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andrewducker ([personal profile] andrewducker) wrote2012-03-06 11:00 am
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[identity profile] steer.livejournal.com 2012-03-06 12:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Incidentally, it is worth pointing out also that the Flynn effect is incredibly rapid in evolutionary terms. If we take a really modest estimate of 10 IQ points in 100 years... (some studies have seen more than 3 times that)... now project that onto an evolutionary timescale of (say) 100,000 years. That makes 10,000 points of IQ increase in that span.

OK, it's a totally silly projection (ludicrously so) but the point is that the best current evidence is for an absolutely startlingly quick increase in IQ when we're thinking about evolutionary timescales.

Of course there's lots of "what does IQ testing really measure" sort of arguments to be made.
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[personal profile] andrewducker 2012-03-06 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
From my own reading, my best guess is that there is a genetically strong component of maximal intelligence, and then whether we get anywhere near that point is down to our education/experience/food. I suspect The Flynn Effect is about improving these three things.

[identity profile] steer.livejournal.com 2012-03-06 12:44 pm (UTC)(link)
You may well be right on this. It would be absolutely startling if IQ were improving at that rate for other reasons.
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[personal profile] andrewducker 2012-03-06 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I blame oestrogen in the water supply. It's turning us into women, who are clearly smarter.

[identity profile] steer.livejournal.com 2012-03-06 12:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd make a dreadful woman... the stubble for a start.
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