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What is Mental Age?
Some people may be older or younger than they seem. In some instances, such judgments may be based on appearance. In many cases, however, age judgments are based on how a person thinks and acts. Mental age is very similar, although it is based on more than an assumption. It is a mental or psychological age that is typically determined by an intelligence or personality test.
This sort of age calculation is a debatable topic. Some critics believe it is completely irrelevant and meaningless. They believe that both the calculation methods and the meanings drawn from them are problematic and deceptive.
Others believe mental calculations are mostly beneficial for children or the mentally impaired. One reason for this is because normal adult intelligence is believed to be relatively stable. According to these beliefs, a person’s intelligence at 30 years old should be the same as when she is 33. However, a child who is 10 should have a different level of intelligence when she is 12.
Some mental health professionals believe recognizing mental age can be a benefit. This may especially be true for older people who feel their physical age is definitive and restrictive. If those people were to instead focus on a younger mental age, theories suggest they may experience improved physical and psychological wellness. In other words, they may actually begin to feel younger.
There are several ways to calculate mental age. Sometimes a person will take some type of intelligence or personality test. Then, the test results may be compared against other results by people who are the same physical age. In other cases, there may be predetermined factors against which the results are measured. In either instance, the age is usually determined, which specifies how old a person would be if his physical age were disregarded.
Mental age can also be used to determine an intelligence score known as an IQ. In these instances, a person is normally given an intelligence test. The numerical result from that test is then applied to an equation that includes the person’s physical age. The solution of the equation equals the person’s intelligence score, which may also be called his mental age.
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![Some theories suggest that older people can benefit by focusing on adopting a younger mental age.]()
By: tina7siSome theories suggest that older people can benefit by focusing on adopting a younger mental age. -
![It's important that senior citizens focus on close friendships and enjoyable social activities that can boost their cognitive abilities.]()
By: diego cervoIt's important that senior citizens focus on close friendships and enjoyable social activities that can boost their cognitive abilities. -
![Older people who are in good physical and mental condition often feel younger than their actual age.]()
By: Daria FiliminovaOlder people who are in good physical and mental condition often feel younger than their actual age. -
![An individual with severe cognitive and developmental disabilities may have a mental age that is lower than her or his physical age.]()
By: Miriam DörrAn individual with severe cognitive and developmental disabilities may have a mental age that is lower than her or his physical age. -
![Some mental health professionals believe there is a benefit to recognizing one's mental age.]()
By: WavebreakMediaMicroSome mental health professionals believe there is a benefit to recognizing one's mental age. -
![Someone with an older mental age may be easily confused by terms used by younger generations.]()
By: Konstantin SutyaginSomeone with an older mental age may be easily confused by terms used by younger generations.
Discussion Comments
I am only 16 but my metal age is supposedly 45. What could this possibly represent in terms of my mental development. Good or bad? This, result however, was from a random online test. I answered honestly, so I believe there is at least a smidgen of merit with this result. What does this mental age translate to in terms of IQ?
My mental age test said I was 35, but I'm only 18 -- is that weird?
Of course it was an online mental age calculation...
Is there any way to really accurately test your mental age without taking a fancy test, like that Binet mental age quiz?
Or is that the best way of calculating mental age?
I'm glad that you made the point of mentioning how those mental age tests and quizzes on the internet are just for fun.
Even those that claim to have some sort of "mental age formula" are still usually just made up in somebody's spare time.
So well done for warning people to take them with a grain of salt.
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