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There is definitely a social attitude that those who lack common sense are stupid. But does having a lack of common sense mean that someone is also lacking in intelligence?

Teenagers are a great example to use when illustrating the comparison between common sense and intelligence. Their still growing brains have not yet reached full development, and even the teens with the highest of I.Q.'s may lack the reasoning skills to keep them out of trouble.

As the brain matures, reasoning skills develop and emotional maturity kicks in, hopefully resulting in common sense.

But not every individual matures at the same rate, and for some individuals emotional maturity is stunted due to a traumatic incident. A victim of childhood molestation, violence, a loved one's death, or some other life altering event may have delayed emotional development, and in severe cases a change in brain chemistry altering the way they reason.

Their lack of reasoning skills in day to day decisions does not mean that they are stupid. It only means that their reasoning skills are underdeveloped.

To say that anyone who lacks common sense is stupid, is being extremely judgmental. Each person has their own unique set of individual circumstances that effects their emotional and psychological development. People are far too complex to judge based on their lack of good judgment, but unfortunately we live in a society which would rather judge first and ask questions later.

Learn more about this author, Angelica Biel.
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