Researchers suggest Victorian-era people more intelligent than modern-day counterparts

PhyOrg ^ | 17 May 2013 | Bob Yirka

[rjbemsha]

In a new study, a European research team suggests that the average intelligence level of Victorian-era people was higher than that of modern-day people. They base their controversial assertion on reaction times (RT) to visual stimuli given as tests to people from the late 1800s to modern times—the faster the reaction time, they say, the smarter the person.

[rjbemsha]

"The Victorian era has been highly touted by historians as one of the most productive in human history—inventions, observations and highly acclaimed art and music from that time still resonate today."

"The researchers claim this [increasing reaction times] proves that people have grown 'less clever' over time. They back up their claim by suggesting they know the reason for the decline in intelligence—smarter people having fewer children, while the less smart, have more."

Standards do seem to have dropped. My father left school after the eighth grade. Must have been around 1914. One day I found some of his old 8th-grade textbooks. They were at 1950's college level, which, if dumbing-down has continued, would probably be at today's grad level. Of course, standards are not IQ.

[bigheadfred]

yeah but garbage in garbage out

[JoeProBono]

[a fool in paradise]

The practice of washing your hands seemed odd to them.

[Jonty30]

There would probably be some truth to this. Back then, people had to do things for themselves and figure it all out.

Today, everything is done for them.

The lack of stimulation is probably not good for IQ.

[txhurl]

Germ theory wasn’t discovered yet.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

There was a lot more natural selection going on then.

Nowadays the state provides for your sustenance, so all you have to do is keep breathing.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I don't know, did they let admitted foreign born Africans weasel their way into the nations highest office and disarm and harass them because of their political beliefs? Or assist their enemies to take over entire countries and finance their bomb making hobbies with $100,000 in welfare? Yep, I would say they were smarter.

"Hi! My name is Barack Obama and I'm running for Senate! I was born in Kenya but please ignore that down the line when I run for President!"

"Yessar massar Kenyan!"

[yarddog]

I read years ago that the ancient Athenians must have been extremely intelligent. Pretty amazing the number of world class thinkers from a city which never numbered more than 100,000.

[CatherineofAragon]

Is the article serious? I sincerely think many toothless peasants from the 10th century were smarter than the morons walking around today.

[Joe 6-pack]

I’m not sure if it has anything to do with humans getting smarter or dumber, or if it’s just a matter of the values placed on education and the emphasis placed on the virtue of self-improvement and striving to improve one’s own lot.

[Fzob]

Oh Pleeeeaase

controversial assertion on reaction times (RT) to visual stimuli given as tests to people from the late 1800s to modern times—the faster the reaction time, they say, the smarter the person.

Gee... peoples exposure to visual stimuli from an infant to adult are almost identical today compared to the 1800's. /S

Even if there is a basis for RT as an indicator of intelligence the baselines needs to be comparable.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I'm an old fart whose Grandfather was born in 1865. He died in 1970 at 105. When he was alive he told me everything back then was books and Napoleon, which is why when you see photographs back then, a lot of men had their hand in their jackets. Napoleon was "the man"

[Billthedrill]

Standards do seem to have dropped.

I reluctantly agree. Discipline as well. We Americans have blown public education and I don't see it recovering anytime soon.

If there is an upside it is this: I think it is easier for a young American than a young Victorian to realize what an immense fool he or she has been. That's a watershed of adulthood. Those that pass that test still have a chance.

Mind you, Victoria was Queen for a very, very long time. The technological change that her subjects experienced was as fundamental and shocking over 75 years as our own has been over perhaps half that. Don't despair, the kids are all right and will make us proud yet even if they need a communal thrashing now and then. Sounds pretty Victorian of me, doesn't it? ;-)

[Irenic]

I was thinking about this today.Welfare and such hurts, it takes us down and is destroying us.

When help is given and gained by the church or the individual, we are more connected to each other. The one gifting is more grateful for their lot and perhaps more understanding of the needy. Not as resentful as when your money is taken and doled out. The needy are more appreciative and grateful to the one giving, it’s not some magical money, it’s connected to a real person who struggles, too. There is less envy. It isn’t impersonal. Hearts connect.

With the state handing out money, the personal human connection is lost. They take more than money from us when the government taxes and doles out. We lose our humanity.

[thecodont]

There would probably be some truth to this. Back then, people had to do things for themselves and figure it all out.

Agreed. I think technology (including mass media) has dulled people considerably.

[Gay State Conservative]

First,the claim that wetbacks have lower IQs than native born Americans and now this.This will be suppressed,no doubt.

[BobL]

Well DAH!! They didn’t have video games back then.

[BobL]

“The practice of washing your hands seemed odd to them.”

The practice of getting sick by not washing your hands was also odd to them...didn’t happen.

[Nowhere Man]

Mind you, Victoria was Queen for a very, very long time. The technological change that her subjects experienced was as fundamental and shocking over 75 years as our own has been over perhaps half that. Don't despair, the kids are all right and will make us proud yet even if they need a communal thrashing now and then. Sounds pretty Victorian of me, doesn't it? ;-)

Great Hyenas, you are spot on, old chap! B-)

The technological change from 1900 to 2000 was the greatest in known history and the century before, 1800 to 1900 would be in second place. From 1900 to 2000, you had steam trains to spacecraft whereas form 1800 to 1900, you had horses and walking to the steam engine. I think in some things we have slowed down except for medical technology and a few other areas.