November 2008 PMID 26158978

Sex Differences in Variability in General Intelligence: A New Look at the Old Question.

Wendy Johnson, Andrew Carothers, Ian J Deary

Mentions

52
Peak: 6 in May 2024
across 4 sources since Mar 2020

Extended reach

85,275
potential audience

Total likes

120

Video views

11,799

Mentions per month

Mar 2020 – Apr 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter34 posts
  • News9 articles
  • Blogs6 articles
  • YouTube3 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Overall, the discussions reflect a strong interest in the statistical details and implications of the publication, with participants referencing specific studies, challenging assumptions, and emphasizing biological versus social interpretations, which reveals a thoughtful and engaged dialogue about the topic.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the research's findings, though some question the distribution assumptions, indicating moderate agreement.

InterestHigh interest

Discussions show high curiosity about statistical nuances like distribution skewness and kurtosis, highlighting strong interest.

EngagementHigh engagement

Posts include references to additional studies, debates on biological versus social explanations, and sharing sources, demonstrating deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

While some recognize the importance of understanding variability in intelligence, the overall impact appears moderate due to ongoing debates and clarifications.

Abstract in brief

  • The idea that males are generally more variable in intelligence than females has a long history and explains why males are overrepresented at both the high and low ends of intelligence, despite similar average scores.
  • Analysis of large, representative samples shows that the distribution of intelligence is not perfectly normal, with less variability at the high end and more at the low end, and males tend to show more variability even above the average IQ.
  • The distribution of intelligence may actually be a mix of two normal distributions—one representing typical variation and another representing effects like mental retardation—and while sex differences in variability exist, they don't fully explain differences in high-level achievement.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Inquisitive Bird
@Scientific_Bird · X

@SilverVVulpes https://t.co/u2HfWENa1J https://t.co/094afOybts

May 1, 2024 · 9 likes · 1 share · 25,849 followers View post →
RE-OPEN THE SIZZLERS
@SaladBarFan · X

@EAlluia @Rabadash2 @RichardHanania @mattyglesias I just DM’d my mutual who’s an expert on this and he said the the greater male variability hypotheses has been confined and is generally accepted in the field. He sent me these 3 papers: https://t.co/hnPyMSQQy4

Apr 16, 2023 · 7 likes · 14,019 followers View post →
Hasan G. Bahçekapılı
@InsanEvrim · X

4. Erkek-kadın ortalamalarının aynı olduğu durumlarda bile erkeklerin daha heterojen puanlara sahip olmaları, yani hem en üstte hem en altta daha fazla temsil edilmeleri Darwin'den beri bilinen ve muhtemelen biyolojik temeli olan bir olgu. https://t.co/yzaMcrrRrP

May 2, 2024 · 3 likes · 1 share · 2,374 followers View post →
TRAJIMOS A HERRERA Y VINO XAVI
@lucaerc_ · X

@NinjaHomosexual Hay miles de estudios al respeto tonto a pedal https://t.co/Oj01LfoPiK https://t.co/tSbgL2wqoC

May 17, 2023 · 2 likes · 1,125 followers View post →
Reichel 3ra(you/your/yogurt)
@elreich3ro · X

@WendyScarlet5 @Ravalo_Twitr @LibWeebGirl @Ale122704 @AnnieFemMas @LabMemberOO2 1.https://t.co/epUnWYr6xy 2.https://t.co/y5DEVYzQG0 3.https://t.co/Pk9mzJZAJp 4.https://t.co/sW7NdlOWGR

Mar 14, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 409 followers View post →
Sean
@BlackAdder256 · X

@W96Emily If you believe the science: https://t.co/Nz5YxYONcp

Jan 24, 2024 · 2 likes · 217 followers View post →

All mentions

A. Egon Cholakian
@ScottH30599 · X

@UR__FUTURE__BF @oldfalsash @artemlucis @DreamLeaf5 @7Trihard20484 https://t.co/hvP9hpxPov https://t.co/aVY5JzAyO8 https://t.co/RS2AzpABMQ

Apr 8, 2025 · 36 followers View post →
RE-OPEN THE SIZZLERS
@SaladBarFan · X

@Eli_B_Again @andyeven @hollowearthterf https://t.co/hnPyMSQiIw

Feb 24, 2025 · 14,019 followers View post →
Lola
@Lo_l_a_ · X

@witte_sergei Gross oversimplification. The actual distributions aren't even normal. Sex Differences in Variability in General Intelligence: A New Look at the Old Question Johnson et al 2008 https://t.co/iCqTVYFP8O

Feb 23, 2025 · 107 followers View post →
Claude F. Bastiat
@ClaudeFBastiat · X

@Cal1995I @AshbyM @AutismCapital I believe that number is low, as IQ distribution has been found to vary wrt the third ("skew") and 4th (kurtosis aka "fat tails") moments. Was curious myself so did a quick search, found this: https://t.co/qQbXYoV6ab

Feb 13, 2025 · 1 like · 176 followers View post →
Eliot
@heliod7 · X

@HERRTOT @HernanGomezB @JMilei De hecho el hombre vive menos porque en efecto "hay más hombres idiotas" Las distribuciones probabilísticas indican que los hombres rigen en los extremos del IQ, teniendo a la mayoría de la población con menor IQ y la mayoría de la población con mayor IQ https://t.co/OM8iGFY39c https://t.co/REeWjJloJn

Jan 24, 2025 · 151 followers View post →
Dawning_of_Dusk
@Dawning_of_Dusk · X

@pimenlit @clowntiddey @MuseObserving @Geisterjger4 @agraybee https://t.co/kPf7izSaRV

Dec 29, 2024 · 1 like · 695 followers View post →
Merkels Memoiren
@MerkelsMemoiren · X

@Ypsvw_ @_lea_li Hier es ist Usus: https://t.co/wUOt6DiYNC

Jul 14, 2024 · 86 followers View post →
Merkels Memoiren
@MerkelsMemoiren · X

@Ypsvw_ @_lea_li Hier Quellen dazu: https://t.co/Nsbxz1Qi7k https://t.co/aF1LJQKGpe

Jul 14, 2024 · 86 followers View post →
Merkels Memoiren
@MerkelsMemoiren · X

@EnlightenStS @_lea_li Hoppla falscher Link: Hier zum selber nachvollziehen, die Varianz ist überall höher. https://t.co/aF1LJQKGpe

Jul 13, 2024 · 86 followers View post →
Vince
@SirXVincent · X

@Seetangens @zyankali95 @OlSta0483 @welt Die "berühmte" 2008-Edingburgh Studie: https://t.co/tCE1XYEr1D "Though present at the high end of the distribution, sex differences in variability did not appear to account for sex differences in high-level achievement." Sie schreiben selbst, ist eher nach unten relevant.

May 7, 2024 · 206 followers View post →
Koçer Karasu
@KoerKarasu91880 · X

RT @InsanEvrim: 4. Erkek-kadın ortalamalarının aynı olduğu durumlarda bile erkeklerin daha heterojen puanlara sahip olmaları, yani hem en ü…

May 2, 2024 · 1 share · 26 followers View post →
Hasan G. Bahçekapılı
@InsanEvrim · X

4. Erkek-kadın ortalamalarının aynı olduğu durumlarda bile erkeklerin daha heterojen puanlara sahip olmaları, yani hem en üstte hem en altta daha fazla temsil edilmeleri Darwin'den beri bilinen ve muhtemelen biyolojik temeli olan bir olgu. https://t.co/yzaMcrrRrP

May 2, 2024 · 3 likes · 1 share · 2,374 followers View post →
hiro antagonist
@insipidwanker · X

RT @Scientific_Bird: @SilverVVulpes https://t.co/u2HfWENa1J https://t.co/094afOybts

May 1, 2024 · 1 share · 406 followers View post →
Inquisitive Bird
@Scientific_Bird · X

@SilverVVulpes https://t.co/u2HfWENa1J https://t.co/094afOybts

May 1, 2024 · 9 likes · 1 share · 25,849 followers View post →
Sean
@BlackAdder256 · X

@W96Emily If you believe the science: https://t.co/Nz5YxYONcp

Jan 24, 2024 · 2 likes · 217 followers View post →
WoЇfgang
@1yk0s · X

@schorn_stephan "...we showed that there were substantial departures from normality in the distribution, with less variability in the higher range than in the lower." https://t.co/nbxyMuz8et

Dec 6, 2023 · 1 like · 539 followers View post →
Acherontia Styx
@Gerald3250425 · X

@wynwok @tailcalled @NeuroSGS https://t.co/l28Jj0wA0k https://t.co/FK4tex4foz

Sep 16, 2023 · 127 followers View post →
2000
@mloive2 · X

@Saa3ii_ @rp3lr8 @N_U_T__ الأذكياء اقليه جدا غالبيتهم الساحقه رجال لكن حتى المتخلفين عقليا غالبيتهم الساحقه رجال كمان النساء غالبيتهم ذكائهم طبيعي النسبه الساحقه منهم أكثر من الرجال https://t.co/0F7FRbzJUu https://t.co/967BdSmrA8

Jun 18, 2023 · 1 followers View post →
TRAJIMOS A HERRERA Y VINO XAVI
@lucaerc_ · X

@NinjaHomosexual Hay miles de estudios al respeto tonto a pedal https://t.co/Oj01LfoPiK https://t.co/tSbgL2wqoC

May 17, 2023 · 2 likes · 1,125 followers View post →
RE-OPEN THE SIZZLERS
@SaladBarFan · X

@EAlluia @Rabadash2 @RichardHanania @mattyglesias I just DM’d my mutual who’s an expert on this and he said the the greater male variability hypotheses has been confined and is generally accepted in the field. He sent me these 3 papers: https://t.co/hnPyMSQQy4

Apr 16, 2023 · 7 likes · 14,019 followers View post →
Nick Westinghouse
@NikWestinghouse · X

@irondada17 @4dawolf420 @monitoringbias Here's one: https://t.co/XnqNGXdIPm There are others, including one from 1921 of thousands of Scots, which this references as well.

Feb 7, 2023 · 176 followers View post →
nanasi
@nanasi43 · X

RT @Chemagatari: @Malkav09 @Namurii Ah que no te gusta la wikipedia? Toma más fuentes hombre que ya veo que te gusta poco informarte. https…

Feb 7, 2023 · 509 followers View post →
nanasi
@nanasi43 · X

RT @CuriousnTT: I haven't explained those in a while, so here is a refresher. It is hard to find a good illustration of this (controversial…

Feb 7, 2023 · 509 followers View post →
Chemagatari
@Chemagatari · X

@Malkav09 @Namurii Ah que no te gusta la wikipedia? Toma más fuentes hombre que ya veo que te gusta poco informarte. https://t.co/6U7vWId0KZ https://t.co/NUWwHflbFX

Jun 6, 2022 · 1 like · 621 followers View post →
Trygve Taranger
@CuriousnTT · X

I haven't explained those in a while, so here is a refresher. It is hard to find a good illustration of this (controversial topic). If we have two groups with normal distributions with the same peak but different slopes, like men and women on for IQ... https://t.co/qqwnx8wVET https://t.co/1rX3TX3vq5

Mar 26, 2022 · 1 like · 678 followers View post →
Reichel 3ra(you/your/yogurt)
@elreich3ro · X

RT @elreich3ro: @WendyScarlet5 @Ravalo_Twitr @LibWeebGirl @Ale122704 @AnnieFemMas @LabMemberOO2 1.https://t.co/epUnWYr6xy 2.https://t.co/…

Mar 14, 2022 · 1 share · 409 followers View post →
Reichel 3ra(you/your/yogurt)
@elreich3ro · X

@WendyScarlet5 @Ravalo_Twitr @LibWeebGirl @Ale122704 @AnnieFemMas @LabMemberOO2 1.https://t.co/epUnWYr6xy 2.https://t.co/y5DEVYzQG0 3.https://t.co/Pk9mzJZAJp 4.https://t.co/sW7NdlOWGR

Mar 14, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 409 followers View post →
CosmonautCat (@sememmon@mastodon.social)
@sememmon2 · X

@Giuoco__Piano @AditiBerlin @Rattigall @miriam_vollmer Die Autoren scheinen nicht so sicher zu sein wie du, was ihre Ergebnisse angeht. Dazu ergänzend auch diese Studie: https://t.co/DKOnpyu1hu Generell geht die Wissenschaft eher von sozialen Unterschieden aus, als von biologischen. https://t.co/wh4aXFO0bJ

Feb 6, 2022 · 128 followers View post →
Uku Vainik
@ukuv · X

@saraweston09 @BrentWRoberts @DMCpersonality @mmjokela @EmorieBeck @aidangcw @SachaEpskamp @LarsPenke For instance, sex differences in variability in IQ have been convincingly demonstrated in the Scottish Mental Survey, uniquely representative and well-participated study https://t.co/lZcEgAkjqP . Do we have something similar for personality?

Jan 6, 2022 · 1,127 followers View post →
orzeł nielot
@przeszczep9 · X

@lelouch_420 @lorrik96 https://t.co/BuDtaLUST1 Jedyna różnica w inteligencji mężczyzn i kobiet występuje w wariancji, czyli jest więcej skrajnie inteligentnych mężczyzn i niepełnosprawnych intelektualnie. Nie zamierzam prowadzić dalej dyskusji, jeżeli uciekasz się do takiej żenady, jak ad personam.

Jul 5, 2021 · 18 followers View post →
superhe
@superhe58452851 · X

@S_Silver93 @MartaLlanos97 hola, está hecho en relación a los datos que utilizó en esta conferencia el psicólogo Ian Deary en relación a este estudio suyo. Esta es la gráfica original que usó en su conferencia. estudio: https://t.co/HsFZUG0N0H conferencia: https://t.co/Ny9uodeyW3 https://t.co/XogomvppTT

Mar 11, 2021 · 1 like · 102 followers View post →
Russell T. Warne
@Russwarne · X

@TheClarksTale @rexjung @charlesmurray There is strong evidence that in very large samples, there is a surplus of people below average, prob because of brain damage. https://t.co/j88unyQ0Sr I looked for departures from normality in the top range and could not find consistent evidence for it: https://t.co/WxV4jIWSo8

Aug 6, 2020 · 1 like · 7,714 followers View post →
Brantichrist
@Brantichrist · X

@critic_swedish @JL19874 @Timcast Brain https://t.co/zrwcVWuYPg https://t.co/ycBfQCYo5J https://t.co/uaf1VsL5ng https://t.co/JRu2OpdUEt https://t.co/ZH9MS85nVl Physical strength https://t.co/AThmxPbEH7 (sources in the wikipedia article) There's plenty more where this came from. But I doubt you'll be reading it.

Jul 12, 2020 · 43 followers View post →
By The Well
@ByTheWell4God · X

@brucefanjoy @JohnnyBrottom9 @pepe_catalo @AMObstWriter @ksoileau @MariInTokyo @RenzoGuinto @IlonaKickbusch https://t.co/87qB9l6w0o

Mar 31, 2020 · 1 like · 691 followers View post →