Differences in Intelligence

Intelligence tests, as they are now constructed, tend to show differences among various ethnic, racial, and social class groups. Lower class children in all racial and ethnic groups test 10 to 15 points lower than those of middle class status (322-323). Even when studies are limited to a particular racial group, those subjects from middle class backgrounds tend to test with a higher IQ score.

Research shows that Asian American persons generally outscore Americans in math and science, and Japanese persons who reside in Japan score higher than both Americans and Britishers. Lynn argues that the higher IQs of Asian students are, in part, genetically determined. Others believe that the higher achievement levels of Asian American children are due to attitudes in the home, school, and culture at large. Some research suggests that Asian children and Asian-American children do particularly well on IQ tests because Asian Americans place great value on education. As a group, they have been discriminated against in careers that do not require an advanced education, so their culture highly values education and everything that brings success in the area of education (323).

Some psychologists, notably Robert L. Williams and Leon Camin to complain that intelligence tests have been used as an instrument of oppression (324). Many efforts have been made to construct tests which are not biased-

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nt of the American Psychological Association in 1914 influenced many American psychologists to underrate the concept of consciousness. However, others argue that consciousness does exist. It has been said to refer to sensory awareness of the environment. The idea of selective attention refers to the ability of people to decide what to focus on in reference to the wide array of sensory stimuli in the world. One can attend to a flower, a friend's voice, or the word on the page, using personal consciousness to process that particular stimulus (159). Consciousness also may refer to aspects of inner awareness. One can be concerned with motivations and feelings that precipitate decisions regarding life and living. Sigmund Freud developed a sophisticated schema for thinking about levels of consciousness. He viewed persons as divided into three basic areas of consciousness--the conscious level, the preconscious level, and the unconscious level. The unconscious level hides information regarding fears, irrational wishes, violence and unacceptable sexual desires, shames and immoral wishes. People who find themselves doing things for unknown reasons could look to these Freudian theories for possible answers. Others think of conscio
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Approximate Word count = 1435
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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