Kevin's Watch

The following abstract is from a paper was just published on this issue of Science magazine:

Science Magazine wrote: Explaining the Relation Between Birth Order and Intelligence
Petter Kristensen and Tor Bjerkedal

Negative associations between birth order and intelligence level have been found in numerous studies. The explanation for this relation is not clear, and several hypotheses have been suggested. One family of hypotheses suggests that the relation is due to more-favorable family interaction and stimulation of low-birth-order children, whereas others claim that the effect is caused by prenatal gestational factors. We show that intelligence quotient (IQ) score levels among nearly 250,000 military conscripts were dependent on social rank in the family and not on birth order as such, providing support for a family interaction explanation.

I'm not sure if this can be accessed without subscription, but in any case, here's also a comment on the paper:

www.sciencemag.org.ubproxy.ub.uni-heide ... /5832/1711

Basically, the authors say that according to their study, older siblings have higher IQs than younger siblings - the first-born is more intelligent than the second-born, the second-born is more intelligent than the third-born, and so on. But also, this difference seems to depend not on absolute birth order, but rather on the way children are raised: if the first-born dies young, and the second-born is raised as the older brother, he will be as intelligent as the first-born would have been.
It's a fascinating paper... and vindication for all older siblings

I don't know about that. Each of my kids are very bright. Alex and Calli both have had thier IQ tested and they rate about the same. Although, I do think Calli may be the smartest of all of my kids and she is the middle child. She does a great dumb blonde act and manages to find ways to get people around her to do things for her. hehe Alex never shuts up so everyone knows how smart she is and Nick... well, he is da MAN! He is reading quite well, writes fairly well and is a wiz at math. His latest girlfriend count is 19... and he is 6!! He also knows just what to say to a lady and respects his women. If that doesn't show a high IQ for a guy, I don't know what does. lol

Oh, yeah... also I am the youngest of 3 and the only girl and I have the highest IQ out of my siblings.

SoulQuest1970 wrote:I don't know about that. Each of my kids are very bright. Alex and Calli both have had thier IQ tested and they rate about the same. Although, I do think Calli may be the smartest of all of my kids and she is the middle child. She does a great dumb blonde act and manages to find ways to get people around her to do things for her. hehe Alex never shuts up so everyone knows how smart she is and Nick... well, he is da MAN! He is reading quite well, writes fairly well and is a wiz at math. His latest girlfriend count is 19... and he is 6!! He also knows just what to say to a lady and respects his women. If that doesn't show a high IQ for a guy, I don't know what does. lol

According to the authors, it's not an enormous difference - there are about 3 IQ points of difference between the averages of the first-born and the third-born in their calculations, and about 1 point in the averages between the first-born and the second-born; obviously we talk about averages here, so situations may vary. Still, it is very interesting, I think - especially because apparently it depends on the way the children are raised.

Does a neglectful mother count? I eldest brother pretty much raised me. I don't know what his IQ is, but I am sure it is around mine. Our brother in the middle his IQ is 50 points lower than mine. He also has epilepsy, schizoaffective disorder, ADD, Dyslexia and Disgraphia.

I love birth order stuff.
My family usually fits it pretty well.

I'm the youngest out of 5 so I'm the most spoiled but also the most creative!

(Not sure if your post matched what I've read in the past Xar)

SoulQuest1970 wrote:Does a neglectful mother count? I eldest brother pretty much raised me. I don't know what his IQ is, but I am sure it is around mine. Our brother in the middle his IQ is 50 points lower than mine. He also has epilepsy, schizoaffective disorder, ADD, Dyslexia and Disgraphia.

I haven't read the whole article yet, but I assume these things could also be affected by differences in parenting. Keep in mind that these results are offered as averages - particularly nurturing or disinterested families, children with particular conditions and so on are not "the norm" in this kind of studies (or in any kind of scientific study which isn't aimed at them specifically, to be honest)...

Uh... is this article in English anywhere? I am really interested in reading it. Or maybe you can email it to me translated? I am always facinated by stuff like this.

Does that mean I'm the smartest and the dumbest?


I'm an only child.

Xar wrote:I'm not sure if this can be accessed without subscription,

Check out the URL. It goes via your university library proxy server!

You are not the youngest in the litter by any chance are you?

(Sorry Xar. I couldn't let that one slide. )

Phantasm wrote:Does that mean I'm the smartest and the dumbest?

No. It means you can be unskilled and unaware. Like me. I'm an only child too

Well, I am the younger sibling and I measure 25 IQ points above my older sister.

I tend to view IQ points as somewhat irrelevant. A person can have a very high IQ, but do nothing with it. A person with an average IQ may end up being an incredible person... like a scientist, etc. The problem with this is EQ (emotion). For instance my ex and I have the same IQ... well his was 2 points higher. We had our EQ tested (by the lovely state of Iowa) because we were on assistance because... well, because his EQ is low. Anyway... I scored about 6 points or so under the highest score and he scored low average. See it is what you do with your IQ that matters.

Also, I have proof that parenthood sucks out brain cells. I took an IQ test about 5 years ago and scored 24 points lower. Granted Nick was under a year, nursing and kicking the keyboard while I was taking it, Alex was asking every why question known to man and Calli started the whine. Hmmm...

SoulQuest1970 wrote:I tend to view IQ points as somewhat irrelevant. A person can have a very high IQ, but do nothing with it. A person with an average IQ may end up being an incredible person... like a scientist, etc. The problem with this is EQ (emotion). For instance my ex and I have the same IQ... well his was 2 points higher. We had our EQ tested (by the lovely state of Iowa) because we were on assistance because... well, because his EQ is low. Anyway... I scored about 6 points or so under the highest score and he scored low average. See it is what you do with your IQ that matters.

ITA here.

I am the older of two sisters. On the various IQ tests we have both taken, I have consistently scored about 20 points higher than Sue-Ellen. Yet, she is the one with the multiple degrees in computer science who travels the world programing steel mill machinary, and I am the one who devotes her energy to advocating for her son (and spending time devoted to the Pantheon)...