Is intelligence hereditary? What factors determine intelligence?

Is intelligence hereditary? The debate on this issue continues to this day and has been one of the most contentious in the history of psychology. Nowadays, psychologists acknowledge that intelligence is influenced by both genes and environment. It is now necessary to determine the exact effect of each component.

The fact that intelligence can be defined and assessed in so many ways makes it difficult to examine. The ability to pick up knowledge through experience and adapt to changing conditions is a feature of most definitions of intelligence. Possible answer to – Is intelligence genetic? Yes, it is. However, it only sets a limit and within that limit, the environment affects appearance.

If the answer to the question, Is intelligence genetic is yes, then wouldn't the environment have value?  (Image via Freepik/Freepik)Like other psychological variables, psychologists seek to answer the question Is intelligence hereditary?  (Image via Pexels/Tima)Neuroscientists The psychologists examined how intelligence levels differ within families, with particular attention to adopted children and twins. No genes that contribute significantly to intellectual differences have been conclusively discovered by the research.

So, is intelligence hereditary? It is important to understand that there is not just one gene that determines intelligence in humans. Instead, it is the result of complex genetic interactions. It is possible that a large number of genes, each of which contributes a little to a person’s IQ, is at play. Memory and verbal competence are two additional aspects of intelligence that are affected by genetics.

The environment also has a great influence on intelligence. During a child’s development, the child’s home environment, parenting, education, and Availability of learning tools, as well as their health and nutrition, all affect that child’s intelligence. It can be difficult to distinguish the effects of environment from the effects of heredity, as a person’s environment interacts with genes.


Is intelligence hereditary?

While the question of whether intelligence is genetic is still debated, we do have a clear answer for IQ.  (Image via Pexels/Cottonbro)Applied research in psychology focuses on understanding questions such as - Is intelligence hereditary?  (Image via Pexels/Cottonbro)Environment It is responsible for the growth and training of living beings, and heredity gives the physical body the ability to develop specific innate abilities. In 1940, Newman came to the conclusion that 32% of IQ variance is influenced by environment, and 68% by heredity.


2) age

Seeking to answer the question - is intelligence hereditary?  Age may be an important indicator.  (Image via Pexels/Cottonbro)One cannot separate mind and body, even while talking about intelligence.  (Image via Freepik / Freepik)physical health.


5) sex

It is a common misconception that boys are supposed to be smarter than girls. According to research, there are no noticeable differences between the sexes. However, on average, girls seem to have a modest advantage in language, memory, and estimation. Differential intelligence is influenced in part by environmental factors.


6) Economic and social conditions

Recognizing the contribution of the environment, social conditions play an important role.  (Image via Freepik / Freepik)Hundreds of genes Working together, each of these features are incredibly complex.

Future research may be able to identify specific genes that affect academic performance, which could help diagnose or treat learning disorders and provide a definitive answer to the question – is intelligence hereditary?


Janhvi Kapoor is a counselor with a Masters degree in Applied Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology.


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