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Sex Differences in Intelligence: Developmental Origin Yes, Jensen Effect No

Gerhard Meisenberg

10.46469/mq.2017.58.1.8

Published: 2017/09/01

Abstract

Richard Lynn’s developmental theory of sex differences in intelligence is evaluated using the administration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery in the NLSY79. Score increases between age 15 and age 23 are found to be greater in males than in females, supporting an essential element of the theory. On the other hand, neither the sex differences themselves nor their developmental changes are related in any consistent way to the g loadings of the subtests. Therefore sex differences should not be conceptualized as differences in “general” intelligence (g).

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