29 August 2006 - 12:27am
Tall tales and easy scientific conclusions
I've laid off this one for a few days now, but it persists in the headlines. Here's the logic:
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 three -- 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.
Here's what's missing: That taller children's confidence will enable them -- yes, empower them -- to take on more challenging tasks.
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.
It's not just image, but self-perception, which translates quite easily into self-confidence. The assumption that it must be biology or nutrition alone is simply specious. You cannot simply eliminate cultural influences simply because you see a strong correlation with physical attributes. After all, physical attributes affect cultural responses. Just ask any racial minority. Or obese person. Or woman.
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.
Okay okay, full disclosure. I'm a half-inch taller than the researchers. I guess that makes me smarter, so consider that as you re-read this post.
More: God is for Suckers and Culture Kitchen
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Comments
Gah. It's not a competition between short and tall, fat and skinny, male and female or any other two attributes. I wish people would get over it.
Just because there's some kind of a trend shown through statistics doesn't make it so, or explain why (I like your theory, btw). There are plenty of tall people who just don't measure up (ok, had to make that pun) in the intelligence department, just as there are plenty of short people who do, and vice versa.
Maybe this is just the tall people getting back for all those "How's the weather up there?" and "Would you clean the top of my refrigerator?" comments.
Me? IQ 149. And short.