Taller people are smarter, too, study says

[Amelia]

Taller people are smarter, too, study says

Princeton economists say findings justify better pay for more height

25 Aug 2006

Reuters

NEW YORK - While researchers have long shown that tall people earn more than their shorter counterparts, it’s not only social discrimination that accounts for this inequality — tall people are just smarter than their height-challenged peers, a new study finds.

“As early as age 3 — before schooling has had a chance to play a role —and throughout childhood, taller children perform significantly better on cognitive tests,” wrote Anne Case and Christina Paxson of Princeton University in a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

The findings were based primarily on two British studies that followed children born in 1958 and 1970, respectively, through adulthood and a U.S. study on height and occupational choice.

Other studies have pointed to low self-esteem, better health that accompanies greater height, and social discrimination as culprits for lower pay for shorter people.

But researchers Case and Paxson believe the height advantage in the job world is more than just a question of image.

“As adults, taller individuals are more likely to select into higher paying occupations that require more advanced verbal and numerical skills and greater intelligence, for which they earn handsome returns,” they wrote.

For both men and women in the United States and the United Kingdom, a height advantage of four inches equated with a 10 percent increase in wages on average.

But the researchers said the differences in performance crop up long before the tall people enter the job force. Prenatal care and the time between birth and age 3 are critical periods for determining future cognitive ability and height.

“The speed of growth is more rapid during this period than at any other during the life course, and nutritional needs are greatest at this point,” the researchers wrote.

The research confirms previous studies that show that early nutrition is an important predictor of intelligence and height.

“Prenatal care and prenatal nutrition are just incredibly important, even more so than we already knew,” Case said in an interview.

Since the study’s data only included populations in the United Kingdom and the United States, the findings could not be applied to other regions, Case said.

And how tall are the researchers?

They are both about 5 feet 8 inches tall, well above the average height of 5 feet 4 inches for American women.

http://papers.nber.org/papers/w12466

[Gerr]

Now I have a legitimate excuse for being so dumb.

Gerry

[Amelia]

ROFL me too since I am under the average height for females.

[Dr. Shane]

The nice part of living among so many hispanics is that I don't feel so short. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[LynnDel]

Aha! So now I get it! This is why some people -- who shall remain nameless until you go visit the "Going after younger women" thread in the Singles section -- think men should not marry taller women! It's all about self preservation, isn't it?

Yes, I'm kidding, too - of course!

LynnDel

[Dr. Shane]

Isn't there a study already that shows women are smarter than men?

[cricket]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

But the researchers said the differences in performance crop up long before the tall people enter the job force.

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The Nature vs. Nurture question still looms. Are these people taller because they are smarter? Are they smarter because they are taller? Are they taller because their parents gave them better nutrition? Are they smarter because their parents gave them more attention? Did these people thrive because of heightened affection??

Many, many questions left unanswered.

Grasshopper

[melvin mccarty]

NEVER believe statistics, there is nothing easier to manipulate!

:-0

mel

[Nicodema]

This is a load of rot. I'm short (5'3") but I was reading at age 3 (and I do NOT mean "Dick and Jane" baby books, either), doing number theory at age 4-5, placed in advanced classes (e.g. 6-8th grade level math in grade 3, algebra in grade 7), selected at age 12 for a math/science talent search by Johns Hopkins, started college at 16, and as for my IQ, well, let's just say I have at least one thing in common with a "relatively" well known former patent clerk. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So they can take their "taller = smarter" study and shove it squarely where the sun doesn't shine.

Of course, if someone wanted to stretch my spine and add a couple inches to my height, I would not complain. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" />

[Nan]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Nicodema said:

This is a load of rot. I'm short (5'3") but I was reading at age 3 (and I do NOT mean "Dick and Jane" baby books, either), doing number theory at age 4-5, placed in advanced classes (e.g. 6-8th grade level math in grade 3, algebra in grade 7), selected at age 12 for a math/science talent search by Johns Hopkins, started college at 16, and as for my IQ, well, let's just say I have at least one thing in common with a "relatively" well known former patent clerk. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So they can take their "taller = smarter" study and shove it squarely where the sun doesn't shine.

Of course, if someone wanted to stretch my spine and add a couple inches to my height, I would not complain. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" />

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I was going to add, Nico, how much more intelligent you could be if you were like a picture I saw today somewhere, of a lady 6 ft 9 in tall. But then again, you would keep banging your head on the door frame so that would probably counteract the effect of the height. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/bee.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

And just to be conciliatory, I will say as I have stated before, your verbal facility is something that just leaves me way way behind. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Nan]

Of course, the tall lady was in another thread here <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Nicodema]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Nan said:

I was going to add, Nico, how much more intelligent you could be if you were like a picture I saw today somewhere, of a lady 6 ft 9 in tall. But then again, you would keep banging your head on the door frame so that would probably counteract the effect of the height. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/bee.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" />

*WHACK*! Ooops, there goes abstract reasoning. *WHAM!* Darn, I needed that extensive vocabulary. *THONK*! Oh no, not my non-linear geometry!! <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/icon_smile_sick.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/AAdoh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/tongue1.gif" alt="" />

Seriously I only meant 2 or 3 inches of a stretch. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I know many intelligent people, yet they are not *wise.*

Big difference between *intelligence* and *wisdom* ...... in my opinion.

[Nicodema]

Intelligence is the capacity to acquire, collate, and assemble knowledge.

Wisdom is the ability to employ and apply it.

They are different, but still somewhat interdependent. The measure of assessment is whether one is in adequate proportion to the other within an individual.

Anti-intellectualism is that bizarre form of pride which arises when one has a paucity of them both and a corresponding envy for them which he cannot or will not admit, sometimes not even to himself.

Then there is pedanticism, that annoying habit of feigning both while possessing neither. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I'm having fun with this thread. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Nan]

A little off topic - a while ago Gail used to give us a new word to learn - usually the obscure name of something well known. Maybe you should take that up, Nico. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Nicodema]

One thing I appreciate about Ed Dickerson (among other things): he actually sends me to the dictionary on occasion with his posts. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Nan]

I guess I could do that if I started adding medical jargon....but the posts might be so offputting that would defeat the purpose. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I remember a day at school when we were a bit bored and went looking for 'good' words in the dictionary - the ones I remember from that day are obstreperous and cacaphony - I still think they are very satisfying words to use.

(The ob-words can be a bit negative though, as when a certain husband refers to an obstinate obstetrician <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/focus.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/focus.gif" alt="" />

[Nicodema]

In my teens, the word "obstreperous" was frequently applied as a descriptor. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" />

It's amazing what delusions people will indulge to please, flatter, and exonerate self, even at the expense of the accuracy of a minor's self-image. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> I guess they figure if you are under 18, legally you don't have a voice, so you are fair game for lies and oppression. But tit for tat; fair is fair; I suppose I gave them quite the run for their money, not buying into their little filthy system of deception, corruption, and self-serving abuses of arbitrarily designated "authority" (falsely so-called) -- and not being in the least intimidated into silence on the matter. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/icon_salut.gif" alt="" />

This is why I find my son an utter delight whilst his dear Papa (ex #1) is pulling out his hair. My dear silly humans. If you honestly believe yourself to be rightfully in authority, the matter is simple: do not lower yourself to engage in childish squabblings over the matter. Those whose position is sure need not resort to flagrant demonstrations of it or scuffles over challenges to it. Once you pathetically yield yourself to such nonsense, you abrogate your claim in the eyes of those so questioning, and become the laughingstock of those who know what insecure folly drives you.

And really, what mentor and guardian of the evolution of the next generation can lower herself to seem to condone such silliness? Present a united front, you say? Why do you not then forge for yourself a front worthy of my union? <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/soapbox.gif" alt="" /> *sigh*

[Gerr]

You don't know how many gorgeous girls I would have asked for a date except for the fact they were taller than me!

Do women feel self-conscious going out with a man that is shorter than them?

Gerry

[LynnDel]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Do women feel self-conscious going out with a man that is shorter than them?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

a. Only if the man is self-conscious about going out with a woman taller than he is!

b. Some are.

c. (trying to think up a good third choice)

LD

[cricket]

All people should feel self-conscious when they have to look down on another.

Grasshopper