Reverse Flynn Effect
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
During most of the 20th century, human IQ consistently rose (the Flynn Effect), but starting in the mid-1990s, data from some developed countries (e.g., Norway, Denmark) showed that IQ began to stagnate or even decline. Possible causes include environmental factors, educational models, or the influence of digital media. Scaffolding role: Progress is not inevitable. We are accustomed to a linear view of progress where each generation is smarter than the last, but cognitive abilities can regress. In an era of digital 'outsourcing' of the brain, maintaining the training intensity of the biological brain becomes crucial for the survival of the species.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
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Progress is not inevitable. We are accustomed to a linear view of progress where each generation is smarter than the last, but cognitive abilities can regress. In an era of digital 'outsourcing' of the brain, maintaining the training intensity of the biological brain becomes crucial for the survival of the species.
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The Reverse Flynn Effect refers to the slowdown or even decline in IQ gains in some developed countries in recent decades (especially in crystallized intelligence or certain subtests), suggesting that environmental factors have hit a ceiling or that new variables (e.g., education duration, health) are reversing the trend.
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- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysgenicsverified
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