The Human Intelligence Podcast Hidden Talents Behind Bars: How Harsh Environments Reshape Intelligence | Dr. Michael Woodley
Oct 20, 2025
Dr. Michael Woodley, an independent scholar in evolutionary analysis and behavior genetics, dives into how extreme environments, like prisons, reshape intelligence. He discusses Spearman's hypothesis and reveals surprising findings about IQ patterns in incarcerated populations. Woodley explains the role of harsh environments in activating hidden cognitive talents, emphasizes the importance of non-shared environments, and underscores the need for caution in forensic testing. His insights shed light on human adaptability and the potential for cognitive upregulation in unpredictable settings.
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What Spearman's Hypothesis Means
- Spearman's hypothesis links larger group IQ differences to tests with higher g-loadings.
- Charles Spearman observed this pattern for British social racial categories in the 1920s.
Prison Testing Produced Opposite Patterns
- Woodley analyzed rare in-situ prison testing using Wechsler-Bellevue subtests and correlated vectors.
- He found prison black-white differences loaded opposite to g and correlated with non-shared environmentality.
Harsh, Unpredictable Environments Flip Patterns
- Prison environments are highly unpredictable and activate social identities strongly.
- That unpredictability can reverse expected IQ-test loading patterns across groups.