Older siblings are smarter than younger ones

An investigation carried out at the University of Oslo and the Tor Bjerkedal in Norway has concluded that there is a relationship between the IQ and the order in the birth of the siblings of the same family nucleus, and it has been observed that older siblings are more smart, on average, than younger siblings.

Older, smarter brothers?

The study, which was published in the journal Science, argues that the average IQ of the older siblings studied was slightly higher than that of the younger ones. The results revealed that the oldest averaged an IQ of 103'2, the second brother had an average score of 100'4, and the third fell to 99.

Does intelligence come in the genes or is it learned?

Prior to the Norwegian study, research carried out by Bernard Devlin at the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine and Psychiatry found that lGenes are only responsible for 48% of the IQ of a person, while up to 52% of it is a consequence of prenatal care, the environmental context and the education received.

The research, which studied members of the Norwegian armed forces, revealed that birth order is not the primary factor in explaining the results, since it is enough that the brother with greater intelligence has exercised the role of older brother, despite the fact that he may have been born second (or third place.

As mentioned, it should be noted that this trend is only a generality based on statistical averages, Y there may be many exceptions of younger siblings with a higher IQ than their older siblings. Intelligence is a very complex construct, and there are many factors that determine how we develop our cognitive abilities.

Intelligence: a concept in permanent controversy

Of course, if there is a concept that generates a discrepancy of opinions both in experts and in the general population, that is that of intelligence. There are different models to explain the causes and the way in which people express this quality.

The classic approach to intelligence is the one that has been used in the present study. This approach gives paramount importance to the ability of calculation and verbal reasoning, not in vain they are also more easily measurable aspects, and hence the results are standardized on a scale in which the average is the value 100.

On the other hand, other models propose ora vision of more holistic intelligence, also emphasizing aspects that cannot be easily measured: intelligence intra and interpersonal, bodily, musical...

It may interest you: "The theory of multiple intelligences"

Not everything is genetic

Other studies on intelligence in siblings suggest that there is a decisive factor in explaining this higher intelligence in older siblings, and that is that the responsibility of tutoring their younger siblings can pay off in the quality of their cognition, thus improving your IQ.

In any case, this study only supposes an approximation to this interesting question, and it will be necessary to continue investigating.