BBC News : First-borns have higher IQ scores
I am glad people spend time doing this kind of research. There is still so much we do not understand about the human mind. The next step here will be to determine which of these factors is more determinant for IQ. I believe it is partly because of the mother's antibodies, and partly because of the more undivided attention.
In the same line, other research have found that men have higher IQ's than women in average.
This is most likely caused by male hormones, which have for effect to specialise the brain for more logic and rational tasks. However, it does not mean that men are more intelligent than women overall, as female hormones have other advantages, especially regarding communication and EQ.
I looked at the comments at the bottom of the article, and the first person says :
I personally dislike that kind of reaction, because it is a fact that academic achievements require hard work and commitment, not high IQ. A higher IQ might help. But it's just like being predisposed for sports. If one doesn't practice, natural talent comes to nothing.
On the other hand, anybody with a slightly above average IQ can achieve very well at school or at work with the right motivation.
In fact, other studies have shown that people with exceptionally high IQ tend to perform less well academically, because they tend to get bored too quickly during lessons and they are less sensitive to rewards (what's so great to be praised by someone less intelligent than you, huh ?).
The child raised as the eldest in a family is likely to have a higher IQ than his or her siblings, work reveals.
A Norwegian team found first born children and those who had lost elder siblings and had hence become the eldest, scored higher on intelligence.
The link, reported in Science, was found by looking at more than 250,000 male Norwegian conscripts.
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Supporters of the theory argue the eldest child gets more undivided attention from their parents from an early age.
Others claim differences occur in the womb before birth because with each subsequent pregnancy the mother produces higher levels of antibodies that may attack the foetal brain.
While others claim the relationship between birth order and intelligence is false, being biased by family size - historically, couples with lower IQs have tended to have more children than couples with higher IQs.
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"In addition, the tendency for first-borns to occupy the niche of a surrogate parent, and to take on the role of the conscientious, self-disciplined and mature sibling may also explain why first-borns have higher IQs," he said.
I am glad people spend time doing this kind of research. There is still so much we do not understand about the human mind. The next step here will be to determine which of these factors is more determinant for IQ. I believe it is partly because of the mother's antibodies, and partly because of the more undivided attention.
In the same line, other research have found that men have higher IQ's than women in average.
BBC said:Dr Irwing, a senior lecturer in organisational psychology at Manchester University, told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four the study showed that, up to the age of 14, there was no difference between the IQs of boys and girls.
"But beyond that age and into adulthood there is a difference of five points, which is small but it can have important implications," he said.
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There were twice as many men with IQ scores of 125, for example, a level said to correspond with people getting first-class degrees.
At scores of 155, associated with genius, there were 5.5 men for every woman.
This is most likely caused by male hormones, which have for effect to specialise the brain for more logic and rational tasks. However, it does not mean that men are more intelligent than women overall, as female hormones have other advantages, especially regarding communication and EQ.
I looked at the comments at the bottom of the article, and the first person says :
BBC comments said:My reaction, coming from a family with a tradition of women who achieve very highly in maths and sciences, is weary disgust.
I personally dislike that kind of reaction, because it is a fact that academic achievements require hard work and commitment, not high IQ. A higher IQ might help. But it's just like being predisposed for sports. If one doesn't practice, natural talent comes to nothing.
On the other hand, anybody with a slightly above average IQ can achieve very well at school or at work with the right motivation.
In fact, other studies have shown that people with exceptionally high IQ tend to perform less well academically, because they tend to get bored too quickly during lessons and they are less sensitive to rewards (what's so great to be praised by someone less intelligent than you, huh ?).