Psychology - Mr. Duez - Atascocita High School - Intelligence: Part 3
"Does intelligence change over time?"
Does Intelligence Change Over Time?
IQ score stabilize during the school years, and by age 9 the scores correlate in the .80s with adult IQ.
Depends on type of intelligence: Crystallized or Fluid
Does Intelligence Change Over Time?
Scores are relatively unstable during the preschool years & are not good predictors of scores in adolescence & adulthood.
As children grow older, their IQ scores eventually stabilize.
Around the ages of 7 to 9, IQ tests become fairly accurate predictors of IQ at age 18. However, IQ scores tend to be stable, but they are not set in concrete.
Graph plots the correlations between IQ scores obtained during childhood & subsequent adult IQ, measured at age 18. As you can see, preschool IQ scores are not very good predictors of adult IQ. However, IQ score stabilize during the school years, & by age 9 the scores correlate in the .80s with adult IQ.
People who score high on IQ tests are more likely than those who score low to end up in high-status jobs.
Because IQ tests measure school ability fairly well & because school performance is important in reaching certain occupations, this link between IQ scores & job status makes sense.
Of course, correlation between IQ & occupational attainment is moderate.
Correlation of .37 between IQ & occupational status. There are plenty of exceptions.
Review of 425 studies: 2004 report:
Correlation between general mental ability & job performance depends on the complexity of the job.
More complicated job: Intelligence is a better predictor of performance.
Correlations show: IQ tests can be valuable in hiring decisions.
The Flynn Effect: IQ scores have been steadily improving across generations.
We are not exactly sure why that is!
Generally considered to have an environmental basis such as better education, technology, & nutrition.
*100 years is not long enough to create an evolutionary change.
Which graph best represents the results of
IQ tests across generations?
1
3
2
The Flynn Effect
Potential cause for the gap in intelligence scores among groups may be stereotype threat.
Stereotype threat: Reminded of a negative stereotype about a group they belong to prior to a test, results in lower scores.
Psychologists today work to create culture-fair tests that try to eliminate racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, & gender bias.
Flynn Effect
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
First called social intelligence.
The ability to perceive, express, understand, & regulate emotions.
Some studies show EQ to be a greater predictor for future success than IQ.
New Research into Intelligence & Emotion
Speed & Efficiency
Studies have shown a biological basis for General intelligence.
Speed of nerve conduction is related to IQ:
Biological Basis: General Intelligence
Some researchers suppose that differences in G (General Intelligence) result from differences in the speed & efficiency of information processing along nerve pathways of the nervous system.
Also, much work has been done regarding:
'Efficient functioning of the brain,’ - Hans Eysenck, 1999.
To Eysenck: G is the energy of the brain that enables it to do its intellectual work.
High definition fiber-tracking map of a million brain fibers.