“People Getting Dumber”? Gen Z IQ Dropping As Technology Rises

While technology has really changed how Gen Z live, work, and communicate, there are worries that our dependence on it might be hurting our brains.

With too much screen time and relying on quick information, are we giving up our cognitive skills for the sake of convenience?

The fast pace of technology’s growth alongside the possible decline in IQ raises interesting questions about the future of human intelligence. Are we actually getting smarter with technology, or are we unintentionally dulling our cognitive abilities? Well, turns out Gen Z is facing a low IQ at the moment.

Gen Z IQ Dropping: What Happened?

American IQ test scores have declined over the past 13 years. This is notable because it contrasts with the long-standing trend of rising IQ scores throughout much of the 20th century.

A new study published in the journal Intelligence by Elizabeth M. Dworak, William Revelle, and David M. Condon reports that American IQ test scores have declined, highlighting shifts in recent online samples from the SAPA Project.

The study found evidence of a reverse “Flynn effect” in a large U.S. sample of nearly 400,000 individuals tested between 2006 and 2018. This shows a decline in IQ scores across various abilities. The Flynn effect traditionally refers to the consistent rise in IQ scores of three to five points per decade throughout much of the 20th century.

What Is the “Flynn Effect”?

The Flynn effect refers to the observed phenomenon of increasing IQ scores over time. It is usually noted as a rise of about three to five points per decade. This trend was prominent throughout much of the 20th century across various countries. It suggested that environmental factors, such as improved education, nutrition, and healthcare, contribute to cognitive development.

In a 1984 study, James Flynn observed a steady increase in intelligence test scores since the early 1930s, known as the Flynn Effect. This rise in scores seemed too rapid to be explained by evolution, leading to debates about its causes, with many attributing the changes to various environmental factors.

However, it appears that a Reverse Flynn Effect is currently happening.

What Drives the Flynn Effect?

Several factors contribute to the Flynn Effect, which observes rising IQ scores over time. One significant factor is the trend of growing up with fewer siblings. Children with fewer siblings tend to have increased IQ scores, likely due to the greater support and attention they receive from parents who can focus on a smaller number of children.

Another contributing factor is better nutrition during pregnancy. Enhanced nutrition in prenatal and early postnatal stages has been linked to improved cognitive outcomes. Increased public awareness about the risks of alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy has also led to reduced usage among expectant mothers, further supporting healthier child development.

More Factors to Consider

Additionally, the evolving complexity of the world has fostered improved reasoning and problem-solving skills across generations. As our environment becomes more intricate, individuals have adapted and developed stronger cognitive abilities.

Finally, improvements in education systems have played a role. As test-taking has become more ingrained in our culture, there is a greater collective confidence in test-taking abilities, which may contribute to rising IQ scores.

How Do We Measure IQ?

IQ tests measure intelligence and can also diagnose learning disabilities, making individuals eligible for special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Social Security Disability Insurance.

Historically, IQ test results influenced capital punishment decisions in the U.S., but the 2002 Atkins v. Virginia case prohibited the death penalty for intellectually disabled individuals, eliminating IQ scores as a determining factor in life-and-death situations.

What Did the Study Find Out?

The study analyzed data from the Synthetic Aperture Personality Assessment (SAPA) Project, which includes online tests assessing 27 personality traits and various cognitive abilities. The authors used responses from 394,378 Americans, along with a smaller group of 303,540 participants who provided data on spatial reasoning ability between 2011 and 2018.

Ability scores declined in three areas: verbal reasoning (logic and vocabulary), matrix reasoning (visual problem solving and analogies), and letter and number series (computational and mathematical skills).

Scores improved in one area: 3D rotation (spatial reasoning). Additionally, composite ability scores from various data sources were lower in more recent samples of tested adults, with differences observed regardless of age, education, or gender.

Scores in spatial reasoning (3D rotation) have trended upward over the 12-year period. Dworak noted that not all domains are declining, which complicates the narrative. She emphasized the need for further investigation into these findings.

What Does This Mean?

Despite the declines in scores, senior author Elizabeth M. Dworak from Northwestern University warned against interpreting the findings as evidence that “Americans are getting less intelligent.”

Dworak explained that the differences in scores don’t necessarily indicate lower or higher mental ability; instead, they may reflect how older or newer samples perform on tests. She suggested that participants might simply be getting worse at taking these specific tests.

So, Why Does Gen Z Have a Lower IQ?

The study does not explain why IQ scores declined during this period. Dworak noted that while some areas are decreasing, others, like spatial reasoning, are increasing. This inconsistency suggests the need for further investigation into the underlying causes.

Possible explanations for the decline in IQ scores include changes in educational practices, a biased sample of respondents to the SAPA instrument, varying motivations among test takers, and differences between the SAPA and standard IQ tests. Further research is needed to explore these factors, and Dworak and her colleagues are examining a dataset with 40 years of information for a follow-up study.

How Does This Study Differ From the One 3 Years Ago?

Even back in 2021, research suggested that the Flynn effect may be reversing. Studies from Denmark, Norway, and the UK showed a decline in IQ scores. Evan Horowitz from FCLT Global stated: “People are getting dumber.”

A 2018 analysis of 730,000 IQ test results indicated that the Flynn effect peaked for those born in the mid-1970s and has since declined.

Key concerns included a lack of focus, which not only lowers intelligence but also affects our ability to handle complex tasks and make sound decisions.

Are Gen Z IQ Test Results Really That Straightforward?

The 1979 court case Larry P. v. Riles examined racial bias in intelligence tests, concluding that IQ tests were discriminatory in placing African Americans in special education classrooms. Consequently, the use of IQ tests for this purpose was banned.

IQ tests can also neglect other forms of intelligence, such as socio-emotional and interpersonal skills, leading to a narrow understanding of overall intelligence. There has been a longstanding skepticism about the validity of IQ testing, often due to concerns about bias.

What do you think? Do Gen Z really have a lower IQ?

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