The Flynn Effect

It seems that with each new generation IQ scores rise. The children of the new generation are smarter than their parents. This anomaly is known as the Flynn Effect—named after James Flynn, a New Zealand political scientist that discovered and sought to explain it.

Data suggests that IQ has been increasing an average of three points per generation, for the last century. Several theories have been proposed as to why this is so.

Here are a few:

Later generations are more robust. Physically they are living longer, have better nutrition and are genetically improving. Mother Nature is building a better human. Since we live longer, we learn more and appear smarter.

There is a social trend towards smaller families. Parents can now afford higher levels of education for their children since there are fewer mouths to feed at home.

The educational system overall has improved.

Society has become more complex, and more stimulating, and the mind has responded by becoming smarter.

Flynn himself was baffled by the phenomenon, and found it perplexing to explain.

Finally he conjectured that the increasing complexity of modern life--more advance technology and the rise in intellectual occupations--caused our brains to think differently. Our reasoning and thought processes have become less literal and more abstract. We now think in terms of concepts and theories, instead of engaging in simple, black and white comparisons.

For example, if you ask the question, “How are a dog and a rabbit alike?” a person today might respond they are both mammals. A hundred years ago, the response may have been that you use dogs to catch rabbits.

Abstract thinking is what is most often measured on IQ tests, so that explains the increase in IQ points.

Do you agree?

To find out more about the research on the Flynn Effect, visit these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect

http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/FLYNNEFF.html