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Maybe but it certainly is linked to epic levels of smugness and superiority complexes on the part of the parents and healthcare system. At least here in the UK.

by cssmoo 12y ago

Maybe but it certainly is linked to epic levels of smugness and superiority complexes on the part of the parents and healthcare system. At least here in the UK. My oldest is quite intelligent. We've had "I bet she was breast fed" more times than I can count. The reply is "no, it's a combination of genetics and nurture"...

learc83 12y ago
Even the most generous estimates are that breastfeeding adds a few IQ points. Definitely not noticeable for an individual. However, at the population level, which is what the healthcare system is dealing with, that's a huge deal. Imagine if the average IQ of the entire population were shifted up by several points.
- trhway 12y ago
  >Imagine if the average IQ of the entire population were shifted up by several points. this is exactly what China has done during recent decades through the one child policy. And i'd say it starts to show.
- danieltillett 12y ago
  Isn’t this the effect of removing lead from the environment? People with high IQ’s don’t see the value of a few more IQ points (marginal utility), but when you have an IQ of around 80 then every point makes a huge difference.
- dagw 12y ago
  Imagine if the average IQ of the entire population were shifted up by several points. I guess it depends on the starting point. I imagine that shifting the average from 85->90 would have a much bigger effect than shifting from 105->110. Most studies seem to show a pretty sharp diminishing returns when correlating IQ points to just about any measure of 'success'.
brogrammer90 12y ago
Now imagine those "genetics and nurture" AND breast feeding..
- cssmoo 12y ago
  I think you misunderstand the difference between causality and correlation. The nurture is where the causality chain starts.
coldtea 12y ago
>Maybe but it certainly is linked to epic levels of smugness and superiority complexes on the part of the parents and healthcare system. At least here in the UK. Not sure the UK has a "smugness and superiority complex" problem. It sure has a "let's not allow anybody be different/at a higher level" problem though. Everybody is labelled "smug", "pretentious git" etc. I mean, complaining about people breast-feeding being smug?
- cssmoo 12y ago
  Well that's a meta argument if their ever was one and a good point. Let me summarise at a more abstract level; people are eager to differentiate from others because to be honest we're pretty boring and uninterestif, myself included. They do this by clinging onto all sorts of irrational non-scientific beliefs. Some of these become almost ritualistic'(squirting breast milk on a child's head rather than using dentinox to cure cradle cap). Then these beliefs turn into packs and factions primarily for maintaining supposed differentials and rituals. Other people don't care (like myself) but are somewhat vexed at the suggestion our time needs to be wasted on such things at every available opportunity. This is a bad human trait that manifests itself in many ways.

by cssmoo 12y ago

learc83 12y ago

Even the most generous estimates are that breastfeeding adds a few IQ points. Definitely not noticeable for an individual. However, at the population level, which is what the healthcare system is dealing with, that's a huge deal. Imagine if the average IQ of the entire population were shifted up by several points.

trhway 12y ago
>Imagine if the average IQ of the entire population were shifted up by several points. this is exactly what China has done during recent decades through the one child policy. And i'd say it starts to show.
danieltillett 12y ago
Isn’t this the effect of removing lead from the environment? People with high IQ’s don’t see the value of a few more IQ points (marginal utility), but when you have an IQ of around 80 then every point makes a huge difference.
dagw 12y ago
Imagine if the average IQ of the entire population were shifted up by several points. I guess it depends on the starting point. I imagine that shifting the average from 85->90 would have a much bigger effect than shifting from 105->110. Most studies seem to show a pretty sharp diminishing returns when correlating IQ points to just about any measure of 'success'.

brogrammer90 12y ago

Now imagine those "genetics and nurture" AND breast feeding..

cssmoo 12y ago
I think you misunderstand the difference between causality and correlation. The nurture is where the causality chain starts.

coldtea 12y ago

>Maybe but it certainly is linked to epic levels of smugness and superiority complexes on the part of the parents and healthcare system. At least here in the UK. Not sure the UK has a "smugness and superiority complex" problem. It sure has a "let's not allow anybody be different/at a higher level" problem though. Everybody is labelled "smug", "pretentious git" etc. I mean, complaining about people breast-feeding being smug?

cssmoo 12y ago
Well that's a meta argument if their ever was one and a good point. Let me summarise at a more abstract level; people are eager to differentiate from others because to be honest we're pretty boring and uninterestif, myself included. They do this by clinging onto all sorts of irrational non-scientific beliefs. Some of these become almost ritualistic'(squirting breast milk on a child's head rather than using dentinox to cure cradle cap). Then these beliefs turn into packs and factions primarily for maintaining supposed differentials and rituals. Other people don't care (like myself) but are somewhat vexed at the suggestion our time needs to be wasted on such things at every available opportunity. This is a bad human trait that manifests itself in many ways.