Timothy Bates

Is IQ falling across the West?

James Flynn’s research on the eponymous Flynn Effect, showing massive gains in IQ in 14 nations in the course of the 20th Century, was leapt on by hard-working teachers, social policy wonks and dieticians. It rebutted claims that IQ was immutable and implied that ambitious interventions in families and schools could be effective. The gains Flynn discovered were so large, they suggested an average child would be regarded as a ‘genius’ by their great grandparents.

However, Flynn has now changed his mind. In a speech he gave earlier this year at the International Society for Intelligence Research, and now published in Intelligence, a peer-reviewed academic journal, Flynn announced that this forward movement in IQ scores across the West has been slammed into reverse. In some nations (like the USA) the increase has continued. But, starting in the mid-90s, other nations have gone backwards (e.g. Sweden). According to Flynn’s latest findings, the Nordic nations are projected to see national intelligence scores drop by a total of seven points by 2025. Scores in other European nations are mostly flat, with some odd bouncers, like the Netherlands, which shows no change in pre-schoolers, mild losses in high school, and possible gains in adulthood.

In the UK, IQ scores for the very highest-achieving children have started to decline, says Flynn. That is, the best are no longer as exceptional as they were. Huge, if true: IQ scores are linked to a nation’s economic power, and reflect (and are reflected in) the effectiveness of society at every level, from family stability to creative achievement.

The obvious question raised when Flynn first disclosed that IQ scores had risen by between 20-30 points over the 20th century was, ‘What’s the limit?’ Social scientists were generally optimistic – it looked as though the right sorts of interventions could actually raise IQ.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in