Is the world getting dumber? That’s what the latest scientific data seems to hint at! A study conducted in 2023 showed that instead of increasing — as was the case during the first half of the 20th century — the global IQ has been on the decline since the 1980s. But what could explain this drastic drop?
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
A decline over 45 years
For many years now, scientists have been looking into the issue of IQ and its decline. A meta-analysis published in 2023 and reported by Futura showed that it has dropped by 1.8 points every ten years since 1986, while it was increasing by 2.4 points every ten years between 1948 and 1985. These results are based on a study of 300,000 people in 72 countries, between 1948 and 2020. As early as 2018, Norwegian economists were already trying to understand the reasons why young people have about 86% less purchasing power than their grandparents.
a significant difference between generations if genetic factors weren't the main cause.
The new habits in question
Four main theories have come to light. Notably, there is the simplification of school programs and a decrease in reading time, as well as the increase in endocrine disruptors in our daily lives and diets. Social media has also been pointed out: the overconsumption of short and quick formats forces the brain to constantly switch information without ever settling on just one. Lastly, the growing reliance on artificial intelligence means less memorization and mental effort. With the brain being less challenged, these different elements combined can help explain the decline in global IQ.It is especially recommended to moderate screen time and to give yourself some reading time each day.
See this post on Instagram