Give Intelligence Its Due, But Put it In Its Place

1. Give Intelligence Its Due, But Put it In Its Place Linda S. Gottfredson University of Delaware Newark, DE New Voices in Intelligence & Creativity Conference University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS November 3, 2009

2. Homo sapiens’ big brain Modern chimp Hominid line Modern human

3. Lots of human abilities, talents

4. But g is chief source of human cognitive diversity the “can do” g • DOMAIN GENERAL IQ≈ V Q S M Others DOMAIN SPECIFIC Phenotypic structure appears to be replicated at genetic level

5. Structure of differences in ability Which differences matter most, & where? g • DOMAIN GENERAL IQ≈ Single most powerful, pervasive V Q S M Others DOMAIN SPECIFIC

6. Structure of differences in ability Which differences matter most, & where? g • DOMAIN GENERAL IQ≈ V Q S M Others Less impact, domain specific DOMAIN SPECIFIC

7. Structure of differences in ability Which differences matter most, & where? g • DOMAIN GENERAL IQ≈ V Q S M Others Task specific DOMAIN SPECIFIC

8. g haspervasive, persistent effect on life chances Why? g is ability to “catch on,” “figure things out”—required everywhere, always! And— Premium on g keeps rising in modern world, information age Head wind Tail wind

9. Effect sizes vary systematically by life arena, task complexity Standardized academic achievement .8 Job performance—complex jobs* Years of education .6 Occupational level Job performance—middle-level jobs* .4-.5 Income .3-.4 Delinquency -.25 Job performance—simple jobs* .2 correlation with IQ g Diabetes self-care? * Correlations corrected for attenuation & restriction in range

10. Higher g always helps (on average) Achievements Can do g

11. High g never sufficient Achievements Can do Will do + e.g., conscientiousness practice

12. But g necessary—nothing can compensate for not “catching on,” etc. Achievements X X Can do Will do + e.g., conscientiousness practice

13. Need to invest in domain specific experience, however Achievements Can do Will do Have done + + Domain-specific knowledge, expertise

14. Social constraints on investment Achievements Social circumstances Can do Will do Have done + +

15. Domain-specific tilt channels the “will do” Where is “creativity”? In emergenesis? Achievements Social circumstances Can do Will do Have done + + Gm Gc Gv Gr Ga other Your “flow” Domain-specific talents, passions

16. Domain-specific tilt channels the “will do” Where is “creativity”? In emergenesis? Achievements So, give g its due, but put it in its place Social circumstances Can do Will do Have done + + Gm Gc Gv Gr Ga other Your “flow” Domain-specific talents, passions

17. Criterion problem, too Achievements ? —g predicts outcomes that are mostly— Individual Instrumental Independent Material Economic Social circumstances Can do Will do Have done + + Gm Gc Gv Gr Ga other Your “flow”

18. What makes us human?Can’t be just our smarts or achievements…

19. Non-material outcomes matter, too: E.g., social-emotional connectedness IQ doesn’t predict happiness • bb Parental love Family commitment True friendship Mutual joy Minimizing conflict

20. Final thought • Shunning & social isolation = physical death when humans evolved • Humans are acutely sensitive to social isolation • Being different, odd, “out-of-step,” unusual can isolate a person • Extremely high (or low) IQ makes one unusual • Attributes that lead to creativity (marching to own drummer) makes one unusual • So, high intelligence and creativity can pose psychic and emotional challenges • Thosechallenges are manageable if understood

21. Thank you. www.udel.edu/educ/gottfredson