g and the one-many problem: is one enough?

Abstract

No one believes that g is the only construct needed to describe individual differences in intelligence. Many believe that g is a dispensable construct. Others object to what they construe as its hegemonic position in the domain of intelligence. In this paper I defend the hegemonic status of g by a brief consideration of diverse criticisms of the g construct. I argue that g is a heritable component of intelligence that accounts for approximately 50% of the covariance among diverse measures of intelligence. It derives from a core information processing ability and it influences a diverse set of social outcomes. The covariances between g and information processing ability and social outcomes are, in large measure, attributable to common genetic influences.