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Implications for using outdated IQ tests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.