Do you think IQ should be part of the deciding factors of how fit someone is to adopt?

Question

Do you think IQ should be part of the deciding factors of how fit someone is to adopt?

Answer 1

GOD, YES.

I was raised by dopes.  They had zero intellectual curiosity.  They discouraged reading.  They watched about 10 hours of TV a day.

It was painful.  Having smart parents was one of the MANY things I lost through the miracle of adoption.

Answer 2

There is a lot of misunderstanding about the meaning of an IQ.  Even today there are people who believe that a high IQ must be associated with mental illness.

What would be nice would be if psychological testing could be done to determine the parents' intelligence in the area of having a solid understanding of themselves and human nature and whether they good reasoning ability (generally associated with one specific area of the brain).

People who are across-the-board very intelligent and people who particularly intelligent in the side of the brain associated with reasoning and/or nurturing would, of course, be the best parents.  

On the other hand, the high-IQ individual who has strongest abilities in, say, math but lacks skills associated with other mental functioning,  isn't necessarily going to be the sharpest parent.

Answer 3

mmmm  - perhaps only if the questions in the test were based solely around all issues to do with adoption. (not just the happy happy ones)

But I'm sure the NCFA would VETO that - as they've spent so much money retraining society to think that it's OK to seperate mother and child / and keeping the truth about adoption nicely hidden.

I think Joy's right. A  whole heap of empathy would go a long way.

At least then the child might just get some validation and respect for the traumas they've received.

Answer 4

NO, just a high Emotional Quotient, however you determine that. I agree with the others about empathy being much more important than high degrees of intelligence.

Answer 5

My sister can't have children, and her and her husband keep looking into adoption. The thing is, they're both f****ing idiots. They can hardly take care of two cat's and a dog, much less a human child. Common sense is really the issue. Someone with not that high of an IQ but a lot of common sense could still raise a child well, while a person with a high IQ and low common sense would be horrible at it.  Psych evaluations of some sort are imperative though, to ensuring that my sister and BIL don't every adopt!

Answer 6

No. People can have a mid-range IQ and be the best parents in the world, just as people can have a high range IQ and leave their kids sitting in front of the electronic babysitter while they do whatever they want.

Answer 7

I don't know. I mean, most of the famous psycho's in the world had some of the highest IQ's as well. There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I should know. :)

By the way I love your name and agree completely.

Answer 8

No, not IQ -- but an in-depth psychological evaluation should be required of ANYONE who wants kids, and I mean natural-born and adopted.

Answer 9

the technical number, as in, no one with an I.Q. under 100 can adopt?

No, I think the I.Q. test is too flawed to be a meaningful guage.

If I think there should be at least a demonstration of average intelligence, then yes.

Although I believe empathy is more relevant than intelligence, esp. in adoption.