The Flynn Effect: Are Our Children Becoming Less Intelligent?

Written by Rebecca Dare

The Flynn Effect: Are We Becoming Less Intelligent?

We have more information at our fingertips than any generation before us. So why are some measures of cognitive ability declining?

For much of the 20th century, researchers observed a remarkable phenomenon: average IQ test scores were rising by approximately 3 points per decade. This became known as the Flynn Effect, named after researcher James Flynn.

But in recent decades, researchers have identified a troubling reversal in some countries. The gains have slowed, stopped, or even begun moving backward.

What Are the Numbers Telling Us?

A 2023 study involving nearly 400,000 American adults found declining scores in verbal reasoning, mathematical reasoning, and certain problem-solving abilities between 2006 and 2018. Interestingly, spatial reasoning improved.

More recent research involving nearly 580,000 Norwegian men, published in 2026, provides further evidence of declining cognitive test performance across successive generations.

This does not necessarily mean that people are becoming less intelligent. It does suggest that something about our changing environment, education, or habits may be affecting how we develop and use our cognitive abilities.

Why Should We Care?

Imagine a society where people have unlimited access to information but increasingly struggle to evaluate it, question it, or distinguish evidence from opinion.

What happens to our ability to solve complex problems, recognize manipulation, make informed decisions, or challenge poor leadership?

A society that loses its capacity for independent thought becomes increasingly vulnerable to misinformation, manipulation, and poor decision-making.

These are potential risks worth considering, not outcomes the Flynn Effect research has established.

Can We Reverse the Trend?

Researchers have not established a single cause or proven solution. But there are practical steps we can take to strengthen the thinking habits of our young people.

  • Encourage deep reading. Go beyond headlines, summaries, and short videos.

  • Teach critical thinking. Ask children to explain why they believe something, not simply what they believe.

  • Make room for problem-solving. Resist the urge to provide every answer or rescue them from every difficulty.

  • Promote meaningful conversations. Encourage debate, curiosity, respectful disagreement, and intellectual honesty.

  • Use technology intentionally. Let digital tools support learning rather than replace the effort of thinking.

  • Value learning over memorization. Help young people understand, analyze, and apply what they learn.

A Thought for Parents

Perhaps the most important question is not whether our children are becoming less intelligent, but whether we are providing the environment and opportunities they need to develop their full intellectual potential.

We cannot control every influence shaping the next generation. But we can be intentional about cultivating curiosity, resilience, sound judgment, and independent thinking.

Our children do not simply need more information. They need the skills to know what to do with it.

References

Rebecca Dare https://www.rebeccadare.com
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