8 things you didn't know are making you dumber

[Hum]

It'd be nice to think that IQ is not a big determining factor for how successful and happy we are in life.

But not so, several studies will say.

One study by the University of Delaware found that contrary to popular belief, the higher your IQ, the more likely you are socially smart.

Another study, this time Swedish, has drawn a link between lower IQ scores and suicidal feelings, hypothesising that lower IQs mean poorer problem solving abilities, and thus a diminished ability in dealing with stress in difficult situations.

And while genetics make up an estimated 40 to 80 per cent of a person's IQ, there are a number of factors that determine how smart you are, or how dumb you get.

Most people would readily agree that getting a knock to the head would knock some points off their IQ as well, but what if you were told that your daily junk food habit is not only making you fat, it's making you stupid?

And that those people who spend hours and hours holding long, pointless meetings are not only lacking in EQ, they are probably lacking in IQ as well?

Here are some of the reasons why some people are dumber than they should be:

Long meetings not only waste your time, they are a brain drain

His study found that people perform less well on IQ tests directly after spending time in small social groups than they did when they were alone.

Being around the fairer sex

In 2009, a study demonstrated that after a short interaction with an attractive woman, men displayed poorer performance in mental tasks. The more beautiful the woman, the stronger the effect.

Jetlag gives you permanent brain damage

A study conducted to investigate the effect of flying on Indian male and female flight attendants (FAs) found that a whopping 67.47 per cent of FAs who fly more than 10 years suffer from memory loss.

The paper, published in 2007, found that stress, loss of memory and headaches appeared to share the same etiology such as hypoxia (the deprivation of adequate oxygen supply to body parts), jetlag and irregular sleep.

Getting spanked by your mom

Mothers beware: Sparing the rod may spoil the child, but spank your children and you risk giving them long-term developmental damage.

Being fat makes you mentally slow

A study has found that children three years old and younger who stuff themselves with foods high in fats, sugars and processed foods grow up to have a lower IQ, while those who eat a healthy diet end up as smarter adults.

Living in a bustling city

Researchers from the University of Michigan found that just being in an urban environment can impair our basic mental processes.

After spending just a few minutes in a crowded city street, your memory capabilities are affected and the mind suffers from a drop in self-control.

Are you the older or younger sibling ?

Several studies have found that firstborn children score higher on IQ tests than their younger siblings - a fact backed-up by history, where most Nobel Prize winners and US presidents are firstborns.

Breastfeeding can increase a child's IQ by 3 to 8 points

In a 2011 study from the UK, kids who were breastfed as babies had higher scores on tests of vocabulary and reasoning at age five than those who weren't breastfed.

"There are essential fatty acids in breast milk which are good for cell development and brain development in particular," said Amanda Sacker, one of the authors of the new study from the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex.

According to research done by the University of New Hampshire, children who are spanked have lower IQs worldwide.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that mothers exclusively breast feed their babies for the first six months of their lives, and continue to do so until at least two years of age.

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[remixedcat]

being around attractive people--->if anything it would make one feel better

city--->hell no.... lots of dumb rednecks out in the sticks

firstborn--->my oldest bro is a dumbass

[Hum]

Since I don't hang around the 'fairer sex', I should be a genius. :D

[Noir Angel]

I hope I didn't brain my damage :o

[Growled Member]

I feel dumber just reading that.

[PNWDweller]

I am the youngest and I am smarter because my Sister had done all the bad things and I learned from them. :D So...in one way that I am smarter.

I know Long meetings make me sleepy so I can almost say that is true. Give me a 20 min Meeting and I am good. Any longer, and I am about dead by the time it is done and would not even be able to tell my name. j/k

[moloko]

Real meetings are not a bore. they are a wealth of information sharing. It the fact that management makes stupid meetings is the problem.

getting spanked make you developed bad? this for generations ALL before us? Give me a break.

[jnelsoninjax]

I do not see "Post and/or read meaningless status updates on Facebook" seeing as more and more 'idiots' are boasting about getting away with crimes on Facebook.

[rfirth]

city--->hell no.... lots of dumb rednecks out in the sticks

I'd say that they aren't dumb... they are ignorant. Difference? You can't fix stupid.

[Duffydemon]

I disagree with the elder younger part, because i am smarter than my elder brother, be it study or society.

[+Xinok Subscriber²]

Living in a bustling city

Researchers from the University of Michigan found that just being in an urban environment can impair our basic mental processes.

After spending just a few minutes in a crowded city street, your memory capabilities are affected and the mind suffers from a drop in self-control.

There's a lot to be mindful of in a city. Unless you want to wander in front of a bus, you best not be lost in thought.

[Anibal P]

I'm the oldest and my Sister is the dummy, my middle Son is the smart one, the other two, oldest and youngest are at the normal range

[Hum]

There's a lot to be mindful of in a city. Unless you want to wander in front of a bus, you best not be lost in thought.

That's just it -- if you need to be thinking a lot about your safety and survival, you don't have much time to pursue more enlightening thoughts. ;)