The social and scientific temporal correlates of genotypic intelligence and the Flynn effect

Article history: Received 12 October 2011 Received in revised form 22 December 2011 Accepted 23 December 2011 Available online 17 February 2012 In this study the pattern of temporal variation in innovation rates is examined in the context of Western IQ measures in which historical genotypic gains and losses along with the Flynn effect are considered. It is found that two alternative genotypic IQ estimates based on an increase in IQ from 1455 to 1850 followed by a decrease from 1850 to the present, best fitted the historical growth and decline of innovation rates (r= .876 and .866, N=56 decades). These genotypic IQ estimates were found to be the strongest predictors of innovation rates in regression in which a common factor of GDP (PPP) per capita and Flynn effect gains along with a common factor of illiteracy and homicide rates were also included (β=.706 and .787, N=51 decades). The strongest temporal correlate of the Flynn effect was GDP (PPP) per capita (r=.930, N=51 decades). A common factor of these was used as the dependent variable in regression, in which the common factor of illiteracy/homicide rates was the strongest predictor (β=−1.251 and −1.389, N=51 decades). The genotypic IQ estimates were significant negative predictors of the Flynn effect (β=−.894 and −.978, N=51 decades). These relationships were robust to path analysis. This finding indicates that the Flynn effect, whilst associated with developmental indicators and wealth, only minimally influences innovation rates, which appear instead to be most strongly promoted or inhibited by changes in genotypic intelligence. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.