Were the Victorians cleverer than us?

[Still Waters]

New research in the journal Intelligence suggests the Victorians were naturally cleverer than we are, and draws the startling conclusion that "the Victorian era was marked by an explosion of innovation and genius, per capita rates of which appear to have declined subsequently".

Psychologists have studied reaction times – apparently an indicator of intelligence – from the 1880s to the present, and discovered that they are slowing. Other factors such as health and diet mean overall intelligence is increasing, but the researchers insist our genetic IQ is in decline, a trend they attribute to clever people having fewer children than – how can this be put diplomatically? – less clever people.

http://www.guardian....than-victorians

[Kowalski]

New research in the journal Intelligence suggests the Victorians were naturally cleverer than we are, and draws the startling conclusion that "the Victorian era was marked by an explosion of innovation and genius, per capita rates of which appear to have declined subsequently".

Psychologists have studied reaction times – apparently an indicator of intelligence – from the 1880s to the present, and discovered that they are slowing. Other factors such as health and diet mean overall intelligence is increasing, but the researchers insist our genetic IQ is in decline, a trend they attribute to clever people having fewer children than – how can this be put diplomatically? – less clever people.

http://www.guardian....than-victorians

There was a very interesting documentary I watched, that's on Youtube called "The History of the Home" with Dr. Lucy Worsley. One segment was on the kitchen, and they talked about how the Victorians reused everything! Nothing went to waste. I thought that was pretty neat.

[No Censorship]

They were less distracted. Our concentration and focus lessened when we relied more on technology. That might have contributed to the diminishment of certain mental skills that were improved by our past environment. We used it at one time, but we lost it over time.

[TheTreasureGamer]

Of course the Victorians were cleverer than us. My proof? Well, if it weren't for Kim Kardashian then we wouldn't be dumber than citizens in the 1800s.