Correlatos sociais da inteligência no Brasil: adversidade/bem-estar social dos 27 estados brasileiros e formação acadêmica da elite social brasileira

Abstract

Several studies have reported a robust correlation between cognitive abilities phenotype and individuals' levels of social outreach, the same relationship has been noted between citizens' cognitive abilities and socioeconomic conditions within a nation. The present work aimed to identify these relationships in Brazil. For this, two studies were carried out. The first study identified the correlation between general cognitive ability, measured by the ENEM school test, and the socioeconomic variables of 27 Brazilian states. Previously, the mean score on the ENEM was correlated with the mean IQ of 20 Brazilian states using the standardized scores of R1 intelligence test. The correlation obtained was 0.74; which authorized the use of national data from the ENEM test as a proxy measure of general cognitive ability. The results showed a significant positive association (r = 0.680) between cognitive ability and favorable socioeconomic indicators (social well-being) as well as a significant negative association (r = -0.915) with adverse variables (e.g., crime, mortality). The second study analyzed the cognitive profile of five groups of the Brazilian social elite (billionaires, ministers, politicians, artists and athletes) through a scale that classified the degree of sophistication of their academic backgrounds. The results showed that the public administration group, composed of ministers, presented the greatest sophistication of academic training. Considering all the elite groups evaluated, they had an academic background much higher than the Brazilian average. Overall, the results indicated that the general cognitive ability of citizens can be considered an important predictor for achieving social and economic well-being in Brazil.