Think about the first time your Mother proclaimed, "Your generation is supposed to be better than my generation," during a moment of complete exasperation. In psychology, the Flynn effect (FE) explains the observed increase in average intelligence quotient (IQ) scores over successive generations. But some scientists are showcasing a disruption in research dating back to the early 20th century. According to an investigation by Dr. Elizabeth Dworak, William Revelle, and David Condon, declining IQ scores for younger generations is happening, and we need to explore why the trend is occurring.
I know about the Flynn effect.
A. Um, my AP psych is a bit rusty.
B. Yep, I remember it.
C. Moms don't get exasperated, Sis.
In an article published by Science Direct on 02 March 2023, Dworak and co. traced an increase in IQ scores from 1932 through 2000. Based on their discoveries, the team reported, "These findings imply younger generations are expected to have higher IQ scores than the previous cohort." The research doesn't necessarily suggest that Generation X participants are more intelligent than Baby Boomers; instead, a slight increase in scores favors the younger generations. Advances in science, technology, education, and healthcare have traditionally contributed to higher cognitive abilities for our successors.
Until now, the term "reverse Flynn effect (RFE)" has not been widely observed or researched. A RFE occurs when there is a decline in average intelligence test scores over time, essentially the opposite of the Flynn effect. In other words, successive generations scored lower on IQ tests than their predecessors. Suspected factors behind a RFE include environmental degradation, economic instability, cultural shifts, and education disparities.
Using a large sample of adults from the US between 2006 and 2018, Dworak's team observed evidence of a RFE and lower IQ scores in "18-to-22 year-olds and individuals with less than a 4-year college degree." A generational decline in cognitive abilities is indicative of multifaceted societal challenges. For instance, limited access to mental health resources and interventions negatively affects emotional and intellectual well-being. Widening economic gaps also impacts education, healthcare, and resources that promote cognitive growth.
Dworak staves off speculations connecting the drop in IQ scores to worsening nutrition or declining environmental factors by requesting further scientific analyses. Rather "education, test-taking, and media exposure" emerge as contributive factors of the downward cognitive slope. The probe also questioned the "quality or content of education and test-taking skills" among the sample group, which may have caused such abysmal results.
The experiment concludes with a warning "… this study and differences in ability scores measured by the Flynn effect and its reversal in general may not equate to real gains or declines in intelligence." Predicting the occurrence and extent of a RFE is speculative, and further investigation is warranted to understand the interplay of factors that impact our wellness and societal trends.
Welcome to the MSM Peanut Gallery! Please take responsibility for your behavior as you enter this shared space. Keep conversations courteous and on-topic to foster productive, respectful communication. Review our Community Guidelines before posting.
Comments