One difficult scenario is a person who is born into a generally high IQ family but does not inherit or develop these traits.  This could be the so-called "black sheep" description.  Yet it could also simply apply to those who just squander their opportunities, regardless of IQ, and become addicted to drugs, engage in self destructive behavior, or have some mental illness. They touch on this some, and the possibility that the first born is more intelligent. <br><br>Yet, as we know, all genetic traits are not passed down directly from parent to child.  You could have two highly intelligent parents but not get the same genetic benefit.  You could get the genes of some less intelligent ancestor. So being less intelligent or successful than one's parents is a difficult burden to bear.  <br><br>Apart from IQ, we're seeing this more often now with the breakdown of the economy.  Kids are living longer at home and not earning as much, or scaling the earnings potential ladder as their parents did, in general.  This could lead to more despondence and depression across society regardless of IQ when the former opportunities are just not there.<br><br>Of course, those on the higher end of the "G factor," will do just fine and excel almost no matter what.  But those in the low, mid, and mid-upper range (to some extent), will all suffer in a dysfunctional society and economy.