Is Economic/Social Class Related to IQ?

[barbaro]

Here's an article about a recent study conducted. I don't know much about this topic, but I did read a book called "The Bell Curve" in 1995. Generally speaking, and I use the term "general" loosely, I think this may be the case for a certain percentage of people IN THE UNITED STATES, where I'm from. I cannot comment on other nations, which may or may not have old money, or different concepts of economic/social class.

Student union rejects academic's IQ claims


· Paper suggests class is key to academic ability
· Findings dismissed as wrong and irresponsible

Polly Curtis, education editor
Thursday May 22, 2008
The Guardian

Elite universities are failing to recruit working-class students because IQ is, on average, determined by social class, according to an academic.

Bruce Charlton, a reader in evolutionary psychiatry at Newcastle University, claims that the greater proportion of students from higher social classes at highly selective universities is not a sign of admissions prejudice but rather the result of simple meritocracy.


Student union leaders responded angrily to his claim, which was also dismissed by a minister.

Charlton's paper, reported today in Times Higher Education, says: "The UK government has spent a great deal of time and effort in asserting that universities, especially Oxford and Cambridge, are unfairly excluding people from low social-class backgrounds and privileging those from higher social classes.

"Evidence to support the allegation of systematic unfairness has never been presented. Nevertheless, the accusation has been used to fuel a populist 'class war' agenda. Yet in all this debate a simple and vital fact has been missed: higher social classes have a significantly higher average IQ than lower social classes."

Entire & Link: Student union rejects academic's IQ claims | Students | EducationGuardian.co.uk

[Texpat]

It's amazing how well children learn when they don't have to worry about living in a car, getting beaten up at lunchtime, holes in their shoes or their grumbling stomach.

I say yes, they are related. Take a smart kid and expose him to some of the pressures of a low-income low-social class world and watch his performance/IQ decline.

Having said that, it's not the university's responsibility to try and level the playing field by accepting inferior students. The responsibility lies with parents, communities and local governments to fix their primary schools and themselves. If they can't, families who value education will move away (never move in) and the world continues to spin.

No matter how hard anyone tries, we're not all equal and we never will be.

[astasinim]

Holy shit . Something I can agree with Tex on.
It comes down to the "Nature V Nurture" argument. A kid born into a single parent family, on a local sink estate full of dole dosers, stands far less chance of succeeding in life, than a child who has been brought up with both parents on the scene, who work for a living.

"Give me the boy until he is seven, and I will give you the man".

Ok theres always exceptions to rule I know.

[good2bhappy]

well i don't know.
However " Only the children of the f'ing rich tend to be good looking"

[Northern Scum]

Kids round here don't want to be doctors or lawyers, they only want to know how they can get a BMW like Big Ron & his gang.

Those posh kids wouldn't last a day at the local comprehensives without having some sort of mental breakdown. Give them ten years of it & watch them disintergrate into nothing. They may have qualifications coming out of their arse, but they don't have an ounce of common sense or a survival instinct between the lot of them.

Prince Harry is as thick as pigshit & my IQ is in the top 5% of the country.

Who would be judged more 'intelligent' by the port-swilling, fox-hunting brigade & admitted to Oxford university?

This is a class war, nothing else.

[Texpat]

^ Are you suggesting there's no opportunity for lower economic/social class kids to be accepted into Oxford or Cambridge because of who they are and not what they know?

[stroller]

my IQ is in the top 5% of the country.

Don't insult the great country you hail from.

Who would be judged more 'intelligent' by the port-swilling, fox-hunting brigade & admitted to Oxford university?

This is an interesting question. Just like in the US, it is not just IQ and the test results which are a criterium for admission, but a number of other factors play a part, whether stated as such or not. In the UK language, for example, still represents a class divide.

It is a misconception that only academic achievement counts.
Affirmative action is a policy which aims to address this and tip the balance.

[Northern Scum]

^ Are you suggesting there's no opportunity for lower economic/social class kids to be accepted into Oxford or Cambridge because of who they are and not what they know?

They may take in the odd one now & again, but yes, if a candidate from a local comprehensive, with exactly the same merits as a kid from Eton are both going for the same place, I know who my money's on to get in.

I may not be educated, but I am intelligent.

[good2bhappy]

Oxford and Cambridge have recently dropped their requirment for a pass in English langauge as a requisite for entry.
may I just say. How have the mighty fallen!

[Texpat]

Perhaps Urdu, Bangla or Hindi might be considered to improve the quality of students.

[Marmite the Dog]

In the UK language, for example, still represents a class divide.

Have to disagree there. I have never (knowingly) been discriminated against because of my accent or general language skills. I also know of plenty of people who attended Oxbridge.

I will admit that there may be a few isolated institutions who still insist on 'the Queen's English', but they're almost extinct now.

[stroller]

Well, it shows how long ago I used to live in the UK...

I did not realise the chavs have taken over the place.

Anyway, which university in Oxford or Cambridge did you graduate from, Marmite?

[Northern Scum]

Whereabouts did you live, Stroll?

[stroller]

Leeds, London, Barnsley, Calder Valley.

[Marmite the Dog]

I also know of plenty of people who attended Oxbridge.

Anyway, which university in Oxford or Cambridge did you graduate in, Marmite?

Having difficulty reading today?

[astasinim]

My perception is that, the "Haves" get a greater start in life, such as daddy`s connections etc, compared with their counterparts, the "have nots". However I have seen people who have been gifted with everything on a plate, turn into complete dossers, due to their bone idle attitude.
A very close friend of mine was brought up in a council house with no carpets, had average grades at school, yet is a millionaire. How? Worked bloody hard in his chosen profession, realised he could do better than his employer and set out on his own. Part of his success is down to luck, but also knowing his limits and making the best of what he`s got.

[stroller]

Having difficulty reading today?

I have never (knowingly) been discriminated against because of my accent or general language skills.

You did go to university and graduated, right?

[astasinim]

In the UK language, for example, still represents a class divide.

Have to disagree there. I have never (knowingly) been discriminated against because of my accent.

I have on numerous occasions. Ive found I have to refine my accent whilst at work, although you can still tell where im from.

[stroller]

Ay up.

[astasinim]

Nah then.

[Marmite the Dog]

You did go to university and graduated, right?

Sorry, I didn't know you had to go to uni & graduate to have friends who went to Oxbridge or be discriminated against because of your accent.

Twat.

[Bluecat]

IQ is partly genetics but to a much lesser extent than "nurture".
And nurture does not automatically mean social class.
The more you take care of a child, the smarter he'll probably become.
And it is not always the "high" social class, whatever it means, that take care the best of their children.
Very often the reverse actually...

[Boon Mee]

^
Agree. Good example is Condi Rice/Michelle Obama. Condi was raised to expand her mind by doing a lot of reading, learning the classic piano etc. while Obama's old lady was raised to feel sorry for herself and the Negro community.

Two different nurturing events with the expected results...

[stroller]

Confusing political views with IQ and learning here, Boon Mee.

Your parents obviously did not nurture you well enough to develop distinguishing thought and reasoning.

[BugginOut]

I agree with BoonMee. One is raised believing "whitey's keeping me down" and the other understands that "whitey's the meal ticket." 80% of the population doesn't want to listen about how you never got yo' 40 acres and a mule.

You'd have to live in the ghetto to understand how hard it is to get out.