What Factors Determine Intelligence?
In addition to disagreements about the basic nature of intelligence, psychologists have spent a great amount of time and energy debating the various influences on individual intelligence. The debate focuses on one of the major questions in
psychology: Which is more important - nature or nurture ?
Today, nearly all psychologists recognize that both genetics and the environment play a role in determining intelligence. It now becomes matter of determining exactly how much of an influence each
factor has.

First, it is important to note that genetics and the environment interact to determine exactly how inherited genes are expressed. For example, if a person has tall parents, it is likely that the individual
will also grow to be tall. However, the exact height the person reaches can be influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition and disease.

Evidence of genetic influences:
Twin studies suggest that identical twins IQ's are more similar than those of fraternal twins (Promin & Spinath, 2004).
Siblings reared together in the same home have IQ's that are more similar than those of adopted children raised together in the same environment
(McGue & others, 1993).

Evidence of environmental influences:
Identical twins reared apart have IQ's that are less similar than identical twins reared in the same environment (McGue & others, 1993).
School attendance has an impact on IQ scores (Ceci, 2001).
Children who are breastfed during the first three to five months of life score higher on IQ tests at age 6 than same-age children who were not breastfed (Reinberg, 2008).

SOURCES: Lovelyadeola's thought

environment bro cos even a pig if born in the city may never know wat mud is

Interesting topic!
Mathematics, Analytical and Quantitative Reasoning tests, such as in/through games e.g. chess, are very vital factors that help build intelligence.
The environment in which the brain is trained is an important determiner, if not the more important.

davo90tico:
environment bro cos even a pig if born in the city may never know wat mud is

kudos u have said it all

Both are mutually dependent, but genetic factor comes first. The intelligence (IQ) is passed first from the parents to the offspring. That's why an intelligent student who does well in Nigeria performs even better when taken to a school abroad. Genetic factor is inherent. Also, I'm not ruling out good nutrition because ''you're what you eat''.

You guys are getting it confused . .
.
Brilliancy is by environment and books.
.
Intelligence is inborn

Nice

lovelyadeola:
What Factors Determine Intelligence?
In addition to disagreements about the basic nature of intelligence, psychologists have spent a great amount of time and energy debating the various influences on individual intelligence. The debate focuses on one of the major questions in
psychology: Which is more important - nature or nurture ?
Today, nearly all psychologists recognize that both genetics and the environment play a role in determining intelligence. It now becomes matter of determining exactly how much of an influence each
factor has.

First, it is important to note that genetics and the environment interact to determine exactly how inherited genes are expressed. For example, if a person has tall parents, it is likely that the individual
will also grow to be tall. However, the exact height the person reaches can be influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition and disease.

Evidence of genetic influences:
Twin studies suggest that identical twins IQ's are more similar than those of fraternal twins (Promin & Spinath, 2004).
Siblings reared together in the same home have IQ's that are more similar than those of adopted children raised together in the same environment
(McGue & others, 1993).

Evidence of environmental influences:
Identical twins reared apart have IQ's that are less similar than identical twins reared in the same environment (McGue & others, 1993).
School attendance has an impact on IQ scores (Ceci, 2001).
Children who are breastfed during the first three to five months of life score higher on IQ tests at age 6 than same-age children who were not breastfed (Reinberg, 2008).

SOURCES: Lovelyadeola's thought

What an interesting discourse.

To me there is not a simplified answer to this. Truly the two factors i.e. both environment and gene both play vital role in the determining the intelligence of a person. For example if two siblings or identical twins with very similar genetic make up are raised in two different environment, one is raised in environment (A) an undeveloped rural environment. And the other in environment (B) urban centre with the latest technology and education.

The one raised in environment (B) already has an advantage of:
- Learning to read and write earlier...
- Having the basic knowledge of the know-how of many of the modern technologies.
- Exposure to intellectual reasoning etc

The other one in environment (A) wouldn't have the above advantages of a modern environment (B). And if tested against his twin or sibling will definitely have a lower IQ.

Remember I said earlier that this cannot be over simplified. Many factors are hinged on it.


This is just like having the same model of vehicle from the same brand. Putting one on road (A) tarred even road and the other on road (B) an untarred and uneven road an trying to measure the performances. Same gene but different environment. One will out perform the other. While the one on the smooth tarred road is not in anyway better it certainly going to be rated with better performance because the parameters for the determination of best performance maybe lopsided.

Conversely, if we get a vehicle built for rough terrains like SUV, monster trucks etc and also a saloon car. The two vehicles are placed on a road (B); rough and uneven road. The outcome will differ. The SUV will out perform the saloon car with wide margin.
This is different Genes in same environment, but this time the environment is reversed.

Back to the discourse. The two factors undeniably contribute immensely to the intelligence, but the questions are:
1. By what parameters is the IQ determined? Is it lopsided and based on the modern parameters.
2. Do the children have the same advantage in their respective environment?
3. Have you considered have a reversed order of the children with the environment?

For example in the first illustration of two siblings or twin in environment A and B. The child in environment A which is undeveloped is likely to have other salient but latent intelligence or know-how knowledge and skills. For example:
- Survival skills and intelligence.
- Local means of sourcing for needs.
- Local understanding of time. etc

All these and more in which their counterparts in a modern environment, if brought in and examined in this new environment are certainly not going to thrive.