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Counting is not Measuring: Comment on Richard Lynn’s Developmental Theory of Sex Differences in Intelligence
Roberto Colom
Published: 2017/09/01
Abstract
Lynn’s developmental theory of sex differences in intelligence provides one tentative explanation for the observed small male advantage in average IQ scores. Relying on indirect evidence, Lynn suggests that because a) brain size is positively associated with intelligence, and b) men have a larger brain size than women, c) men should have higher average IQ scores than women. However, straightforward evidence obtained using neuroimaging approaches shows that men’s larger brains might be devoted to highly demanding visuospatial processing required by tasks on which they excel. Men’s greater cortical values are not related to the general factor of intelligence (g). This advantage is translated into group abilities and specific skills.
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