Human Beings Are Getting Dumber, Says Study

[ethiostar]

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/11/15/...-to-be-dumber/

The reason? Life on the veldt was tough, and prehistoric humans’ genes were constantly subjected to selective pressure in an environment where the species’ survival depended on it. For humans, that meant getting smarter. ”The development of our intellectual abilities and the optimization of thousands of intelligence genes probably occurred in relatively non-verbal, dispersed groups of peoples before our ancestors emerged from Africa,” Crabtree said in a news release.


[View Full Quote] The urbanization that followed the development of agriculture simplified survival by removing some of its challenges, which likely weakened natural selection’s ability to eliminate mutations associated with deficiencies in intelligence. Crabtree estimates that over the last 3,000 years (about 120 generations), humans have sustained at least two mutations that have eroded our intellectual and emotional intelligence.

I don't get it

Too many large words.

[Cajuncowboy]

I blame the educational system. Been going down hill since the 1960s.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by ethiostar

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/11/15/...-to-be-dumber/

I don't get it

Too many large words.

Well played

[ethiostar]

Originally Posted by Cajuncowboy

I blame the educational system. Been going down hill since the 1960s.

While I agree the educations system has contributed, the author/s of the article are looking at the issue from a broader perspective.

[theogt]

and that human intelligence may have actually peaked before our hunter-gatherer predecessors left Africa.

I stopped caring about their study at this point.

[tomson75]

Originally Posted by ethiostar

While I agree the educations system has contributed, the author/s of the article are looking at the issue from a broader perspective.

Vegetarians are to blame.

[theogt]

Originally Posted by tomson75

Vegetarians are to blame.

Im pretty sure he was implying Jerry is at fault.

[tomson75]

Originally Posted by theogt

Im pretty sure he was implying Jerry is at fault.

Pretty sure that's a 4 credit course at UT.

[ethiostar]

Originally Posted by tomson75

Vegetarians are to blame.

Stupid Tofu. Not only does soy make you stupid but it also gives you boobs.

[Signals]

Internet addiction plays a role in this.

[vta]

I blame the electrolytes...

[Future]

Originally Posted by theogt

I stopped caring about their study at this point.

In terms of problem solving, intuition, and ingenuity it's certainly possible.

[arglebargle]

Hard to cite any real evidence of this though.

[arglebargle]

Originally Posted by Cajuncowboy

I blame the educational system. Been going down hill since the 1960s.

I'd agree with this, if you said the 1980's.....

[vlad]

The comments for that article are gold....everyone is blaming someone....hahaha