By Salah al-Din Ahmad Lavasani
Part One: From Intelligence Quotient (IQ) to Intelligence Qualitative Creativity (IQC): A Re-evaluation of Human Intellectual Capabilities
Preface
In this article, I present a novel theory in the field of the psychology of intelligence that has emerged in recent decades, following evident shortcomings in the traditional frameworks for defining intelligence. This theory, named "Intelligence Qualitative Creativity" (IQC), seeks to bridge the gaps in the common concepts of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Emotional Quotient (EQ) by offering a different perspective on human cognitive capabilities.
My extensive review of scientific databases and academic sources indicates that the concept of IQC, with this specific definition and theoretical framework, has not been previously proposed. This theory is the result of over four decades of my personal contemplation, field research, and direct observation of human and societal behavior, and it has taken shape outside the conventional academic frameworks. My aim in presenting this theory is not to reject prior concepts, but to add a new layer to our understanding of the complexities of human intelligence.
In this paper, I critically analyze the concepts of IQ and EQ, laying the groundwork for the introduction of IQC as a mechanism for the maximum utilization of intellectual capacities. Within this theory, intelligence transforms from a fixed quantitative measure (like IQ) into a flexible and acquired indicator that grows and flourishes with factors such as pressure, imagination, and will. This article is my invitation to re-examine human history, innovation, and progress with a fresh perspective, and to realize the truth that "geniuses," more than being the product of an inherent "quotient," are the result of an acquired "quality."
Part Two: The Nature and Mechanism of "Intelligence Qualitative Creativity" (IQC)
IQC is the process and mechanism for the maximum utilization of the human brain's intellectual capacities. To clarify this concept, allow me to present a simple example.
Consider two homemakers:
Homemaker Number One: Has a well-equipped, modern kitchen with a pantry full of various ingredients.
Homemaker Number Two: Has a small kitchen lacking modern equipment, with limited and average ingredients.
Both must prepare a nutritious and delicious meal for six people with the available resources.
Unfortunately, Homemaker Number One has poor cooking skills and suffers from chronic laziness. She puts three whole chickens in a pressure cooker and, after adding a few common spices, attends to her personal matters. In contrast, Homemaker Number Two knows she only has one chicken in the freezer. With creativity and planning, she uses the ingredients available in her refrigerator—such as cooked mushrooms, garlic, green peppers, a little cheese, and a few eggs—to prepare several types of dishes and appetizers.
By comparing these two dinner tables, I clearly understood the distinction between these two examples: The first homemaker, despite having sufficient resources, achieved an ordinary and uncreative result due to a lack of creativity and an inability to utilize her existing capacities. The second homemaker, in a situation with limited resources, achieved maximum productive utilization by raising her creativity and inner ability, creating an amazing result.
I have observed the same phenomenon in the field of intelligence. Many individuals with a very high IQ are unable to use their full intellectual capacity, and conversely, there are countless examples of individuals with average or below-average intelligence who exhibit astonishing creativity. The majority of inventors belong to this category; they possess a high degree of IQC.
Therefore, IQC means "The Qualitative Creativity Quotient of Intelligence" or "The Ability to Utilize Intelligence."
Part Three: The Roots of the IQC Theory and Its Growth Factors
1. Field Research: Observing IQC in Action In the late sixties and early seventies, Iranian prisons were filled with economic fraudsters. I decided, after obtaining a permit from the relevant authorities, to go to Qasr Prison daily for a while and interview the inmates in the fraud ward. During that time, I had friendly conversations with about 60 to 70 people. The rise in fraud, due to the damages of the seven-year Iran-Iraq war, had forced desperate individuals to secure their needs and those of their families in any way possible. A fraudster's only tools are intelligence, pressure, and the construction of techniques and methods of fraud. This field research was the outcome of that project. Before I created IQC, I watched and understood it with my own eyes.
2. Historical Pressure and Hardship: Typically, a human being who is under hardship and pressure learns to make maximum use of all their possessions to survive. This principle also applies to societies. With the perspective I had on Iranian history, this truth became evident: behind glorious eras were grueling periods of pressure and invasion. I came to the conclusion that societies that have risen like a phoenix from the ashes of historical ups and downs are today in the category of societies with a high IQC.
The survival of creatures on Earth is also precisely conditioned by this concept. This characteristic, where creatures, under conditions of pressure and resource scarcity, seek creative ways to continue living, is not limited to humans. This is the same principle that is known in nature as the "Law of Survival" or more scientifically, "Natural Selection." For this reason, dinosaurs vanished from the Earth; because their inability to adapt to harsh conditions was one of the main factors in their extinction. In fact, IQC is a form of this evolutionary principle that manifests at the cognitive and social levels in humans.
3. Imagination as a Driving Engine: I believe that one of the greatest driving engines for the increase of IQC is the efficiency of the concept of imagination. Imagination and creativity are considered the two main wings for the growth and excellence of IQC. The initial spark of the IQC theory emerged while examining the effects of the human mind's fantastical nature on the development of scientific concepts. The discovery of IQC enables me to review human history with a fresh perspective.
As stated in the opening credits of a radio program I produced in the seventies: "With the appearance of the first bright flashes in humans, based not on knowledge but on fear and pressure, early humans began to build tools and methods of adaptation to the environment and expanded upon them." This sentence is the essence of the IQC theory; that true intelligence and pure creativity come to fruition not in conditions of comfort, but in the heart of challenges and by relying on imagination and will.
Furthermore, there are countless examples that show how ideas are formed in the world of imagination before they are realized. For example, we see the mobile phone in the hands of fictional characters like "James Bond," years before this technology became a reality and found its way into the pockets and purses of even children. Authors like Jules Verne and Isaac Asimov, with their works, have been the greatest expanders of this concept, as they created worlds that had not yet been built.
However, as was pointed out in my second radio program, this power can also be used in the wrong direction. IQC is in fact a tool; a tool that can be used for innovation and progress or for abuse and destruction. This is what can lead a civilization's path toward progress or destruction and is the most complete example of the improper use of this concept.
Geniuses are, without a doubt, the product of IQC, not IQ. With a little care, we will understand why many people, despite having an average intelligence, show astonishing creativity. IQ is a fixed and unchangeable concept; in contrast, IQC can be called a growing and flexible indicator.
Part Four: Intelligence Quotient and Qualitative Creativity
Perhaps you would be interested to know that the general population of Iran, in terms of Intelligence Quotient (IQ), is ranked 23rd in the world with a score of 84, alongside seventeen other countries. This data clearly shows that an IQ score is not necessarily the only criterion for measuring a nation's ability.
Although the Intelligence Quotient is a fixed and innate measure, IQC is the ability to creatively and intelligently utilize this very innate capacity, which reaches its peak under conditions of pressure and hardship. This is why geniuses and pure ideas are the product of IQC, and with a little care, we will understand why the people of Iran are ranked among the highest in the IQC list.
I believe this discourse is ongoing and still needs to be reviewed, expanded, and developed. Therefore, I consider this article, in truth, an invitation to researchers, writers, and thinkers to correct and complete this concept.
Addendum 1: The Explosion of Creativity
The Astonishing Results of a Field Experiment to Prove the IQC Theory
Abstract
This article, an addendum to the main paper on the "Intelligence Qualitative Creativity (IQC)" theory, presents the results of a field experiment designed to provide empirical proof for this theory. Through a four-stage process of applying gradual pressure on two competing groups, it demonstrates how IQC transforms from a mental concept into a quantifiable physical force. The astonishing results of this experiment clearly show that under conditions of maximum pressure, human mental efficiency and physical ability can grow exponentially, leading to outcomes far beyond what is normally expected.
Experiment Design and Methodology
This experiment was conducted in an ordinary school in Tehran with the participation of two football teams of adolescents aged 14 to 16, who were at an equal level in terms of basic skills (football IQ). The goal was to examine how applying psychological pressure and changing the game rules would affect their mental performance and physical ability. The experiment proceeded through four stages, with a gradual change in criteria and rewards.
The Role of Competition and Pressure in the Explosion of Creativity
In this experiment, competition between the two teams acted as a powerful catalyst. The presence of a rival at an equal level increased the psychological pressure to excel. This pressure intensified gradually with each stage, causing the players to seek new and creative ways not only to win the prize but also to overcome their opponent. This competition was the main driving force that ultimately led to the "explosion of creativity."
Phase One: Assessing Baseline Capacity (IQ)
In this phase, the two teams competed in a standard football match consisting of two 15-minute halves. No prize was offered to the winner.
Result: The game ended in a draw. The balanced and uneventful performance of the two teams clearly showed that their basic skills and innate talent (IQ) were at an equal level, with no clear superiority of one over the other.
Phase Two: Activating Qualitative Creativity (IQC)
In this phase, the teams were informed that the winning team would receive a complete set of athletic wear. The game was held again in two 15-minute halves.
Result: With the introduction of the prize, pressure was created and creativity was put into action. The game ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of one team. This victory was the first sign of IQC's activation, as one team's ability to utilize their basic skills under pressure led to a different outcome.
Phase Three: The Explosion of Creativity (IQC in Action)
The rules of the game were changed again. The teams were told that the winner would be the team that could reach a total of 6 goals first. The prize for each player on the winning team would be a leather football.
Result: The game became completely offensive. The focus shifted from "winning or losing" to "scoring." The teams, in a duration of just 35 minutes, scored a total of 11 goals (with a final score of 6-5). This astonishing leap in the number of goals demonstrated the explosion of qualitative creativity under pressure.
Phase Four: The Ultimate Test (IQC Beyond Capacity)
In the final phase, pressure reached its maximum. The game duration was announced as unlimited, and only one condition was set for the end of the game: the first team to reach a total of 12 goals would be the ultimate winner and receive the valuable prize (athletic shoes). This condition placed the teams in a situation that was "beyond capacity."
Result: Surprisingly, the game ended not after a long duration, but in just 42 minutes. In this game, a total of 22 goals were scored (with a final score of 12-10). This result was the most decisive evidence of the experiment: despite doubling the goal from the previous game, the time did not increase linearly. Instead, the teams' speed, efficiency, and physical ability grew exponentially.
Conclusion
This field experiment showed that Intelligence Qualitative Creativity is not just a mental concept; it is a real mechanism that is activated under conditions of pressure and with a clear goal. This research proved that:
"IQC enables humans to go beyond their mental and physical limitations and achieve results that seem impossible under normal conditions."
This experiment is a small but important step in proving the IQC theory. It also shows that dozens of similar experiments can be conducted in various situations with similar results. This research also highlights that focus is a crucial factor in the IQC process; under pressure, intelligence maximizes its efficiency by focusing on a specific goal.
Addendum 2: Belief in Capability
How Intelligence Transforms from a Fixed Capacity into a Flexible Ability
Abstract
This article analyzes the results of a field experiment conducted in Pune, India, in 2002, to provide further empirical evidence for the "Intelligence Qualitative Creativity (IQC)" theory. By intentionally creating a virtual reality through positive and negative feedback, the study demonstrates how belief in one's capability and self-confidence can act as powerful catalysts to activate an individual's mental and physical abilities, pushing them to perform beyond expectations. This research proves that IQC, unlike a fixed intelligence quotient, is a flexible ability that can be activated or suppressed by external factors.
Experiment Design and Methodology
This experiment was conducted in 2002 in a friendly setting in the city of Pune, India, with the participation of a group of young Iranian students. It should be noted that all participants had an equal level of basketball skill at the start of the experiment. The goal was to examine how individuals' perception and belief in their capabilities affect their actual physical performance. The experiment was conducted in three phases using basketball throws.
Phase One: Assessing Baseline Capacity (IQ)
Initially, warm-up throws were performed, and simple throwing techniques were taught to the students. In this phase, despite the instruction, there was little success, which showed that relying on sheer instruction and logical intelligence (IQ) was not enough to achieve a high performance.
Phase Two: Activating Qualitative Creativity (IQC) Through Belief
In this phase, participants were given the opportunity to focus completely, analyze, and examine the location of the hoop and the throwing distance with their eyes open. Then, all participants were blindfolded so they had no visual cues and had to perform their throws based on the sensory data they had collected and by relying on focus. Two groups of students were formed: a "throwing group" and a "cheering group." The cheering group was instructed to applaud and cheer at a hidden signal, regardless of the throw's actual result. Conversely, the second group was given grumbling and negative feedback, even if they occasionally succeeded, to convey that their throws were unsuccessful.
Result: In this phase, the performance of both groups with blindfolds was poor. However, the group that received positive feedback (cheering), developed a better sense of confidence due to their mental belief in success. In contrast, the second group, under the influence of negative feedback, faced a sense of frustration and disappointment despite similar performance. This result showed that external reality (the number of successful throws) is ineffective against mental reality (the belief in success).
Phase Three: The Continuation of the IQC Effect
In the final phase, all participants' blindfolds were removed, and both groups were asked to throw again.
Result: The group that had received positive feedback in the previous phase and developed a belief in their capability continued their throws with focus and an incredible level of confidence, achieving a very high percentage of successful shots. Conversely, the group that threw with a belief in failure performed very poorly in this phase as well and failed. This result proved that the IQC effect is internalized and affects future performance.
Conclusion
This experiment definitively proves that Intelligence Qualitative Creativity (IQC) is a flexible and acquired ability that can be activated and enhanced by external psychological factors such as encouragement and belief in one's capability. Additionally, the results showed that just as negative pressure (such as being told "you can't") can suppress mental and physical abilities, positive feedback and the reinforcement of belief illuminate and pave the path to success. This is achieved through focus on a specific goal.
This research is an invitation to re-examine our approach to education and training, with a focus on strengthening IQC in individuals to help them reach their maximum potential.
