continue to reshape the landscape of human thought.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit an RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: Ann Miller RN MHA at MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com -OR- http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: How EQ Can Make You a Better Investor

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Vitaliy Katsenelson CFA

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How Emotional Intelligence Can Make You a Better Investor. You can also listen to a professional narration of this article on iTunes & online.
Your knee hurts, so you pay a visit to your favorite orthopedist. He smiles, maybe even gives you a hug, and then tells you: “I feel your pain. Really, I do. But I don’t treat left knees, only right ones. I find I am so much better with the right ones. Last time I worked on a left knee, I didn’t do so well.”

Though many professionals — doctors as well as lawyers, architects and engineers — get to choose their specializations, they rarely get to choose the problems they solve. Problems choose them. Investors enjoy the unique luxury of choosing problems that let them maximize the use of not just their IQ but also their EQ — emotional intelligence.

Let’s start with IQ. Our intellectual capacity to analyze problems will vary with the problem in front of us. Just as we breezed through some subjects in college and struggled with others, our ability to understand the current and future dynamics of various companies and industries will fluctuate as well. This is why we buy stocks that fall within our sphere of competence. We tend to stick with ones where our IQ is the highest.

Though we usually think about our capacity to analyze problems as being dependable and stable over time, it isn’t. It might be if we were characters from Star Trek, with complete control over our emotions, like Mr. Spock, or who lacked emotions, like Lieutenant Commander Data. This is where our EQ comes in.

I am not a licensed psychologist, but I have huge experience treating a very difficult patient: me. And what I have found is that emotions have two troublesome effects on me. First, they distort probabilities; so even if my intellectual capacity to analyze a problem is not impacted, my brain may be solving a distorted problem. Second, my IQ is not constant, and my ability to process information effectively declines under stress. I either lose the big picture or overlook important details. This dilemma is not unique to me; I’m sure it affects all of us to various degrees.

The higher my EQ with regard to a particular company, the more likely that my IQ will not degrade when things go wrong (or even when they go right). There is a good reason why doctors don’t treat their own children: Their ability to be rational (properly weighing probabilities) may be severely compromised by their emotions.

A friend of mine who is a terrific investor, and who will remain nameless though his name is George, once told me that he never invests in grocery store stocks because he can’t be rational when he holds them. If we spent some Freudian time with him, we’d probably discover that he had a traumatic childhood event at the grocery store (he may have been caught shoplifting a candy bar when he was eight), or he may have had a bad experience with a grocery stock early in his career. The reason for his problem is irrelevant; what is important is that he has realized that his high IQ will be impaired by his low EQ if he owns grocery stocks.

There is no cure for emotions, but we can dramatically minimize the impact they have on us as investors by adjusting our investment process. First and foremost, investors have the incredible advantage of picking domains where they can remain rational.

To be a successful investor, you don’t need Albert Einstein’s IQ (though sometimes I wish I had Spock’s EQ). Warren Buffett undoubtedly has a very high IQ, but even the Oracle of Omaha chooses carefully his battles; for instance, he doesn’t invest in technology stocks.

Investors have the luxury of investing only in stocks for which both their IQ and EQ are maximized, because there are tens of thousands of stocks out there to choose from, and they need just a few dozen.

Meanwhile, I hope when I go see the doctor, he will tell me, “I don’t do left knees,” because the best result will come from a doctor who while treating me will utilize both IQ and EQ.

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