Imagine a club where the main requirement to join is simply being really, really good at thinking and solving puzzles! That’s kind of what Mensa is. It’s not a secret society or a group of super-geniuses plotting world domination (unless it’s a puzzle competition!). Instead, Mensa is an international society for people who have a high IQ. But how did this unique club start, and what’s its story?

The history of Mensa is quite interesting, especially because of when and why it was founded. It wasn’t started by scientists in a lab or by wealthy people wanting a fancy club. It was created with a specific idea in mind: to bring together smart people from all walks of life, no matter their background, and provide a place for them to connect.

Let’s travel back in time and uncover some fascinating facts about the origins and development of this well-known high-IQ society.

Here are 10 interesting facts about the history of Mensa:

1. What Exactly is Mensa?

First things first: what is Mensa International? At its heart, Mensa is a society for people with high IQs. The name “Mensa” is Latin for “table,” and the founders chose this name because they wanted it to be a round-table society, meaning everyone was equal regardless of their background, race, or beliefs.  

It’s a non-profit organization that provides a place for its members to meet, share ideas, and participate in various activities. It’s not associated with any political or religious group. The main goal is simply to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, and to provide a stimulating environment for its members. It’s essentially a club for thinkers!  

2. Founded in the Wake of World War II

The idea for Mensa was born shortly after the end of World War II. The war had caused so much division and destruction around the world. The founders believed that highly intelligent people, if brought together, could use their brains for positive purposes and perhaps even help prevent future conflicts.  

They wanted to create a society where people could connect based purely on their intellect, without the barriers of nationality, race, or social status that had contributed to the recent conflict. This post-war setting is a crucial part of the history of Mensa and the ideals it was built upon.  

3. Meet the Founders: Roland Berrill and Lancelot Ware

Mensa was co-founded in Oxford, England, in 1946 by two clever individuals: Roland Berrill and Dr. Lancelot Ware. Roland Berrill was an Australian barrister (a type of lawyer) with a keen interest in intelligence. Dr. Lancelot Ware was a British scientist and lawyer.  

These two men shared the vision of creating a society for intelligent people. Ware was particularly interested in the scientific measurement of intelligence, while Berrill was the driving force in getting the society established and running. Together, they laid the groundwork for what Mensa would become. Knowing who founded mensa helps us understand the original motivations behind the society.  

4. The “Top 2%” Requirement

The most famous thing about Mensa is its entry requirement: you have to score in the top 2% of the population on a supervised, standardized intelligence test. This doesn’t mean you have to be a certified genius (though some members certainly are!), but it does mean your score is higher than 98 out of 100 people who take the same test.  

The term “IQ” stands for Intelligence Quotient, and it’s a score derived from a set of standardized tests designed to assess cognitive abilities, or how well someone can reason, solve problems, and understand complex ideas. The mensa IQ test is the key that unlocks the door to membership, based purely on cognitive ability.  

5. Designed to Be Free from Bias

One of the core principles when Mensa was founded was to make sure it was completely free from any kind of bias. This meant that membership should not depend on someone’s background, job, income, religion, or political views. The only thing that should matter was their tested intelligence.  

The founders specifically wanted to avoid creating an exclusive club for one type of person. They aimed to create a diverse group where people from all walks of life – factory workers, artists, scientists, teachers, students, and everyone in between – could meet and interact as equals, united by their high IQ. This focus on inclusivity based purely on intellect was a key part of the original purpose of Mensa.  

6. From the UK to a Global Network

Mensa started in the United Kingdom, but it quickly began to grow beyond its origins. As the idea spread, national Mensa groups started forming in other countries. The American Mensa was founded in 1960, and from there, Mensa continued to expand around the globe.  

Today, what is Mensa International refers to the umbrella organization that connects national Mensa groups in over 100 countries worldwide. This growth shows that the desire for highly intelligent people to connect is a global one, allowing members to potentially meet and interact with fellow Mensans when traveling or online, creating a vast network of diverse minds.

7. Taking the Mensa Test

So, how to join mensa? The most common way is by taking the official Mensa test. These tests are supervised and are designed to measure a range of cognitive abilities, such as logical reasoning, problem-solving, and verbal skills. They don’t test your knowledge or what you learned in school, but rather your potential to learn and solve new problems.  

Mensa groups in different countries use different approved tests, but they are all set to measure that top 2% score. Passing the test proves that you meet the specific mensa requirements for intelligence, opening the door to become a member of this unique society based purely on your cognitive abilities.  

8. More Than Just Meetings: Special Interest Groups

Once someone joins Mensa, they become part of a community. While there are often local meetings and gatherings, a big part of what members do involves Special Interest Groups, or SIGs. These are groups formed by members who share a common hobby or interest, like chess, science fiction, cooking, history, or almost anything you can imagine!  

There are hundreds, even thousands, of these SIGs worldwide, existing both online and in person. They allow members to connect with others who not only share their high intelligence but also their specific passions. This creates opportunities for stimulating discussions and shared activities among people with diverse skills and interests. The benefits of joining mensa often include finding like-minded individuals through these groups.  

9. Members from All Walks of Life

While you might imagine everyone in Mensa is a professor or a rocket scientist, the reality is that Mensa members come from every possible background and profession. You’ll find artists, musicians, mechanics, chefs, students, retirees, and people from countless other jobs and lifestyles.  

This diversity is actually one of the key features the founders hoped for. It proves that high intelligence isn’t limited to certain types of people or specific careers. The original mensa origin story was about bringing together smart people regardless of who they were or what they did, fostering a truly varied community united by intellect.  

10. Mensa’s Purpose Today

Mensa continues to operate with the same core purpose of Mensa it had when it was founded: to provide a stimulating environment for its members and to identify and foster human intelligence. It serves as a social network, a platform for intellectual exchange, and a community for people who share a high level of cognitive ability.  

While the world has changed dramatically since 1946, the fundamental need for like-minded individuals to connect and share ideas remains. Mensa offers that unique space for people who often think differently or more quickly than the general population to feel at home and engage in conversations and activities they find truly stimulating. The society continues its mission of bringing intelligence together.  

Conclusion

From its founding in the UK after a world war by two visionary men, to becoming a global society for individuals in the top 2% of intelligence, the history of Mensa is a story of a simple yet powerful idea: connecting intelligent people. It shows how a society based purely on intellect can thrive, bringing together diverse individuals from all corners of the world to share ideas, pursue interests, and enjoy the company of fellow thinkers. Mensa remains a unique organization, a testament to the enduring value of human intelligence and the desire to connect with those who share it.

Further Reading

If you’re curious about intelligence, the brain, or interesting societies, you might enjoy these books:

1. The Brain Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by DK
2. Show Me Your Brain: The Amazing Brain and How It Works by Crystal Kali
3. What is Intelligence? (Little Book Of) by Sue Grabham (May be slightly advanced but explains the concept)
4. The Usborne Book of the Brain by Kirsteen Robson and Louie Stowell

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