Individual Differences - The Flynn Effect

Average IQ is

100

IQ is rising on average

3 points per decade

Industrialisation is an important

aspect of why intelligence may be increasing in developing countries.

3 reasons for rising IQ are

better education, better nutrition and being taught specifically science and problem solvin.

Flynn does not believe IQ tests measure intelligence but just

correlates with it.

IQ increases are currently increasing at a faster rate in

developing countries rather than developed countries (Wongupparaj, 2015).

Implications for using outdated IQ tests

in education settings and in america - death row.

The Flynn Effect can make it difficult to interpret

intelligence literature.

It was believed that IQ scores were immutable but

maybe this is not the case.

Nettlebeck & Wilson (2004) found that

non-verbal tests had the highest increase but processing speed had none.

James Flyn brought the Flynn Effect to the attention

of psychologists.

The Flynn Effect was the name given to the

phenomenon of IQ scores rising.

With IQ test scores rising IQ tests need to be

re-normed.

Flynn queries the genetic findings behind intelligence as he states that

someone born with a slight genetic advantage may have powerful environmental factors which enhance them further. This tells us the rise in IQ could be down to environmental factors too!

Flynn (2012) told the story of Russian psychologist Alexander Luria who tested Russian peasants and asked them what the similarity was between a dog and a horse

They stated hunting whereas we would say they are both mammals. Moved from concrete thinking to abstract.

Flynn (2012) believes cognitive trends are the reason IQ is increasing, inparticular

a more abstract way of thinking.