BMJ  2007;334:327-328 (17 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39121.870139.1F

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IQ and vegetarianism

Non-conformity may be hidden driver behind relation

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The link between childhood IQ and vegetarianism in later life is perhaps not driven by a causal chain of mechanisms related to health.¹ As the number of vegetarians in the population is low, vegetarianism could be considered as a type of non-conformist behaviour.

Non-conformist behaviour may threaten the extent to which a person belongs to a social group, or has the potential of enlarging the psychological distance from others. People who deviate from the group are more likely to be punished, ridiculed, or even rejected by other group members.² Acquiring resources in isolation is more difficult than in groups.³ The need to belong may therefore reduce people's inclination to act in a non-conformist way. However, general intelligence is a strong predictor of future resources.⁴⁵ Highly intelligent people can afford more non-conformist behaviour because of their capacity to secure resources in isolation. Therefore, we propose that as general intelligence increases, the . . . [Full text of this article]

Department of Marketing and Organization Studies, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

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IQ in childhood and vegetarianism in adulthood: 1970 British cohort study

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bmj.com, 1 Mar 2007 [Full text]