Quote: "The truth, however, is that intelligence actually rises into at least middle adulthood (ages 45–60), regardless of whether it is measured as fluid or crystalized intelligence."
Then how come so many of the theoretical physicists who made fundamental discoveries in the twentieth century were so young: Heisenberg (23), Dirac (24), Pauli (24), Fermi (25), Einstein (26) and so on.
“…so that by the late eighties IQ has declined by something like 10 points relative to age 25.”
I’ve heard these type of findings for many years now. All about the same wrt IQ testing decline across age cohorts. What I’ve never seen is an explanation of just what this means in terms of observable behavioral effects. For example, is a 10 point difference in IQ the same for an individual whose adult lifetime baseline was say, 120-125, as it is in a person whose adult lifetime baseline IQ was 100-105?
For that matter, what exactly does a 10 point difference mean anywhere on the Bell curve? Group averages across time, we have many studies of high vs low, but for individuals…?
I am now at that age you speak of (70’s). My subjective evaluation of myself is that recall (mining the concrete database) is slower and fluid (putting it all together) as well. To this effect, I try to postpone many decisions until I’ve “slept on it”. This seems to work quite well as the mind seems to dwell on such unfinished tasks of the day. YMMV
Very interesting. I guess the level of education, lifestyle and what you have to draw on becomes very important. For my own part, I am 65: my policy has always been to insist I'll reach my peak in a couple of years.
After retirement, I had more time to think about that which I took for granted in my earlier years—for better or worse. It is what it is. That I detect decline simply proves I have some insight/understanding into the phenomenon of aging. Such is no longer an abstract notion.
And why not, I’ve got the perfect subject to study. 😉
Very interesting analysis of intelligence studies on individuals over time. It seems that how much individuals use their mental abilities over a lifetime would affect the results.
Meh. I'm reluctantly approaching my late 40s, and I'm stupider than I was when I was younger... I just have a vastly greater pool of failure to pattern-match against so my decisions seem smart, when they're simply seasoned by my previous dumb decisions.
"Meh. I'm reluctantly approaching my late 40s, and I'm stupider than I was when I was younger..."
I don't believe that is the case with me. When I look back over my pre-30s years, the only way I could have been stupider is if I were brain-dead. LOL. But that is more likely a case of lack
of wisdom, not stupidity.
I have an excellent memory, which can be a bad thing — you can't forget the stupid things you did when young.
Quote: "The truth, however, is that intelligence actually rises into at least middle adulthood (ages 45–60), regardless of whether it is measured as fluid or crystalized intelligence."
Then how come so many of the theoretical physicists who made fundamental discoveries in the twentieth century were so young: Heisenberg (23), Dirac (24), Pauli (24), Fermi (25), Einstein (26) and so on.
Good question.
Life got in the way, probably. Compare never-married physicists before making any conclusions.
You should direct your comment to Luke Lea; he posed the question.
Substack glitched I’m pretty sure. I clicked reply to him on desktop.
“…so that by the late eighties IQ has declined by something like 10 points relative to age 25.”
I’ve heard these type of findings for many years now. All about the same wrt IQ testing decline across age cohorts. What I’ve never seen is an explanation of just what this means in terms of observable behavioral effects. For example, is a 10 point difference in IQ the same for an individual whose adult lifetime baseline was say, 120-125, as it is in a person whose adult lifetime baseline IQ was 100-105?
For that matter, what exactly does a 10 point difference mean anywhere on the Bell curve? Group averages across time, we have many studies of high vs low, but for individuals…?
I am now at that age you speak of (70’s). My subjective evaluation of myself is that recall (mining the concrete database) is slower and fluid (putting it all together) as well. To this effect, I try to postpone many decisions until I’ve “slept on it”. This seems to work quite well as the mind seems to dwell on such unfinished tasks of the day. YMMV
Very interesting. I guess the level of education, lifestyle and what you have to draw on becomes very important. For my own part, I am 65: my policy has always been to insist I'll reach my peak in a couple of years.
After retirement, I had more time to think about that which I took for granted in my earlier years—for better or worse. It is what it is. That I detect decline simply proves I have some insight/understanding into the phenomenon of aging. Such is no longer an abstract notion.
And why not, I’ve got the perfect subject to study. 😉
Great questions.
Very interesting analysis of intelligence studies on individuals over time. It seems that how much individuals use their mental abilities over a lifetime would affect the results.
Meh. I'm reluctantly approaching my late 40s, and I'm stupider than I was when I was younger... I just have a vastly greater pool of failure to pattern-match against so my decisions seem smart, when they're simply seasoned by my previous dumb decisions.
"Meh. I'm reluctantly approaching my late 40s, and I'm stupider than I was when I was younger..."
I don't believe that is the case with me. When I look back over my pre-30s years, the only way I could have been stupider is if I were brain-dead. LOL. But that is more likely a case of lack
of wisdom, not stupidity.
I have an excellent memory, which can be a bad thing — you can't forget the stupid things you did when young.
I relate.