Why are our IQ levels are higher than our grandparents?

Not only do we have more information available to us today, but I also think that a greater push for education, a more competitive society and a more open approach to the world (acceptance of new ideas, of peoples and thoughts vs. certain civil issues in the past) seem to contribute to higher IQ scores....However, are we any smarter than the previous generation, or are we simply being tested on different parameters that only apply to society today?

When did the Briggs-Myers test, the IQ test and other tests like that come up?
Anyone know?

Thanks for the video, and Rickie, you might very well be correct

Lorian wrote: When did the Briggs-Myers test, the IQ test and other tests like that come up?
Anyone know?

IQ is irreverent. All the great accomplishments throughout history didn't require or or necessitate an IQ test.

Kind of funny, well...maybe it is.

I am a college grad from a public university with a degree in Computer Information Systems.

For a few of those semesters (not all, mind you ) I was on the President's honor roll.

I work in a highly technical field that requires strong architectural knowledge of various platforms and technologies.

And let's not forget, I'm a Jedi Knight that completed his Initiate and Apprenticeship studies.

All that being said, I never have (and probably never will) take an IQ test; I'm not interested in finding out how dumb it thinks I am, haha.

Lykeios wrote:

Whyte Horse wrote: Dude, we evolve each generation. You might be surprised at the new research which shows how behaviours are passed down from parent to child through genes.Maybe the real conclusion from this study is that intelligence is the most important trait to survival.

I'm not so sure about that, dude. There is some evidence (circumstantial of course) that supports the theory that Neanderthal man was actually more intelligent than Cro-magnon man. At least he had the potential to be more intelligent.

The evolution of man and his thinking is evident if you only look at your own familys...

I looked at my grandparents and thought "how uneducated, they dont know 'X'"...

I looked at my parents and said, "How dumb, I am smarter, and know more about things than they do..."

I look at my peers and think, "My, look at what we are doing!!"

I look at my child, and think, "I am so stupid!!!"

They teach algebra in grade school... They teach about stuff I dint learn till I was in high school...

I told my son, who told me I was pretty smart, "One day, you will be amazed at how dumb I am..."

The only part I disagree on, is the history at the end... We dont really need to know histroy to become politicans... If I was to deal with Afganistan, then I would want to look up the history of course, but, for the level of politician I am right now, it is unimportant...

I wont turn this into a political debate, since this is not the point of the thread...

So, back on point...

Everything evolves and changes...

It is only (should be) expected we get smarter... Old information does not need passed down as it is old, and unuseful... The majority anyway...

As to the comment about neanderthal versus cro-magnon...

There will always be steps backward as well... The most advanced technology (beta tapes versus vhs) does not always win...

"Primitive" peoples were no less intelligent than we are. They just didn't have the same informational foundations to work from. It is a scaffold.

We "know more" because there is more to be known. Their level of creativity, thought, and invention was no less than our own.

Andy Spalding wrote: "Primitive" peoples were no less intelligent than we are. They just didn't have the same informational foundations to work from. It is a scaffold.

We "know more" because there is more to be known. Their level of creativity, thought, and invention was no less than our own.

Very true, the amount of knowledge one possesses is relevant to the culture and time period in which one resides. A different foundation of knowledge does not indicate an inferior intellect, it simply indicates one of a different key foundation.

Thanks for the post Andy.

indeed. isaac newton knew this too: 'If I have seen further it is by standing on ye sholders of Giants.'