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New York - The Above-Average I.Q. For Jews |
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Asian-Americans are renowned - or notorious - for ruining grade curves in schools across the land, and as a result they constitute about 20 percent of students at Harvard College.
As for Jews, they have received about one-third of all Nobel Prizes in science received by Americans. One survey found that a quarter of Jewish adults in the United States have earned a graduate degree, compared with 6 percent of the population as a whole.
West Indian blacks, those like Colin Powell whose roots are in the Caribbean, are one-third more likely to graduate from college than African-Americans as a whole, and their median household income is almost one-third higher.
These three groups may help debunk the myth of success as a simple product of intrinsic intellect, for they represent three different races and histories. In the debate over nature and nurture, they suggest the importance of improved nurture - which, from a public policy perspective, means a focus on education. Their success may also offer some lessons for you, me, our children - and for the broader effort to chip away at poverty in this country.
Richard Nisbett cites each of these groups in his superb recent book, "Intelligence and How to Get It." Dr. Nisbett, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, argues that what we think of as intelligence is quite malleable and owes little or nothing to genetics.
"I think the evidence is very good that there is no genetic contribution to the black-white difference on I.Q.," he said, adding that there also seems to be no genetic difference in intelligence between whites and Asians. As for Jews, some not-very-rigorous studies have found modestly above-average I.Q. for Ashkenazi Jews, though not for Sephardic Jews. Dr. Nisbett is somewhat skeptical, noting that these results emerge from samples that may not be representative.
In any case, he says, the evidence is overwhelming that what is distinctive about these three groups is not innate advantage but rather a tendency to get the most out of the firepower they have.
One large study followed a group of Chinese-Americans who initially did slightly worse on the verbal portion of I.Q. tests than other Americans and the same on math portions. But beginning in grade school, the Chinese outperformed their peers, apparently because they worked harder.
The Chinese-Americans were only half as likely as other children to repeat a grade in school, and by high school they were doing much better than European-Americans with the same I.Q.
As adults, 55 percent of the Chinese-American sample entered high-status occupations, compared with one-third of whites. To succeed in a profession or as managers, whites needed an average I.Q. of about 100, while Chinese-Americans needed an I.Q. of just 93. In short, Chinese-Americans managed to achieve more than whites who on paper had the same intellect.
A common thread among these three groups may be an emphasis on diligence or education, perhaps linked in part to an immigrant drive. Jews and Chinese have a particularly strong tradition of respect for scholarship, with Jews said to have achieved complete adult male literacy - the better to read the Talmud - some 1,700 years before any other group.
The parallel force in China was Confucianism and its reverence for education. You can still sometimes see in rural China the remains of a monument to a villager who triumphed in the imperial exams. In contrast, if an American town has someone who earns a Ph.D., the impulse is not to build a monument but to pass a hat.
Among West Indians, the crucial factors for success seem twofold: the classic diligence and hard work associated with immigrants, and intact families. The upshot is higher family incomes and fathers more involved in child-rearing.
What's the policy lesson from these three success stories?
It's that the most decisive weapons in the war on poverty aren't transfer payments but education, education, education. For at-risk households, that starts with social workers making visits to encourage such basic practices as talking to children. One study found that a child of professionals (disproportionately white) has heard about 30 million words spoken by age 3; a black child raised on welfare has heard only 10 million words, leaving that child at a disadvantage in school.
The next step is intensive early childhood programs, followed by improved elementary and high schools, and programs to defray college costs.
Perhaps the larger lesson is a very empowering one: success depends less on intellectual endowment than on perseverance and drive. As Professor Nisbett puts it, "Intelligence and academic achievement are very much under people's control."
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Read Comments (25) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 06, 2009 at 10:23 PM Moshe Says:
Why the jweish iq? Its in the Torah.
עם חכם ונבון...
2
Jun 06, 2009 at 10:16 PM Joel Says:
Good voch! West Indian blacks??? Asians and Jews are old news old story,that they are smarthest and the brightest in the bussiness world,but West Indian blacks?this is news!!without being a racist Jew, i do see many very intelligent succesful black's,in every field i come across, it can possibly have to do with the discipline of the person,and his values!
3
Jun 06, 2009 at 10:30 PM Anonymous Says:
If there is a will there is a way.
4
Jun 06, 2009 at 11:01 PM Anonymous Says:
What is the average IQ for a Jew?
5
Jun 06, 2009 at 10:37 PM Sephardic Jew Says:
That's news! The first time we see that even the nytimes is racist. NO!!! The sephardic Jews are any time as smart as the EUropeans!!
6
Jun 06, 2009 at 11:10 PM Anonymous Says:
Where can I taste my IQ? I think it's high.
7
Jun 06, 2009 at 11:05 PM Milhouse Says:
West Indian blacks do better than USA ones, but this person's main thesis, that intelligence is the product of upbringing and not genetics, is nonsense. The overwhelming cause of the difference in intelligence between different populations is genetics. Jews average one standard deviation higher than American whites; and blacks average one standard deviation lower, and no change in environment will erase that difference. East Asians' average IQ is 110, a bit lower than Jews' but much higher than whites; again, while a small amount of that may be environmental, the bulk of it is genetic, and there's no getting around that.
8
Jun 06, 2009 at 11:30 PM FREUD Says:
“ West Indian blacks do better than USA ones, but this person's main thesis, that intelligence is the product of upbringing and not genetics, is nonsense. The overwhelming cause of the difference in intelligence between different populations is genetics. Jews average one standard deviation higher than American whites; and blacks average one standard deviation lower, and no change in environment will erase that difference. East Asians' average IQ is 110, a bit lower than Jews' but much higher than whites; again, while a small amount of that may be environmental, the bulk of it is genetic, and there's no getting around that. ”
No offense but your completely ignorant. While you use fancy cocepts such as ''standard deviation'' studies do suggest that intelengance can be nurtured through brain placticity and DNA mutation. The argument of nature VS nurture comes into play in this case and it is an argument that is plentiful. Until you have extensive amounts of research you should keep your opinions to yourself
9
Jun 06, 2009 at 11:25 PM Anonymous Says:
“ West Indian blacks do better than USA ones, but this person's main thesis, that intelligence is the product of upbringing and not genetics, is nonsense. The overwhelming cause of the difference in intelligence between different populations is genetics. Jews average one standard deviation higher than American whites; and blacks average one standard deviation lower, and no change in environment will erase that difference. East Asians' average IQ is 110, a bit lower than Jews' but much higher than whites; again, while a small amount of that may be environmental, the bulk of it is genetic, and there's no getting around that. ”
#1 what is your evidence that it's genetics? #2 it makes sense that the reason is will power. And the Jews have the highest will power, because we are trained to have by the toirah; and because we were in exile and we survived only with effort and will power. Milhous! Common sense.
10
Jun 07, 2009 at 12:37 AM Anonymous Says:
Asians do better because they are expected to test well and are trained from a very young age to study very hard.
11
Jun 07, 2009 at 12:09 AM The Litvak Yid Says:
Millhouse makes some good points... I dont believe its obvious certain people are born with gifts and others arent. Physically it is clear people arent all born equal so why would we think that intellect is any different? I for one dont believe we all start at the same level. Yes there are some studies suggesting that genes is the dominate factor for why we excel above other groups but we are afraid to suggest such things because of the horrible anti-semitism we have faced in the past and not to mention the fact that the Nazis attempted the same type of eugenics. Never the less here is an interesting NYT times article on the subject of Ashkenazi genes and intelligence http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/science/03gene.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=efcc603583e17b54&ex=1275451200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Its a very interesting article which suggests the diseases which are prevalent in our community also provide us with an edge in intelligence. A double edge sword if you would... Regardless is this is true or not I still believe certain social environmental factors play an important role in development and definitely success. For instance a TORAH LIFE with good morals and strong family support and most of all the blessings of HKBH.
12
Jun 07, 2009 at 12:40 AM Gefilte Fish Says:
“ Where can I taste my IQ? I think it's high. ”
I don't know, but let me know how it tastes...
13
Jun 07, 2009 at 04:01 AM Mazel Says:
Loy lachachumem lachem.
14
Jun 07, 2009 at 03:10 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Where can I taste my IQ? I think it's high. ”
apply to M.E.N.S.A. They used to do a pre test and if you did well enough on that you were invited in for a battery of other tests. Last I heard they dumbed down their standards to get members. Used to have to be in the 98th percentile minimum when I did it and now it's only 97th. They couldn't get enough people hitting 98th.
15
Jun 07, 2009 at 03:07 AM Anonymous Says:
the quote is that Ashkenazi Jews have "modestly" above average i.q.'s while trying to imply that we Sephardim are merely average or less. LOL. Well this Sephardia was a member of MENSA's 1% club. That's 99th percentile to you "average" types. My I.Q. is somewhere in the 154-160 range putting me in the top 1% of the population. I never graduated college despite having doctor parents. Academics just isn't my forte and I dont' care. I have friends who are PhD's who can't think their way out of a paper bag.
I'm really sick of this racist stupidity. There are different types of intelligences and we have the creative/realistic type generally while Ashkenazim generally have the intellectual/abstract type. I'll give you an example.
I have two dental students working on me at Hadassah, both women. The 5th year student is Persian. She is making a crown and the process is very complex as she had to make a temporary one herself before sending impressions to the lab for the finals. I watch what she's doing and her dexterity and eye for detail is fantastic. The crown is perfect and her technique to fit it is flawless.
The 6th year student, is considered a "super student" from an academic point of view but she's not going to be finished with my bridge when the school clinic year finishes in a couple of weeks.because of her ineptitude in the technical department. B"H the professors are there to rectifiy any mistakes and I will have a good bridge. This young lady has dropped every piece of prosthetic material she handles, a few times almost down my throat, and she completely lost something she had spent some time on, delaying her further.
B"H again this student wants to work on kids where she won't be responsible for this sort of work. Seriously, who would you want doing your prosthetic teeth? The brilliant academician or the woman who has the manual skill for the work even if she struggles more with the academics? Actually, this young woman is very smart. She is far more capable with her book learning than the bocher is with her technical skill.
These are the differences between Ashkenazim and Sephardim and to apply any sort of superiority to either is distasteful and has no place among Jews. If I need a shrink, I'll find an Ashkenazi. If I want my teeth worked on or an operation, I'll go Sephardi.
Different types of intelligence for different applications.
16
Jun 07, 2009 at 03:02 AM me Says:
I used to like to travel to Canada. With the old exchange rate my IQ was 210 in Canada.
17
Jun 07, 2009 at 08:31 AM shmilu Says:
#15 i agree but not tottally you cannot generalize there are many ashkenazim who are very good with their hands and many sefardim who are kultzes it all comes down to how as growing up you spent youre time where you a handy person or studies europens were more studies since there was more to learn in science and other things
18
Jun 07, 2009 at 11:04 AM Anonymous Says:
“ #15 i agree but not tottally you cannot generalize there are many ashkenazim who are very good with their hands and many sefardim who are kultzes it all comes down to how as growing up you spent youre time where you a handy person or studies europens were more studies since there was more to learn in science and other things ”
yes I did generalize and you added an important point but I think that until recently that was how the two groups divided; Ashkenazim studying and Sephardim applying themselves to practical work. The Ashkenazi bocher, whether to be a rabbi or secular professional and hiring someone to do all the fixing around the house while he pursued more "genteel' avocations isn't totally false while my Italian, Sephardi, Doctor father could and did build all sorts of things, gardened and enjoyed artistic pursuits. I think there is something to cultural memory. I am not particularly dextrous despite my parental heritage, but I enjoy messing around with materials and getting my hands dirty far more than I do sitting quietly and reading a book.
Thanks for the input.
19
Jun 07, 2009 at 10:23 AM Gefilte Fish Says:
“ the quote is that Ashkenazi Jews have "modestly" above average i.q.'s while trying to imply that we Sephardim are merely average or less. LOL. Well this Sephardia was a member of MENSA's 1% club. That's 99th percentile to you "average" types. My I.Q. is somewhere in the 154-160 range putting me in the top 1% of the population. I never graduated college despite having doctor parents. Academics just isn't my forte and I dont' care. I have friends who are PhD's who can't think their way out of a paper bag.
I'm really sick of this racist stupidity. There are different types of intelligences and we have the creative/realistic type generally while Ashkenazim generally have the intellectual/abstract type. I'll give you an example.
I have two dental students working on me at Hadassah, both women. The 5th year student is Persian. She is making a crown and the process is very complex as she had to make a temporary one herself before sending impressions to the lab for the finals. I watch what she's doing and her dexterity and eye for detail is fantastic. The crown is perfect and her technique to fit it is flawless.
The 6th year student, is considered a "super student" from an academic point of view but she's not going to be finished with my bridge when the school clinic year finishes in a couple of weeks.because of her ineptitude in the technical department. B"H the professors are there to rectifiy any mistakes and I will have a good bridge. This young lady has dropped every piece of prosthetic material she handles, a few times almost down my throat, and she completely lost something she had spent some time on, delaying her further.
B"H again this student wants to work on kids where she won't be responsible for this sort of work. Seriously, who would you want doing your prosthetic teeth? The brilliant academician or the woman who has the manual skill for the work even if she struggles more with the academics? Actually, this young woman is very smart. She is far more capable with her book learning than the bocher is with her technical skill.
These are the differences between Ashkenazim and Sephardim and to apply any sort of superiority to either is distasteful and has no place among Jews. If I need a shrink, I'll find an Ashkenazi. If I want my teeth worked on or an operation, I'll go Sephardi.
Different types of intelligence for different applications. ”
And where did this 154-160 range get you? are you making more money than me? or more than a guy I know very well who probably has the lowest IQ in BP and is probably one of it's top 10 richest?
20
Jun 07, 2009 at 02:08 PM professional Says:
“ the quote is that Ashkenazi Jews have "modestly" above average i.q.'s while trying to imply that we Sephardim are merely average or less. LOL. Well this Sephardia was a member of MENSA's 1% club. That's 99th percentile to you "average" types. My I.Q. is somewhere in the 154-160 range putting me in the top 1% of the population. I never graduated college despite having doctor parents. Academics just isn't my forte and I dont' care. I have friends who are PhD's who can't think their way out of a paper bag.
I'm really sick of this racist stupidity. There are different types of intelligences and we have the creative/realistic type generally while Ashkenazim generally have the intellectual/abstract type. I'll give you an example.
I have two dental students working on me at Hadassah, both women. The 5th year student is Persian. She is making a crown and the process is very complex as she had to make a temporary one herself before sending impressions to the lab for the finals. I watch what she's doing and her dexterity and eye for detail is fantastic. The crown is perfect and her technique to fit it is flawless.
The 6th year student, is considered a "super student" from an academic point of view but she's not going to be finished with my bridge when the school clinic year finishes in a couple of weeks.because of her ineptitude in the technical department. B"H the professors are there to rectifiy any mistakes and I will have a good bridge. This young lady has dropped every piece of prosthetic material she handles, a few times almost down my throat, and she completely lost something she had spent some time on, delaying her further.
B"H again this student wants to work on kids where she won't be responsible for this sort of work. Seriously, who would you want doing your prosthetic teeth? The brilliant academician or the woman who has the manual skill for the work even if she struggles more with the academics? Actually, this young woman is very smart. She is far more capable with her book learning than the bocher is with her technical skill.
These are the differences between Ashkenazim and Sephardim and to apply any sort of superiority to either is distasteful and has no place among Jews. If I need a shrink, I'll find an Ashkenazi. If I want my teeth worked on or an operation, I'll go Sephardi.
Different types of intelligence for different applications. ”
So you say you have a very high IQ but refuse to study hard. That's not a complement at all. The IQ is a gift from Hashem. Its the hard work that counts. What good is having an asset if you don't use it?
21
Jun 07, 2009 at 04:33 PM MD.ATIQUL HUSSAIN Says:
It's an wonderful article.Being an Asian American (Bangladesh) I beleive as intelligences are not genetics we are able to improve our children & grand children up to the highest level through our active & positive role in future towords our next generation.
22
Jun 07, 2009 at 06:13 PM Anonymous Says:
Anyone who has gone through elementary school and remembers the dumb kids in his class knows that intelligence is not very malleable and is in large part genetic. Of course working hard helps kids, but the dumb kids in the class never understand what the rebbi or teacher is saying the first time around. It is silly and blind to argue otherwise. If you want an honest discussion of IQ, read Charles Murray.
23
Jun 07, 2009 at 08:36 PM Anonymous Says:
Al yishallal chachom bechochmaso...
24
Jun 07, 2009 at 09:39 PM facts Says:
with Jews said to have achieved complete adult male literacy - the better to read the Talmud - some 1,700 years before any other group. Rewriting history or maybe there was an earlier edition of talmud not yet published?
25
Jun 07, 2009 at 09:26 PM LOGICIAN Says:
Well the first time he logic seems to leave in the article is when he claims that since we see extra-ordinary intelligence in 3 different sectors it can't be genetic!?!
The article then appears to explained that the Asians don't score higher on IQ tests but achieve more with lower IQ. He then appears to try and say that a priory the same applies to the Jewish sector, namely that they just work harder so achieve more. To do this he dismisses all previous studies "not-very-rigorous studies". Basing himself on this declaration he feels he has proven that Jews are not inherently more intelligent?
I wonder if he truly believes that all people are born with equal intelligence and it all just depends on how hard you work? I guess that might explain why although I never studied I consistently achieved the highest marks in my grade and it just so happened that the same happened with my brother and numerous relatives of mine.
In conclusion he appears to be making unsubstantiated claims most likely based upon what he hopes is the truth.