In the context of AP Psychology, which of the following best defines intelligence quotient (IQ)?

• A. A measure of emotional intelligence and the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions
• B. A personality trait that describes openness to new experiences and creativity
• C. A numerical score derived from standardized tests that compares an individual's mental age to their chronological age
• D. A scale used to assess levels of anxiety and depression in clinical settings

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) as it relates to psychology. IQ is a measure designed to assess human intelligence through standardized testing.
2. Step 2: Recognize that IQ is typically calculated by comparing an individual's mental age to their chronological age, which reflects their actual age in years.
3. Step 3: Recall the formula used to calculate IQ, which is given by: \(\text{IQ} = \left( \frac{\text{Mental Age}}{\text{Chronological Age}} \right) \times 100\).
4. Step 4: Note that IQ scores are standardized so that the average IQ in the population is set to 100, allowing comparison across individuals.
5. Step 5: Differentiate IQ from other psychological constructs such as emotional intelligence, personality traits, or clinical scales, which measure different aspects of human behavior and mental health.