Richard Lynn

Richard Lynn ( born 1930 ) is a retired British professor of psychology at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland.

Work

Lynn is one of the 52 signatories of the essay Mainstream Science on Intelligence by Linda Gottfredson and published in December 1994 by the Wall Street Journal.

In the published in the journal Population and Environment in 2002 article " Skin color and intelligence in African Americans " claims Lynn, that the brightness of the skin color of African Americans is positively correlated with intelligence quotient. He attributes this to the higher incorporation of " Circassian genetic material ".

In IQ and the Wealth of Nations (2002) argue Lynn and Tatu Vanhanen his co-author from the University of Helsinki, there exists a correlation between the per capita Gross Domestic Product of States and the IQs of its inhabitants. These differences in intelligence are among others genetic. In IQ and Global Inequality (2006 ) carry out the line of argument further by comparing the social inequality with the alleged intelligence quotient of the nations surveyed.

In his book, Race Differences in Intelligence: An Evolutionary Analysis (2006) Lynn determined IQ of peoples around the world. As smartest Lynn looks at the Jews, which he regarded as a separate breed. He claims further that the East Asians 100 and the inhabitants of Africa have an average IQ of about 105 Europeans, sub-Saharan of 80 and less. That is owing to the higher selection pressure in the more difficult to inhabit northern latitudes that promotes the emergence of smarter peoples together. He brings the achievements of the people in mathematics, science and the economy with the average intelligence of its members in connection.

Criticism

Lynn's work on ethnic differences in intelligence are very controversial. This was the conclusion Ken Richardson 2004 in journal Heredity from the Nature Publishing in a review of IQ and the Wealth of Nations, it was stated that this work is less about science than a social crusade ( "this is not so much science, then, as a social crusade " ). There are circular arguments drawn and numerous other methodological errors have been made, such as the use of a statistically representative database - as a study with only 48 10 was, for example, in the calculation of the IQ value for Equatorial Guinea - to 14- year-old children used as a single data base. In addition, the book had supported financially, noticed in the past through the involvement in numerous " dubious cases " the Pioneer Foundation, either. The Pioneer Foundation, whose board Lynn is active are also accused by many other critics of racist publications.

Methodological errors and misinterpretations were Lynn criticized because of this work also, among others, Leon J. fireplace.

The monographs Dysgenics ... or Eugenics ...

In his books Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations (1996) and Eugenics: A Reassessment Lynn explained that the spread in the second half of the 20th century condemnation of eugenics is covered. In Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations Lynn examines the history of eugenics of the early writings of Bénédict Morel and Francis Galton to the rise of eugenics in the early 20th century and its subsequent decline. He makes three main concerns of eugenicists: Deterioration of health, intelligence and conscientiousness. Lynn explains that natural selection in pre-industrial societies that intelligence and character traits promoted, which in modern societies no longer the case.

In terms of intelligence examines Lynn twin studies. Lynn concludes that the tendency of children to have a high number of siblings the slightest intelligence, evidence of dysgenic fertility. Lynn admits that while there has been a genuine increase in the phenotypic intelligence, but argues that this increase is due to environmental factors ( eg better education), and covered a decrease in genotypic intelligence. Lynn refers to scientific evidence showing that individuals with greater educational achievement have fewer children, while children with lower IQ values ​​come from larger families as proof that intelligence and fertility are negatively correlated.

Lynn cites evidence that socioeconomic status with indicators of conscientiousness, such as work ethic, moral values ​​, and crime is negatively correlated. Next, he explains the genetic basis of differences in conscientiousness and Lynn concludes that twin studies provide evidence for a strong heritability of these traits. The less conscientious ones, such as criminals, tend to have more offspring. While the bulk of the book deals with the Dysgenik in developed countries, recognizes Lynn that although the Dysgenik be in developing countries less pronounced, " dysgenic Fertalität ... a world-wide phenomenon of modern populations " was. (P. 196).

Lynn concludes his book with an examination of counter-arguments from: These include, among others, that the treated in the book character traits are not genetically determined that intelligence and fertility may be associated without Dysgenik together that socioeconomic strata would not genetically different, and that there is such a thing as " bad genes " did not exist. These arguments are refuted, and Lynn explains that these trends constitute a serious problem.

Reception of these texts

In his review writes W. D. Hamilton; a Professor of the Royal Society of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Oxford that Lynn " while [ he ] a large amount of scientific evidence, discusses who still accumulate on the subject of heredity of abilities and differences in fertility, shows in his book that almost all of the concerns of the early eugenicists were well founded, despite the comparative lack of research evidence at the time. "

A further review of Dysgenics was founded in 2002 by Nicholas Mackintosh; Emeritus Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Cambridge, written. Mackintosh judges that Lynn " argues with a casual disregard for political correctness that the ideas of the eugenicists were correct and we ignore them at our own peril. " He distances himself from Lynn's argument and concluded that Lynn's arguments " not based on a biological imperative, but on certain value judgments " ("The eugenicists ' argument does not rest on any biological imperative, but rather on a Particular set of value judgments are " ). Overall Mackintosh questions the scientific neutrality Lynn. ( " Lynn's Further comments on mortality rates are not designed to reassure the reader of his impartiality as to interpreter of the data he reviews ").

Received much praise Eugenics of the American Psychological Association Review of Books ( Lykken 2004). These designated " Dysgenics " as " an excellent, scholarly book ... " and noted that "one can contradict him in a reasonable manner at any point, if you can find an argument that he has not refuted itself. "

Writings

• (1982). IQ in Japan and the United States shows a growing disparity. Nature, 297, 222-3.
• (1990). The role of nutrition in secular Increases of intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 11, 273-285
• (1996). Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations. Westport: Praeger Publishers.
• (1998). The Decline of genotypic intelligence. In: U.Neisser (ed. ), The rising curve. Washington, D.C. American Psychological Association, 335-364
• (2001). Eugenics: A Reassessment. Praeger Publishers, ISBN 0275958221
• (2002) IQ and the Wealth of Nations. Praeger Publishers, ISBN 027597510X
• (2003) The geography of intelligence. In H. Nyborg (Ed. ), The scientific study of general intelligence. Pergamon. ISBN 0080437931
• (2006) Race Differences in Intelligence: An Evolutionary Analysis. Washington: Washington Summit Publishers. ISBN 159368021X
• (2006). IQ and Global Inequality. Washington: Washington Summit Publishers. ISBN 1593680252