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Biomedical subjects

R Lynn

Publications and source records attributed to R Lynn.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

A long-term increase in the fluid intelligence of English children.

In the early decades of the century a number of geneticists and psychologists believed that intelligence in the economically advanced nations was in secular decline. Contrary to this expectation, recent data for a number of countries have shown that intelligence has been increasing at rates far greater than hitherto considered probable. A compilation of this data by Flynn for 14 economically advanced nations has shown that intelligence quotient (IQ) rises have generally been within the range of 2-12 IQ points per decade. These recent studies raise several questions, among which are precisely what abilities have been increasing over time; and whether existing data are correct in suggesting that the secular rise in Britain is lower than that in other countries. We report here that in English children there has been an increase over the past 50 years of 12.42 IQ points, averaging 2.48 points per decade. The increase has been in fluid intelligence, the mental power that underlies the acquisition of cognitive skills, rather than in crystallized intelligence, which represents the cognitive skills acquired in a particular culture.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differential rates of secular increase of five major primary abilities.

A number of studies have shown that mean intelligence levels have been increasing at a rate of around 3 IQ points per decade during the last half-century. This paper presents data for cohorts of 9-11 year olds in Northern Ireland tested in 1978 and 1988 and shows that the rates of increase differ markedly for different primary abilities. Verbal comprehension has shown virtually no increase, while there have been large increases in spatial relations and perceptual speed. Moderate increases have taken place in the numerical and reasoning primaries. The results are interpreted as supporting a nutrition theory of the secular increases in intelligence.

Aptitude↗
PubMedDate not supplied

New evidence for dysgenic fertility for intelligence in the United States.

Data were taken from the 1994 National Opinion Research Center survey of a representative sample of American adults to examine the relation between the intelligence of adults aged 40+ and their numbers of children and their numbers of siblings. The correlations were found to be significantly negative at -0.05 and -0.09, respectively, indicating the presence of dysgenic fertility. Further analysis showed that dysgenic fertility is present only in females. The correlation for females between intelligence and ideal numbers of children was effectively zero, indicating that if women had the numbers of children they consider ideal, dysgenic fertility would be reduced.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking habits: the prevention role of teachers and general practitioners.

Surveys carried out widely in French-speaking Belgium showed that the frequency of nicotine addiction among teachers is not very different from that of other job categories. Among physicians, the number of smokers--although lower than average--is too high, especially among psychiatrists, gynecologists, and, paradoxically, heart specialists. However, young doctors usually do not smoke. The authors argue for a program aimed at making teachers and general practitioners more aware of the problem of smoking. This intervention may lend support to those trying to reach the general public.

Adult↗