Scientists have proposed several explanations for the Flynn effect some suggest that the improved test scores simply reflect an increased exposure to tests in general. Because we take so many tests we learn test taking techniques that help us perform better on any teste Others have pointed to better nutrition since it results in babies being born larger, healthier, and with more brain development than in the past another possible explanation is a change in educational styles, with teachers encouraging children learn by discovering things for themselves rather than just memorizing information this could prepare people to do the kind of problem solving that intelligence tests require
Flynn limited the possible explanations when he looked carefully at the test data and discovered that the improvement in scores was only on certain parts of the IQ test, test; takers didn't do better on the arithmetic on vocabulary sections of the test they did better on sections that required a special kind of reasoning and problem solving For example one part of the test shows a set of abstract shapes, and test takers must look for patterns and connections between them and decide which shape should be added to the set
According to Flynn this visual intelligence improves as the amount of technology in our lives increases. Every time you play a computer game or figure out how to program a new cell phone, you are exercising exactly the kind of thinking and problem solving that helps you do well on one kind of intelligence test. So are you really smarter than your parents? In one very specific way, you may be