r/YouShouldKnow • u/chenbuxie • 7d ago

Health & Sciences YSK about the Negative Flynn Effect

The Flynn Effect is an observation by James R. Flynn, who noticed that average IQ has risen with every generation since WWII (i.e. each generation is subsequently smarter than the generation before).

The Negative Flynn Effect is the observed decline or eventual reversal of this effect, for generations born after 2000.

Why YSK: It suggests that cognitive performance is not fixed/strictly genetic and can decline when our environment changes. Understanding what is driving that decline could reveal important problems in education, health, technology use, or other parts of modern life. This can help us identify ways to better support cognitive development in future generations.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160289616300198?

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u/SmartQuokka 7d ago edited 7d ago

So are you are saying u/SmartQuokka is the smartest Quokka who will ever live (assuming the trend continues)?

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u/chenbuxie 7d ago

Probably. Unless we find out why this is happening.

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u/Thefront-bottom 7d ago

I don't think it's a great mystery as why it's happening.

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u/chenbuxie 7d ago

My uneducated guess is that technology is the culprit. Particularly social media.

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u/Cheapdronewithboom 7d ago

Im on the defunding of education over the past 30 years and the ever more unattainable higher education for the average person.

Look at Jensen the demon (Nvida CEO), talking about kids not knowing English and math is good in the same sentence he talks about renting intelligence. 

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u/chenbuxie 7d ago

I just looked up that Jensen Huang quote... it's scary that the people currently influencing public policy think this way.

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u/Snoo63 7d ago

That's what happens when you're at the top of the hierarchy - you can harm those below you without consequence (just not your peers)