Which statement best describes the Flynn Effect?

Which statement best describes the Flynn Effect?

• A. IQ scores have declined over decades
• B. IQ scores have risen across decades, likely due to environmental changes
• C. There is no trend
• D. It only affects verbal IQ

Answer: (B)

The Flynn Effect describes a pattern where average IQ scores increase from one generation to the next over many decades. This rise is thought to result from environmental changes—improved nutrition, education, more cognitively stimulating environments, greater test familiarity, and broader access to learning—rather than changes in genetics. Because these gains show up across a range of subtests, not only verbal tasks, the phenomenon isn’t limited to verbal IQ. So the best description is that IQ scores have risen across decades, likely due to environmental changes.

The Flynn Effect describes a pattern where average IQ scores increase from one generation to the next over many decades. This rise is thought to result from environmental changes—improved nutrition, education, more cognitively stimulating environments, greater test familiarity, and broader access to learning—rather than changes in genetics. Because these gains show up across a range of subtests, not only verbal tasks, the phenomenon isn’t limited to verbal IQ. So the best description is that IQ scores have risen across decades, likely due to environmental changes.