Scientists Richard Lynn and James Flynn are well known for their discovery of the Lynn-Flynn effect. First Lynn and then Flynn independently discovered that average IQ test scores in industrial nations were rising during the mid to late 20th century. No one fully understood the underlying mechanisms of the IQ rise, but for several decades it was an accepted finding of IQ studies.

But now the Lynn-Flynn effect appears to be stumbling, with a new trend of falling IQ scores taking hold. From recent research in “Intelligence” by James Flynn et al:

The IQ gains of the 20th century have faltered. Losses in Nordic nations after 1995 average at 6.85 IQ points when projected over thirty years. On Piagetian tests, Britain shows decimation among high scorers on three tests and overall losses on one. The US sustained its historic gain (0.3 points per year) through 2014. The Netherlands shows no change in preschoolers, mild losses at high school, and possible gains by adults. Australia and France offer weak evidence of losses at school and by adults respectively. German speakers show verbal gains and spatial losses among adults. South Korea, a latecomer to industrialization, is gaining at twice the historic US rate. __ Source … h/t

Richard Lynn has studying out the global decline in average IQ for some time, and has long predicted the reversal of the Lynn-Flynn effect.



There are many ways to test “g”, or IQ, from “Progressive Matrices,” to Stanford-Binet type standardised tests looking at verbal, math, spatial skills etc., to the testing of brain reaction times.

Besides declines in average scores on conventional IQ tests, everal scientists have discovered an ominous decline in average brain reaction times (one component of intelligence) which has been ongoing since the Victorian age:

Simple reaction time measures correlate substantially with measures of general intelligence (g) and are considered elementary measures of cognition. In this study we used the data on the secular slowing of simple reaction time described in a meta-analysis of 14 age-matched studies from Western countries conducted between 1889 and 2004 to estimate the decline in g that may have resulted from the presence of dysgenic fertility. Using psychometric meta-analysis we computed the true correlation between simple reaction time and g, yielding a decline of − 1.16 IQ points per decade or − 13.35 IQ points since Victorian times. These findings strongly indicate that with respect to g the Victorians were substantially cleverer than modern Western populations. __ Woodley & Charlton Published in “Intelligence”

An update from Bruce Charlton

Declines in French IQ scores are thought to have a biological cause. As more third world immigrants from low-average IQ countries continue to pour into France and other European nations, perhaps we should expect to see continuing declines in average IQ scores across all age cohorts, as the inflooding proceeds.

The first evidence of a dip in IQ was reported in Norway in 2004, closely followed by similar studies emerging from developed countries including Sweden and the Netherlands… some experts believe our IQs are in a state of permanent decline. Some researchers suggest that the [Lynn-Flynn] effect has masked an underlying decline in our genetic intelligence — meaning more people have been developing closer to their full potential, but that potential has been dropping. ___ Source

In the 2014 news story linked above, James Flynn was quoted attempting to explain away the effects. But in his more recent research quote at the top of this page, he is shown coming to terms with the demise of the Lynn-Flynn effect — whatever it may eventually be found to have been.

Human Societies Need People of Genius

In order to advance in science, technology, and in every aspect of society touching on quality of living and standard of living, human societies need men (and women) of genius. Genius is far more than “high IQ,” of course, and all of the aspects of genius should be considered by any planners or policymakers wishing to increase a society’s complement of genius.

But before putting forth remedies, a wise physician usually needs to gain a good understanding of the cause of the current problem. The free online booklet, “The Genius Famine by Bruce Charlton and Edward Dutton,” provides a very good foundation for acquiring such an understanding.

From the book’s introduction:

This book is about genius: what it is, what it does, where it comes from.[1]

And about geniuses: especially why there used to be so many and now there are so few; what was the effect of an era of geniuses, and what will be the consequences of our current Genius Famine. This book describes the genius as an Endogenous personality; that is, a person of high intelligence combined with a personality driven from within, an ‘inner’ –orientated personality: that is, a dominated by the Creative Triad of (1) Innate high ability, (2) Inner motivation and (3) Intuitive thinking. __ The Genius Famine, a free online ebook

More, from Chapter 2, elaborating on the interaction of intelligence and personality:

Intelligence and Personality are the two main ways that psychologists have developed for describing differences between people. In brief – Intelligence is an ability, while personality is character; intelligence is general – with the level of intelligence affecting many specific abilities, while personality can be understood as a pattern of motivations, preferences, satisfactions. … A person high in intelligence, or high on a personality trait such as Conscientiousness, is ‘high’ relative to other people. ‘High’ or ‘Low’, in both intelligence and personality, therefore does not describe an objective measurement of a personal attribute in the way that (for example) high or low blood pressure or blood sugar measurements would.

Intelligence researchers are discovering the ongoing decline in average IQ across the developed world. But worse than this incremental dysgenic demographic measure, is the ongoing decline in character and personality traits among youth, due to widespread dysfunctional practises of education and child-raising.

These declines in both IQ and in character do not mean that modern populations are doomed. But the combined declines put more weight on those who are capable of contributing at high levels of functioning and innovation. Fortunately, advanced computing technologies are beginning to provide a “force multiplier” effect for persons of all levels of functioning.

Bonus:

Idiocracy movie free for download or streaming at archive.org

Trailer for Idiocracy movie:

The idea of dysgenic IQ decline was treated as a joke in the movie. As time goes by and you are able to watch the end effects of this decline for yourself, you may not always be laughing.

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. It is never too late to have a Dangerous Childhood ©.