One thing that never changes is human behaviour, beliefs and actions. It seems that no matter how much scientists discover about psychology, the general public does not learn new ways of being. Individuals have struggled with this for centuries. 

Looking at intelligence it is important to specify what sort of intelligence is being discussed. Most people are familiar with Intelligent Quotient types of intelligence. This tests logic and for many years was the only form of assessing someone’s potential and abilities. 

Even within IQ there are a variety of different types of intelligence. Different ways of thinking produce a number of outcomes. There is mathematical intelligence, language intelligence and logical intelligence to consider a few. 

Another form of intelligence is Emotional Intelligence or EQ. This considers how well-adjusted an individual is emotionally. It is about self-worth and knowing how to fit into a community. Someone who can perform well in exams might have very poor self-worth and therefore, function badly emotionally. Many people have come across the bright person who makes dreadful relationships and continues to repeat this serially.

Then there is plain common sense. Unfortunately this is often lacking too. While it is important to have creative ways of improving situations, trying the obvious first is often successful. 

For those who live now in the twenty first century there is an enormous amount of help and information about the subject of intelligence. What is received wisdom is often erroneous and misguided. People who learn a certain way of thinking, doing things and being, continue along the same lines, in spite of all the publicity which brings to their attention better understanding of why a slight change will improve matters. Smoking is an example. It is seen as sophisticated, fashionable or whatever is important to the person. For the last sixty or more years the information has been available which says this is a dangerous and unpleasant activity. Smelling of nicotine, having stained clothes and fingers is hardly sophisticated and the horrible illnesses which develop from this activity are hardly elegant. Yet people continue to smoke for whatever reason.

Politically the world seems to be a disaster. Powerful individuals and groups push for what they perceive to be in their interests. The voting public is disaffected, disappointed and uninterested because they feel they cannot influence how their country is governed. A brief glance at how to motivate people, what makes people tick and how to get them interested in everyone’s future would show the politicians how to improve the public response to them. That, however, would expose them to forces they cannot completely control and that is terrifying for most.

There will always be those who refuse to be co-operative but most members of the public want to live in peace, have a job, have some spare cash for leisure and enjoy life. That sounds so simple but the way the world is organized at the moment this is impossible for many. Partly because the financial institutions have made such a hash of money and people who have worked and saved are being punished for the greed of others. 

Years ago, the Nobel Prize winner, John Noble, found that when people co-operate everyone wins. Unfortunately selfishness takes precedence and the world is controlled by a few who have risen to the top of the financial edifice and control things to their liking. 

With the knowledge available the world could be an intelligently run planet. Unfortunately this knowledge is ignored - hardly intelligent.