ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews basic facts about the socioeconomic status (SES) intelligence association, focuses on North American work. The chapter highlights those that affect their understanding of the association of SES and intelligence. Beginning with analysis of ability tests and continuing through the factor analysis traditions and current conceptual analyses of intelligence, there has been strong emphasis on a single factor to explain intellectual performance. In discussing the meritocracy interpretation of the SES-intelligence association, they have touched upon features of the next explanation examined-that factors associated with social position affect the test performance of individuals. SES provides little information about any psychological or social process that might be affecting thoughts or behaviors. Basic nutrition is essential for physical and behavioral development, and in the current context has attracted attention regarding whether it is associated with intellectual performance. Other areas of cognitive research have been remarkably inattentive to the issue of SES in their research.
