Are People Actually Getting Dumber? Introducing The Reverse Flynn Effect

Individuals may face increasing cognitive exhaustion as researchers identify a shift in long-term intellectual performance trends. This phenomenon, labeled the Reverse Flynn Effect, marks a departure from the sustained IQ gains observed throughout the 20th century. Investigations into this trend point to an evolutionary mismatch between human biology and modern environments as a potential driver.

ScienceBlog.com notes that a study of 730,000 Norwegian conscripts identified a decline of roughly seven points per generation starting after 1975. By comparing brothers raised within the same family, researchers ruled out genetics as the primary factor behind the downturn. Whether this reversal represents a permanent shift or a temporary adjustment remains the subject of ongoing exploration.

While sources including NDTV and ScienceAlert examine the implications of these findings, coverage does not yet specify if similar patterns are occurring globally or what specific environmental pressures are the most significant contributors to the decline.