Human Intelligence and Medical Illness - Assessing the Flynn Effect

As critics will note, psychometric tests are deeply flawed. Person-to-person differences in performance on a psychometric test are not informative about many things of great interest. An intelligence quotient (IQ) cannot characterize creativity or w- dom or artistic ability or other forms of specialized knowledge. An IQ test is simply an effort to assess an aptitude for success in the modern world, and individual scores do a mediocre job of predicting individual successes. In the early days of psychology, tests of intelligence were cobbled together with little thought as to validity; instead, the socially powerful sought to validate their power and the prominent to rationalize their success. In recent years, we have ob- ated many of the objections to IQ that were so forcefully noted by Stephen Jay Gould in The Mismeasure of Man. Nevertheless, IQ tests are still flawed and those flaws are hereby acknowledged in principle. Yet, in the analysis that follows, individual IQ test scores are not used; rather, average IQ scores are employed. In many cases - though not all - an average IQ is calculated from a truly enormous sample of people. The most common circ- stance for such large-scale IQ testing is an effort to systematically sample all men of a certain age, to assess their suitability for service in the military. Yet, it is useful and prudent to retain some degree of skepticism about the ability of IQ tests to measure individual aptitudes.

List of contents

Are People Getting Smarter?.- Human IQ and Increasing Intelligence.- Evolution and Increasing Intelligence.- Brain Development and Increasing Intelligence.- Environment and Increasing Intelligence.- Evidence of Physical Plasticity in Humans.- Evidence of Mental Plasticity in Humans.- Evidence of Cognitive Plasticity in Humans.- Impact of Medical Conditions on Human IQ in the United States.- Impact of Medical Conditions on Human IQ Worldwide.- Medical Interventions for Cognitive Impairment.- Increasing IQ in the United States.- Increasing IQ and Social Justice.

About the author

R. Grant Steen has written 5 books and 70 research articles, mostly about the human brain in health and disease. He has been a professor of psychiatry, pediatrics, biomedical engineering, and radiology (brain imaging), and he worked for 20 years in clinical research at various medical schools and hospitals. He earned a Doctorate in Biology from UCLA, held a National Research Service Award at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and he has been a faculty member at the University of Washington, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the University of Tennessee, and the University of North Carolina. Dr. Steen now consults and writes about the brain full-time.

Summary

As critics will note, psychometric tests are deeply flawed. Person-to-person differences in performance on a psychometric test are not informative about many things of great interest. An intelligence quotient (IQ) cannot characterize creativity or w- dom or artistic ability or other forms of specialized knowledge. An IQ test is simply an effort to assess an aptitude for success in the modern world, and individual scores do a mediocre job of predicting individual successes. In the early days of psychology, tests of intelligence were cobbled together with little thought as to validity; instead, the socially powerful sought to validate their power and the prominent to rationalize their success. In recent years, we have ob- ated many of the objections to IQ that were so forcefully noted by Stephen Jay Gould in The Mismeasure of Man. Nevertheless, IQ tests are still flawed and those flaws are hereby acknowledged in principle. Yet, in the analysis that follows, individual IQ test scores are not used; rather, average IQ scores are employed. In many cases – though not all – an average IQ is calculated from a truly enormous sample of people. The most common circ- stance for such large-scale IQ testing is an effort to systematically sample all men of a certain age, to assess their suitability for service in the military. Yet, it is useful and prudent to retain some degree of skepticism about the ability of IQ tests to measure individual aptitudes.

Additional text

From the reviews:

“The 218-page volume is divided into 13 chapters on topics … in human intelligence. … Human Intelligence and Medical Illness should be commended for taking an evidence-based approach to the topic of intelligence … . The book is concise, timely, and generally well written. … Overall, Human Intelligence and Medical Illness is a thought-provoking book that is well worth reading. If you are interested in how to improve human intelligence, then this book is for you.” (Richard E. Mayer, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 55 (4), January, 2010)

“This book explores the nature of IQ testing, changes that have occurred, and conditions that can impact it. … to provide readers with comprehensive information about intelligence testing, trends, and current literature. … Clinical and school psychologists would find this book interesting, but others working in developmental fields also would find it of use. … This is a superficial review of the intellectual issues presented.” (Christopher J. Graver, Doody’s Review Service, April, 2010)

Report

From the reviews: "The 218-page volume is divided into 13 chapters on topics ... in human intelligence. ... Human Intelligence and Medical Illness should be commended for taking an evidence-based approach to the topic of intelligence ... . The book is concise, timely, and generally well written. ... Overall, Human Intelligence and Medical Illness is a thought-provoking book that is well worth reading. If you are interested in how to improve human intelligence, then this book is for you." (Richard E. Mayer, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 55 (4), January, 2010) "This book explores the nature of IQ testing, changes that have occurred, and conditions that can impact it. ... to provide readers with comprehensive information about intelligence testing, trends, and current literature. ... Clinical and school psychologists would find this book interesting, but others working in developmental fields also would find it of use. ... This is a superficial review of the intellectual issues presented." (Christopher J. Graver, Doody's Review Service, April, 2010)

Product details

• Authors: R Grant Steen, R. Grant Steen
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 18.11.2010
• EAN: 9781441981332
• ISBN: 978-1-4419-8133-2
• No. of pages: 218
• Weight: 356 g
• Illustrations: XII, 218 p.
• Series: The Springer Series on Human Exceptionality; The Springer Series on Human Exceptionality
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Theoretical psychology; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > General