On a scorching hot day in Oxford, I have the pleasure of meeting Professor James R Flynn, a renowned American-born academic who revolutionized the study of IQ over 30 years ago. His discovery showed the rise in average IQs around the world by approximately three percentage points per decade since at least 1930, linking rising intelligence levels to modernization, increased education, and job opportunities that require analytical skills. This discovery countered the previous notion that intelligence was genetically determined and discredited the belief that African countries were impoverished because of the assumed stupidity of their inhabitants. This effect has led to a marked improvement in moral reasoning that undermines racism and sexism.
Known as the “Flynn effect”, nearly all psychologists accept his findings, a true testament to his impact on the field, despite not being a specialist in psychology. A fervent democratic socialist, he immigrated to New Zealand during the 1960s because of his political opinions, where he became a prominent professor at the University of Otago.
Flynn’s latest book, "Does Your Family Make You Smarter?" explores the impact of family on IQ. His research found that the environment in which you grow up has a minimal effect on IQ by the age of 17, except for the vocabulary component that persists into the mid-20s, affecting college entrance opportunities. However, later environments in school, university, and work have a greater impact on IQ and match genetic potential, such as athletic ability or mathematical aptitude.
By taking genes out of the equation, Flynn put them back in, pointing out that modernization brings out the potential of genes, and thus, "nature" is not the opposite of "nurture." Within a generation, the gap between groups will remain the same, but previously excluded groups can close the gap. Flynn emphasizes that 20% of IQ differences are from neither genes nor environments but rather chance factors, and we have the ability to improve ourselves.
Let’s talk about averages, for obvious reasons. I’m going to ignore any negative connotations towards bricklayers and focus on the good news: free will has a significant role in our individual development. However, I must ask, if we are morally evolving, how can we explain the rise of someone like Donald Trump? According to Flynn, the increasing visual nature of our culture has resulted in a decreased interest in serious literature and history, leaving people succumbing to whatever they are told without much critical thinking. Becoming a better analyzer doesn’t necessarily make you a better citizen.
For those who support the return of grammar schools, the question arises: is it possible to create a tutor-proof 11-plus exam? Flynn believes that the only solution to creating a tutor-proof exam would be to give everyone a tutor. Of course, this raises more questions.
IQ and its correlation with race is a topic that cannot be ignored, especially when discussing Arthur Jensen’s claim that genetic differences are responsible for African American’s lower IQ scores. Flynn confronted Jensen’s theory, but in his latest book, he claims that African Americans come from a "cognitively restricted subculture." This statement is particularly sensitive because while it is encouraging to acknowledge that genetics don’t determine intelligence, it’s alarming to be told that a certain way of life can restrict a person’s potential. Despite any potential backlash, Flynn makes no apologies. He argues that it’s not African Americans who take issue with his statement, but rather, whites. Flynn is not one to shy away from blunt statements. He notes that according to IQ tests, African Americans generally lag behind other ethnicities in America, which includes black immigrants from the Caribbean. The Flynn effect doesn’t apply to African Americans, unlike other groups he has studied.
Flynn notes the parenting differences between black and white homes, even when socioeconomic status has been equated. In a study from the late 1970s, black adoptees were given to black and white professional families, both with mothers having 16 years of education. When the black adoptees were tested at eight-and-a-half years old, the white-raised children had a 13.5 IQ point advantage. When asked to do problem-solving activities, the black mothers were impatient and the white mothers encouraged their children. In black culture, immediate achievement is valued more than long-term achievements, which can require a delay in gratification.
Historical events like slavery and racial discrimination have undoubtedly had long-term effects on African Americans, preventing many from having access to higher education and professional careers. Flynn argues, however, that universities should conduct more research on racial differences and a new version of the 1970s study. He has seen a 5.5 IQ point increase in African Americans compared to whites in the last few decades, but he isn’t sure why the gap is closing. He suspects that parenting styles have improved, but he cannot prove it. The nature-versus-nurture debate continues, and Flynn’s theories on parenting have its critics wondering if his evidence is substantial enough to support his claims.
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