Book contents
- In the Know
- In the Know
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Introduction
- Section 1 The Nature of Intelligence
- Section 2 Measuring Intelligence
- Section 3 Influences on Intelligence
- 11 IQ Only Reflects a Person’s Socioeconomic Status
- 12 High Heritability for Intelligence Means that Raising IQ Is Impossible
- 13 Genes Are Not Important for Determining Intelligence
- 14 Environmentally Driven Changes in IQ Mean that Intelligence Is Malleable
- 15 Social Interventions Can Drastically Raise IQ
- 16 Brain-Training Programs Can Raise IQ
- 17 Improvability of IQ Means Intelligence Can Be Equalized
- Section 4 Intelligence and Education
- Section 5 Life Consequences of Intelligence
- Section 6 Demographic Group Differences
- Section 7 Societal and Ethical Issues
- References
- Index
17 - Improvability of IQ Means Intelligence Can Be Equalized
from Section 3 - Influences on Intelligence
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 October 2020
- In the Know
- In the Know
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Introduction
- Section 1 The Nature of Intelligence
- Section 2 Measuring Intelligence
- Section 3 Influences on Intelligence
- 11 IQ Only Reflects a Person’s Socioeconomic Status
- 12 High Heritability for Intelligence Means that Raising IQ Is Impossible
- 13 Genes Are Not Important for Determining Intelligence
- 14 Environmentally Driven Changes in IQ Mean that Intelligence Is Malleable
- 15 Social Interventions Can Drastically Raise IQ
- 16 Brain-Training Programs Can Raise IQ
- 17 Improvability of IQ Means Intelligence Can Be Equalized
- Section 4 Intelligence and Education
- Section 5 Life Consequences of Intelligence
- Section 6 Demographic Group Differences
- Section 7 Societal and Ethical Issues
- References
- Index
Summary
Although Chapter 16 encourages us to hold our enthusiasm in check, it is clear from the evidence that I have presented in this book that IQ can improve through environmental interventions. Indeed, the Flynn effect (see Chapter 14) shows that the twentieth century was one big demonstration that improved environments can lead to higher IQ scores. As a result, some people – as demonstrated by the quote at the beginning of the chapter – believe that the changeability of IQ means that IQ can be equalized. While improvability of IQ scores – and intelligence – is possible, it is quite a different matter to make everyone’s intelligence equal.
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- Chapter
- Information
- In the KnowDebunking 35 Myths about Human Intelligence, pp. 149 - 156Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020