The essence of human intelligence is wisdom... and IQ.

 Wisdom also consists of the basic—and therefore fundamental—capacity to discern what is true from what is not, as well as what is truly essential from what is frivolous, aiming to broaden one's understanding of reality for better survival and living.

Cognitive tests measure our capabilities—arithmetic, spatial, linguistic, memory, and (decontextualized) pattern recognition—which are vital facets of human intelligence. However, they do not assess creativity or wisdom, qualities fundamental to genius and intellectual discernment, respectively. This means it is entirely possible to score very high on these tests without being creative or "wise." While the facets of intelligence measured and compared by these tests manifest in specific activities or purposes when required, wisdom stems from the fundamental act of perception aimed at correct judgment, and is called upon during virtually every moment of interaction with reality.

Wisdom represents the ideal expression of the integrated functioning of human intelligence's various facets, whereas cognitive tests analyze them in isolation and out of context. It is akin to comparing the individual operation of components in an electronic device versus observing the device functioning as a whole. This applies even in less obvious instances—such as when an individual, through self-awareness, recognizes their own unsuitability for a particular activity.

Pattern recognition

One of the most basic—or fundamental—actions of intelligence is pattern recognition (the detection of repetitive behaviors characterizing phenomena, elements, and their expressions, as well as their levels of similarity and difference). Cognitive tests also measure this capacity, but in a decontextualized manner—using questions unrelated to real-world events—because, when interacting with various circumstances, our psychological predispositions play a highly influential and often detrimental role regarding the philosophical or wise pursuit of unequivocal truth. Due to our personalities and their constant interplay with our environments, we tend to—or risk—filtering information based on what instinctively suits us best, rather than simply recognizing facts and patterns; this information often varies in veracity, ranging from truths and half-truths to outright lies. Therefore, if IQ tests are essentially tests of pattern recognition, wisdom represents the real-world application of that skill—and, I regret to inform you, most people do not perform well in that regard. It is akin to comparing a driving test—which typically requires technical knowledge assessed through written and practical exams—with actual driving on the streets; the exam result does not always mirror reality. This is precisely the case with cognitive tests, as they yield many false positives: individuals who score highly yet prove to be passive, dull, and biased thinkers in practice, or who conversely engage in excessive divergent or overconfident thinking. It is much like the driver who passes the driving test with great scores but then speeds on the streets, disregarding traffic laws and endangering other drivers and pedestrians alike...

Are you more cognitively oriented toward perceiving patterns or feelings?

 Or both, more often?

About "cognitive orientation"

If you are more oriented toward perceiving patterns, this may indicate a greater rational capacity. To think more objectively and impartially, prioritizing factual information and differentiating it from non-factual information, it is important to first pay attention to patterns. These are constitutive traits that repeat themselves and make elements, phenomena, behaviors, or events potentially recognizable, especially those of an abstract nature, which are most relevant to rationality. A negative correlation with this type of cognitive orientation is a tendency toward emotional insensitivity. Pathologically, certain conditions such as autism* and psychopathy may be more common in this group.

Men and scientists are two examples of groups more likely to exhibit this more logical type of cognitive orientation.

However, I believe that there are highly rational individuals who exhibit a more balanced orientation, directed toward both pattern perception and feelings. I even wonder if they might be the most rational of the most rational, since this more balanced cognitive orientation can further enhance one's ability to reflect...

However, if you are more oriented toward perceiving feelings, this may indicate a greater tendency to be more sympathetic, to feel more affection and compassion for others. A negative correlation of this type of cognitive orientation is an increased risk of distorting factual perception by prioritizing feelings, and doing so systematically. Another negative correlation is presenting a higher level of Machiavellianism, giving little importance to honesty and truth...

Women and artists are two examples of groups more likely to exhibit this more emotive or intuitive type of orientation.

Finally, there are those who exhibit a more random orientation, and they may represent a significant % of the population, as is typical of a trait distribution in which less extreme expressions are more common. But if both types of cognitive orientation also express differences between the sexes, then, due to more pronounced human sexual dimorphism, this more balanced type may not correspond to the majority...

* Still on this topic, another text

Autism and pattern recognition ability: myth or reality??

That a compensatory and generalized effect of autism would be a significant improvement in pattern recognition ability, compared to the neurotypical level...

Okay. But about true patterns?? And in relation to which domain? Specific or global??

Because if they were truly better at this ability in a more general sense, then the vast majority of them, for example, would end up perceiving patterns related to one of the most basic realities from a human perspective: the intrinsic differences between individuals and human groups, and that would force them to share this perception with individuals who declare themselves or are declared "far right." But the correlations between autism and political affiliation tend to show us a relatively different pattern, with a disproportion of them identifying with the "left," precisely "where" this reality has been systematically denied and demonized, and for non-rational reasons: emotional and ideological... So, would this disproportion of autistics who ally themselves politically with the "left" do so, on average, knowing that they are defending untruths that, as a rule, are based on false patterns?? And would they ally themselves simply because it is the "left" that has fought for their rights?? Or would they be as vulnerable to ideological indoctrination as left-wing "neurotypicals"?? Well, the positive correlation between autism and social contagion with transgender ideology is yet another demonstration of the psychological and cognitive vulnerability of several individuals within the spectrum...

It may be that this alleged superior pattern recognition ability of most autistic individuals is true, but especially for specific domains, if, from a more general perspective, the contrary evidence seems to be predominant...

It may be that autistic individuals are indeed more cognitively oriented toward pattern perception, but in a psychopathological sense, toward perceiving primarily irrelevant patterns, especially from a more social perspective, just as individuals within the psychotic spectrum, considered the opposite of autism in some comparative aspects, would be more oriented toward perceiving an excess of patterns, especially those that do not exist or express perceptual distortions.

Still regarding the correlation between autism and political orientation, the same disproportion of autistic individuals on one side of the political-ideological spectrum also seems to be perceived on the other side, which, in any case, continues to corroborate the thesis that denies a practically causal relationship between being autistic and presenting an increased capacity for pattern recognition, especially in a more global sense.