An IQ test was given to all children in an orphanage. The results show that the longer children had lived?

Question

in the orphanage, the lower their IQ scores were. Does anyone have any explanations?

Answer 1

Sometimes orphans or adopted children will be less intelligent than other children their age because of a few factors.

1) With no supportive environment or place to stimulate mental growth at a young age, the development of the brain could possibly be hindered.

2) Genetically, the parents of these children probably were not of the highest intelligence themselves. If they were, they would most likely have thought about having a child before they actually conceived.

You should read Freakonomics by Levitt... Excellent book.

Answer 2

I think that the lack of real parents and institutional substitution stunt mental/emotional growth.

The child development is negatively affected by the absence of unconditional love and caring of a parent and spend lots of time in an emotional deprived state.

IQ can be raised if the ideal home with loving parents is provided later on.

Answer 3

Often, children raised in orphanages are under-stimulated. Developing brains require stimulation in order to grow and for neural pathways to develop.

Answer 4

It could conceivably be linked to depression which has been "linked" to some physical changes in the brain that could manifest as apparent decrease in IQ.

It could also be diet related. Insufficiency in certain vitamins can result in diminished efficiency in brain function, again appearing as an apparent decrease in IQ.

Answer 5

I am sure the orphanages try, but no close relationships with people who mean something to them.

Answer 6

Lack of attention and education and exposure to culture.........