The evolution of general intelligence

Among Richard Lynn’s numerous significant contributions to science is his cold winters theory of the evolution of general intelligence. The cold winters of Eurasia presented novel adaptive problems for our ancestors to solve, such as obtaining food by hunting large animals and keeping warm by building clothing, shelter and fire, and they functioned as strong selection pressures for higher intelligence. Empirical analyses support both Lynn’s cold winters theory and my evolutionary novelty theory of the evolution of general intelligence. Mean annual temperature and the degree of evolutionary novelty in the environment independently predict the average intelligence of the population. Both theories can also account for the observed race difference in intelligence.

► Cold winters and evolutionary novelty can explain evolution of general intelligence.
► An earlier empirical test supports both theories.
► Both theories can account for national differences in intelligence.