IQ can be improved; here is the evidence
Debates over the improvability of IQ usually come back to whether IQ and intelligence stems from genetics (nature) or from a person’s environment (nurture). It is now widely accepted that intelligence is influenced by a combination of the two. What we do not know is what proportion comes from nature and what proportion from nurture. Estimates from experts say your genes effect your IQ from somewhere between 40 and 80% – not the most precise of estimates. But there is a very good reason why they can’t be more accurate: it isn’t fixed. If a person is isolated from all external stimuli, the proportion of their intelligence coming from the environment will obviously be nil. The more stimuli a person receives from the world, the more their intelligence will be based on the environment. The percentage is, therefore, changeable. The degree to which a person’s IQ can be improved is related to how high the percentage can be increased in favour of environmental influences. Any improvements made by genetic influences would have to be the result of a eugenics program. Since there has not been a mass-scale selective breeding program carried out on the human race, any improvements from one generation to the next would have to be the result of nature. In actual fact, as popularised in The Bell Curve (Herrnstein and Murray), the very opposite of a eugenics program may be operating in the first world. There is a trend whereby those with lower IQs have a tendency to have more children than those of higher IQs. If IQ were so highly influenced by genetics, there should be a decrease in the average IQ from one generation to the next. But there isn’t. Research shows that there have actually been significant increases in IQ from generation to generation. Generational Changes
These generational changes are made less obvious because an IQ score is a measure of how a person relates to the rest of their age group in any given time. In other words an IQ of 100 means you have an average IQ for your age this year. But someone who scored 100 IQ points 10 years ago has an average IQ for 10 years ago. Since the scores are constantly being revaluated and reset, any IQ score cannot be compared to past scores. When this fact is taking into consideration, studies have found significant increases from one generation to the next – increases averaging 21 points in just 30 years. Such increases can only be the result of changes in environment and so prove that we can improve IQ by means other than genetics. This evidence does not negate the fact that there might be genetic decreases in intelligence. But if there are, the environmental increases must be counteracting those decreases, as well as showing increases on top of that. Individual Increases
But it isn’t just generational increases that we are experiencing. When we move away from generational improvements and look at the individual, we find further evidence that shows a big influence from the environment. There have been numerous undertakings of programs designed to give children a boost in their IQ. The better run, and more intensive, of these resulted in gains of up to 11 IQ points higher than control groups, in a single summer. Longer lasting projects have provided higher increases. Further evidence for the affects of stimulating the mind, come from studies on those children who take a long break from mental activities during the summer vacation. For these students IQ levels begin to drop. Such drops then rise again after work commences again after their break. Criticisms of Evidence
So if there is all this evidence that intelligence can be improved, why do some still argue that it can’t? Here are the main arguments. Fading
While many objectors agree that some intervention programs have improved IQ, they point out that years later that rise had declined – sometimes back to its original level. IQ then, they say, may be improved in the short-term, but any real long-term gains are impossible. They say that there is no point in attempts to improve IQ, because they will just go back to their previous levels. They have a point. After all, we don’t want to work hard at gaining something, if we are just going to lose it again further down the road. However, there are cases where fading doesn’t occur, so this isn’t something that will definitely happen. When we begin to look at the cases properly, it becomes clearer why these fadeouts are occurring. At the end of the intervention programs, many participants simply stop exercising their minds to the extent that they did during the programs. And just like when we stop exercising our bodies they begin to wither, when we stop exercising our brains they too begin to wither. This also explains why people’s minds begin to get slower as soon as they retire, they don’t have the mental exercise that comes with the job. So the bottom line is, if you want long-term improvements, you’ve got to keep at it. But don’t worry; although making gains takes quite a bit of effort, maintaining things is a lot easier. On differences between IQ and intelligence
This is a big one; for if IQ tests don’t really measure intelligence, all evidence based on it becomes debunked. There is certainly confusion over whether IQ tests accurately measure intelligence. Some of this stems from the fact that there are even debates over the definition of IQ. Let’s try and look at this objectively. IQ tests measure a person’s ability to perform mental tasks (i.e. tasks in their heads). People, who do well in these mental tasks, tend to do well at school – though differences do arise because of motivational issues. School achievement and a good ability to do mental tasks are usually associated with intelligence. However, IQ does not necessarily have any relation to the ability to do other tasks. Idiot savants are often very good at musical skills, for example, but show mental deficiency in other areas. So does this mean that a person is intelligent or not? Let’s draw an analogy with physical fitness. Someone can be very fit muscularly, but quite poor aerobically. So is this person fit or not? The answer just isn’t that straightforward. All we can say is that a large area of that person’s physical self is fit. And we can say the same of IQ. IQ may not prove that a person’s overall intelligence is improving, but it can show that a very important part of it is improving. IQ tests may have limits, but they are certainly a measure of the ability to perform a wide range of cognitive tasks. For this reason, IQ tests can be used as reliable evidence that intelligence can be improved. Other areas of intelligence, such as musical or social intelligence can be improved in a much more obvious manner. Test Savvy
There is another argument against increases in IQ tests though. Many have argued that repeated exposure to IQ test questions make them better at performing those tests. They have had time to figure out how the tests work, so they perform better. This is actually a valid point. It is well known within the intelligence testing community that repeated exposure to tests makes people more test-savvy. Any increases, including generational ones, could be because of this effect. However, these only accounts for about 2 or 3 points on an IQ test after which it settles down. This could be likened to taking a history test on WWII. A test savvy person may be able to blag their way to a pass from their general knowledge and ability to make convincing arguments, but it would be impossible to get the top marks unless you had actually studied the subject. Onward
My studies into this subject have so far sated my belief that improvements in intelligence are indeed possible. Yet I know some people would still argue against this fact. It is possible that they are right. I would hate to be claiming that certain exercises would improve intelligence if they were actually a waste of your time. But even if the counterargument is somehow proved to be correct, the exercises on this site will have given you great benefits and advantages anyway. You will be able to solve problems easier, think clearer, concentrate more effectively and remember things for longer. You will know this because you will see it happening. If this is shown to be something other than intelligence then so be it; I don’t think it will really matter. |
