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'''''Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations''''' is a ] book by ] about ] in modern societies. It is part of a series on ], ] and ] edited by ]. '''''Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations''''' is a ] book by ] about ] in modern societies. It is part of a series on ], ] and ] edited by ].


==Contents== ==Synopsis==

<!-- Should be turned into a synopsis section -->
The first chapter provides a historical background for the book. The ] is reviewed, from the early writings of ] and ] through the rise of eugenics in the early ] and its subsequent collapse. Three main concerns of eugenicists are identified: deterioration in ], ] and ].
#Historical Understanding of the Problem

#Natural Selection in Preindustrial Societies
The second and third chapters concern ] in human populations. Lynn suggests that natural selection in preindustrial societies favoured traits such as intelligence and character, but that it then broke down. He uses the analogy of natural selection as a gardener, and quotes ]’s line, “Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed”.
#The Breakdown of Natural Selection

#The Genetic Deterioration of Health
Chapter four discusses genetic deterioration of health. The author argues that due to the advance of ], selection against those with poor genes for health was relaxed. With constant appearance of new ] genes, the prevalence of genetic disorders like ] is tripling every generation.<ref>Modell, B. and Kuliev, A. M. (1989) Impact of public health on human genetics. ''Clinical Genetics''. 36: 286-298.</ref>
#Intelligence and Fertility: Sibling Studies

#Intelligence and Fertility in the United States
The subject of intelligence is taken up in following chapters. The fifth examines ], and Lynn concludes that the tendency of children with a high number of ]s to be the least intelligent is evidence of dysgenic ]. Chapters six and seven concern the relationship between intelligence and fertility in the ] and ], respectively, and the author concludes that research supports the notion that fertility was higher among the less intelligent, especially in the earlier part of the 20th century.
#Intelligence and Fertility in Europe

#Resolving the Paradox of the Secular Rise of Intelligence
The next chapter confronts the ‘paradox’ of the rise in intelligence. Lynn concedes that there has been a genuine increase in ] intelligence, but argues that this is caused by environmental factors and is masking a decline in ] intelligence (see ]).
#Education and Fertility

#Socioeconomic Status and Fertility
] and fertility is discussed next, and it is surmised that those with greater educational achievement have fewer children, and that this corroborates the evidence that intelligence and fertility are negatively correlated. Continuing the theme of correlates of fertility, ] and fertility is the subject of chapter ten. Again, the relationship appears to be negative, which Lynn believes to be because there is increasingly ineffective use of ] with declining socioeconomic class. The next chapter stays with the theme of socioeconomic status, this time exploring its relationship with intelligence. Lynn agrees with ]’s comment that “he children of successful and cultivated parents test higher than children from wretched and ignorant home for the simple reason that their heredity is better”.<ref>Terman, L. M. (1922) Were we born that way? ''World's Work''. 44: 660-682, p. 671)</ref>
#Socioeconomic Status Differences in Intelligence

#Socioeconomic Status Differences in Conscientiousness
Chapters twelve through fourteen introduce the topic of ], the twelfth examining its relationship with socioeconomic status. In this chapter evidence is presented that socioeconomic status is negatively correlated with indicators of conscientiousness such as ], ] and ]. Next the ] basis of differences in conscientiousness is discussed, and Lynn concludes that ] provide evidence of a high ] for the trait. Chapter 14 returns to fertility, and again the conclusion is that the less conscientious, such as criminals, are having more offspring.
#The Genetic Basis of Socioeconomic Status Differences in Conscientiousness

#Dysgenic Fertility for Conscientiousness
The penultimate chapter concerns whether similar trends are occurring in ]. Although evidence for such a trend is less strong, Lynn concludes that “dysgenic fertility is a worldwide phenomenon of modern populations” (p. 196).
#Dysgenic Fertility in Economically Developing Nations

#Counterarguments and Rejoinders
The sixteenth and final chapter examines counterarguments. These include that the traits discussed are not ], that intelligence and fertility can be inversely related without dysgenics, that socioeconomic classes do not differ genetically, and that there is no such thing as a ‘bad gene’. These arguments are dismissed, and Lynn asserts that these trends represent a serious problem. Finally, he expresses support for ], which is the subject of his next book.


==See also== ==See also==
*'']'' - cited in this book several times *'']'' - cited in this book several times

*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
===Other books by Lynn=== ===Other books by Lynn===
*'']'' (2002) *'']'' (2002)
*'']'' (2006) *'']'' (2006)
*'']'' (2006) *'']'' (2006)

==References==
<references />


==Reception== ==Reception==

Revision as of 02:57, 1 July 2008

It has been suggested that this article be merged into Richard Lynn. (Discuss)
Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations
AuthorRichard Lynn
LanguageEnglish
SeriesHuman Evolution, Behavior and Intelligence
SubjectDysgenics
PublisherPraeger
Publication date1996
Media typeHardcover, alkaline paper
Pages237
ISBNISBN 0275949176 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character

Dysgenics: Genetic Deterioration in Modern Populations is a 1996 book by Richard Lynn about dysgenics in modern societies. It is part of a series on human evolution, behavior and intelligence edited by Seymour Itzkoff.

Synopsis

The first chapter provides a historical background for the book. The history of eugenics is reviewed, from the early writings of Bénédict Morel and Francis Galton through the rise of eugenics in the early 20th century and its subsequent collapse. Three main concerns of eugenicists are identified: deterioration in health, intelligence and conscientiousness.

The second and third chapters concern natural selection in human populations. Lynn suggests that natural selection in preindustrial societies favoured traits such as intelligence and character, but that it then broke down. He uses the analogy of natural selection as a gardener, and quotes Hamlet’s line, “Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed”.

Chapter four discusses genetic deterioration of health. The author argues that due to the advance of medicine, selection against those with poor genes for health was relaxed. With constant appearance of new mutant genes, the prevalence of genetic disorders like phenylketonuria is tripling every generation.

The subject of intelligence is taken up in following chapters. The fifth examines sibling studies, and Lynn concludes that the tendency of children with a high number of siblings to be the least intelligent is evidence of dysgenic fertility. Chapters six and seven concern the relationship between intelligence and fertility in the United States and Europe, respectively, and the author concludes that research supports the notion that fertility was higher among the less intelligent, especially in the earlier part of the 20th century.

The next chapter confronts the ‘paradox’ of the rise in intelligence. Lynn concedes that there has been a genuine increase in phenotypic intelligence, but argues that this is caused by environmental factors and is masking a decline in genotypic intelligence (see Flynn effect).

Education and fertility is discussed next, and it is surmised that those with greater educational achievement have fewer children, and that this corroborates the evidence that intelligence and fertility are negatively correlated. Continuing the theme of correlates of fertility, socioeconomic status and fertility is the subject of chapter ten. Again, the relationship appears to be negative, which Lynn believes to be because there is increasingly ineffective use of contraception with declining socioeconomic class. The next chapter stays with the theme of socioeconomic status, this time exploring its relationship with intelligence. Lynn agrees with Lewis Terman’s comment that “he children of successful and cultivated parents test higher than children from wretched and ignorant home for the simple reason that their heredity is better”.

Chapters twelve through fourteen introduce the topic of conscientiousness, the twelfth examining its relationship with socioeconomic status. In this chapter evidence is presented that socioeconomic status is negatively correlated with indicators of conscientiousness such as work ethic, moral values and crime. Next the genetic basis of differences in conscientiousness is discussed, and Lynn concludes that twin studies provide evidence of a high heritability for the trait. Chapter 14 returns to fertility, and again the conclusion is that the less conscientious, such as criminals, are having more offspring.

The penultimate chapter concerns whether similar trends are occurring in developing countries. Although evidence for such a trend is less strong, Lynn concludes that “dysgenic fertility is a worldwide phenomenon of modern populations” (p. 196).

The sixteenth and final chapter examines counterarguments. These include that the traits discussed are not genetically determined, that intelligence and fertility can be inversely related without dysgenics, that socioeconomic classes do not differ genetically, and that there is no such thing as a ‘bad gene’. These arguments are dismissed, and Lynn asserts that these trends represent a serious problem. Finally, he expresses support for eugenics, which is the subject of his next book.

See also

Other books by Lynn

References

  1. Modell, B. and Kuliev, A. M. (1989) Impact of public health on human genetics. Clinical Genetics. 36: 286-298.
  2. Terman, L. M. (1922) Were we born that way? World's Work. 44: 660-682, p. 671)

Reception

Reviews in academic journals

Magazines and newspapers


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