Exploring the Impact of IQ and Environment on Success

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This chapter delves into the correlation between IQ and success, such as higher income, better health, and social behavior. It also discusses the influence of environmental factors on intelligence, highlighting the potential for disadvantaged children to excel in enriched environments. The debate around the malleability of IQ, growth mindset, and the role of genetics in intelligence outcomes are also explored.

In “Psych: The Story of the Human Mind,” Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, lays out, in his words, “basically everything I know about the mind.” And when he says “everything,” he means it. Where does consciousness come from? Does IQ matter? What makes us happy? Was Sigmund Freud a madman? The answers to these questions (and more) are all in Paul’s book — and in this episode.

An edited version of Rufus’s interview with Paul first aired in April 2023. Today, we’re bringing you their entire conversation.

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