General intelligence factor

The general intelligence factor (abbreviated g) is a widely accepted but controversial construct used in the field of psychology (see also psychometrics) to quantify what is common to the scores of all intelligence tests. The phrase "g theory" refers to hypotheses and results regarding g's biological nature, stability/malleability, relevance to real-world tasks, and other inquiries.

Social correlates of g

g positively correlates with measures of success (academic achievement, job performance, career prestige) and negatively correlates with various social pathologies (school dropout, illegitimate childbearing, poverty). IQ tests that measure a wide range of abilities do not predict much better than g. Scientific publishings of findings of differences in g between ethnic groups (see race and intelligence) have sparked public controversy.

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Chris Brand, self-described "scientific racist" and author of The g Factor: General Intelligence and Its Implications discusses "the best established racial difference in g- that black people score markedly lower than whites." He adds, "The g factor is a reality discovered by science; yet egalitarian envy of excellence has meant that the discovery has yet to be harnessed to the advantage of all."

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