In recent years, reports have revealed a concerning trend in the United States -- Americans are getting less intelligent. The latest study from 2015 reveals an average IQ score that has remained relatively unchanged since the late 1970s. This raises troubling questions about the future of the nation and indeed speaks to a potentially disheartening cultural decay.
IQ scores are used to measure intellectual abilities across different cognitive tasks like problem-solving and abstract reasoning. They correlate highly with income level, educational attainment and professions where higher mental acuity is critical for success. With this in mind, the findings of the recent research paper are particularly worrisome.
But what could be the root cause of this steady decline in IQ scores? For starters, our current education system is plagued by problems like socioeconomic inequality and a lack of adequate funding. There is also a persisting shortage of resources such as teachers, qualified people to staff classrooms or even simple supplies like textbooks. These issues have consequences that we are only now beginning to see reflected in decreasing intelligence scores.
At the same time, we cannot ignore the effect of technology on our society and culture. From the earliest days of its development – when computers began to be introduced into households and schools – technology has had a profound effect on how we think and learn. We now rely on computers to do virtually everything – from setting a timer or taking down notes to working out complex numerical problems. it has arguably robbed us of some of our mental faculties as we become increasingly disconnected from our natural way of thinking and learning.
We must ask ourselves, what does this mean for America's future? On the one hand, education systems can certainly help reverse this alarming trend – but only if deep-rooted issues are addressed in meaningful ways. Governments need to put in place more equitable policies that enable everyone to systematically improve their academic skills. Simultaneously, citizens will have to find ways to incorporate technology responsibly and thoughtfully into their lives.
Perhaps this will all prove futile though. When looking at the big picture, one wonders whether America has already reached its end – are current IQ scores signalling a kind of slow death? As is to be expected, no one can predict with absolute certainty what the future holds - yet one thing is clear. If American culture continues to deviate from its core values and pursue further on its decreasing trajectory, our descendants may find themselves struggling in a world fraught with uncertainty and lacking intellectual vibrancy.
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