Low IQ Scores Rising?
Updated July 2023
The most pessimistic explanation regarding the apparent decline in human intelligence suggests that we might have already reached the zenith of our intellectual capabilities. From the 1930s to the 1980s, the average IQ score in the United States saw a three-point increase. Similar trends were observed in post-war Japan and Denmark, a phenomenon known as the ‘Flynn effect’. This surge in intelligence was attributed to improved nutrition, enhanced living conditions, and better education, as elucidated by James Flynn, the eponymous researcher from the University of Otago.
A study published last year by the University of Amsterdam unveiled that Western populations have experienced an average IQ decrease of 14 points since the Victorian era. Jan te Nijenhuis suggests that this trend might be linked to the fact that intelligent women tend to have fewer children than those who are not as academically inclined, as reported by The Huffington Post. However, the perceived connection between IQ and fertility remains a topic of considerable controversy.
Dr. Nijenhuis conducted an in-depth analysis of 14 intelligence studies spanning from 1884 to 2004, culminating in his findings. Each of these studies assessed participants’ reaction times, gauging the time it took them to press a button in response to a prompt.
It’s contended that reaction time serves as a reflection of mental processing speed, thus providing insight into one’s intelligence.The results revealed that visual reaction times averaged 194 milliseconds during the late 19th century. However, by 2004, these times had extended to an average of 275 milliseconds.
This trend suggests a potential decline in human intelligence, according to their interpretations.
Low IQ and the Flynn Effect
Experts suggest that the Flynn effect, observed in developed countries, might be showing signs of ending. Notably, IQ scores are not merely stabilizing but potentially declining. Noteworthy researchers, including Dr. Flynn, posit that enhanced education can reverse this trend. They also highlight that the apparent decline could be a temporary fluctuation. However, some scientists hold a less optimistic viewpoint.
A prevailing notion is that the Flynn effect might have concealed a deterioration in the genetic foundation of intelligence. In essence, as more individuals reached their full cognitive potential, the actual potential itself experienced a decline. In a contentious vein, some have suggested that this could be attributed to educated individuals opting to have fewer children, thereby shaping subsequent generations to be predominantly comprised of individuals with lower levels of intelligence. Full Story
Using the same dataset, a different author has arrived at a distinct conclusion (as shared below). We suspect that more factors are in play than solely the “white factor.” Concerns extend beyond ethnicity and into realms such as compromised food quality (akin to tainted food), impure water supplies, excessive antibiotic usage, and misuse of vaccinations. It’s worth contemplating a parallel scenario: skilled breeders wouldn’t pair a prized male stud with a weak female horse, as the odds of producing a winning offspring would be slim.
Despite recent media coverage (especially by the Daily Mail) presenting the drop in IQ levels as an enigmatic decline without easily identifiable causes, it’s evident that the diminishing IQ is intricately linked to significant immigration from Third World countries with generally lower IQs. The statistics indicate that IQ test results in countries like the UK, Denmark, and Australia have exhibited a notable decline in just the past decade. Additionally, the average IQ of “Westerners” has plummeted by 10 points or more since 1900.
IQ’s in the UK
For instance, in the UK, a comparison between tests conducted in 1980 and 2008 revealed that the average 14-year-old exhibited a decline of two IQ points over the 28-year span. Furthermore, even the brighter adolescents who participated in the 2008 study demonstrated an average intelligence decrease of six IQ points when measured against their counterparts from nearly three decades earlier. These assessments didn’t uncover that, as of 2012, nonwhite British pupils constituted 27.1 per cent of the total in primary schools and 23.4 per cent in secondary schools. With this ongoing rate of reproduction, it’s projected that by 2030, individuals of nonwhite ethnicity will make up the majority of the population under the age of 21 in the UK. Full Story
It’s unclear whether this issue can be simplistically categorized as a “black and white” matter. I invite you to examine the chart provided below.
Source- https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country
The nations boasting the highest IQ scores are predominantly Asian. If we consider that the ethnic population in the top two countries is predominantly Chinese, it could be reasonably inferred that, on the whole, the Chinese exhibit the highest IQ as a collective. This perspective somewhat diminishes the complexity of the issue beyond merely a “black and white” scenario. However, it doesn’t negate the possibility that interactions with individuals of different backgrounds could potentially impact a nation’s long-term IQ trajectory.
It’s worth noting that possessing the highest overall IQ doesn’t necessarily equate to having the most geniuses in every field. For instance, in areas like computer hacking, Chinese hackers may not be as competitive as their Russian counterparts. A similar phenomenon applies to top mathematicians, physicists, and other specialized domains.
By logical extension, if the goal were to dilute the IQ of a nation, a strategy might involve pairing high-IQ individuals with those possessing lower IQs. While the intricacies of this topic extend beyond the scope of this publication, it certainly prompts contemplation.
Musk On the Public Schooling System
Musk doesn’t place a significant emphasis on whether his employees possess college degrees. He conveyed to Auto Bild in 2014 that an individual’s formal education isn’t a primary concern for him.
“He believes that not having a college degree or even a high school diploma is not necessarily an obstacle. While graduating from a reputable university could suggest the potential for greatness, it’s not an absolute,” Musk stated.
Musk has engaged in intriguing discussions about this topic on Twitter as well. Just last year, he responded to a tweet asserting that success in life hinges on obtaining a degree and attending schools like Harvard.
Musk countered, saying, “That’s not accurate. Schooling and education aren’t synonymous. I didn’t attend Harvard, yet many of those who work with me did.” Full Story
Originally published on February 10, 2017, this piece has undergone multiple updates over the years, with the most recent update completed in July 2023.
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