The collective influences the intellectual abilities of women
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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As scientists have found out, in some people the discussion of problems in the group negatively affects intellectual abilities. Women are especially vulnerable to this.
"Brainstorming" is considered an effective way of solving problems. It is generally accepted that "collective intelligence" prevails over the individual: "one head is good, but two is better", and five - it must be even better. However, not all so simple. Judging by the latest data obtained at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, group work in some people suppresses intellectual abilities. They are negatively affected by the status in the group.
As the researchers found out under the guidance of Read Montague, a group discussion of problems, whether in a jury, at a working meeting or in an informal setting at a cocktail party, can change the magnitude of IQ of some sensitive individuals. The joke about brain- pulling becomes almost true.
Montague and his colleagues investigated men and women with initially approximately the same high IQ (an average of 126, with an average national rate in the US 100). The subjects were assigned to small groups, who were given tasks to solve various problems through collective discussion. Scientists have found that a significant part of the subjects collective "brainstorming" causes a decrease in IQ in subsequent tests. In their opinion, this is influenced by social signals received from other members of the group. These signals reflect the hierarchical relationships that form in the group.
"We have uncovered the unexpectedly dramatic consequences of even hidden social signals in the group that affect the cognitive abilities of individual members of the group," said Kenneth Kishida, research participant. "By applying a scan, we confirmed that such signals cause a strong response in the brain."
As a result of the IQ assessment, immediately after the "brainstorming", five participants were selected from among all participants in two groups: one retained a high IQ or even increased it, while the other IQ fell. To understand the mechanisms, both performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain (fMRI) and compared the results. When the collective suppresses
Answers occurred in those areas of the brain that participate in problem solving, in emotional processes, in the reinforcement system, namely, in the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens. Without going into details, let's say that the nature of activation or suppression of these areas was different for those individuals who retained high IQ, and those who reduced it. In the latter, in particular, there was a high activation in the anterior cingulate cortex, which is associated with the emergence of conflict situations. This shows that in the situation of group discussion, it was uncomfortable for them. For those who retained a high IQ, activation was noted in the contiguous nucleus, which indicates a pleasure from the process.
Neither age nor ethnicity influenced the result. What can not be said about the field. Out of 13 women, only 3 were in a group that benefited from collective discussion, and 10 in such conditions reduced their intellectual abilities.
The authors discuss the results obtained. They emphasize that in the situation of group competition, which most often occurs in modern life, we lose a part of people who in such circumstances simply can not show their intellectual potential.