PSYCH 1001 Psychology- Intelligence is Mostly Inherited

Answer

Intelligence is mostly inherited

Intelligence is regarded as a complex trait which is influenced both by the environmental factors as well as the genetic factors. It is difficult and challenging to study the factors or the elements which are responsible for intelligence as it includes varied complex ideas and plans. Researchers have carried out various studies to identify the genes which were responsible for intelligence. It has been found  that many studies have focused on the differences and similarities in IQ within the family members. Genetic factors contribute to more than 50% of these difference in intelligence among the individuals (Vernon, 2014).

A person’s genes and the environment around him influences the other individual. Moreover, it becomes challenging to distinguish the effects of environment from the genetic factors. Example can be cited of a child’s IQ which is inherited from his parents and this similarity is due to the genetic factor which is passed over from the parent to the child. According o a report published in Science News(2014), IQ is regarded as a score for measuring the intelligence and there are various factors responsible for parenting which affects the IQ of a child. The author has related intelligence with crime and he has also discussed  how the IQ scores of the children are affected by the parents. On the other hand according to a report published in the Independent(2017),  it has been found that children inherit intelligence from their mother. The genes for cleverness are generally carried by the X-chromosome which may not be active if it comes from the father. Women plays an important role in the transmission of intelligence genes because it is carried by the X-chromosome and women has two X-chromosome.

Moreover, these genes are also responsible for the various cognitive factor which are inherited from the mother. There is a special category of genes known as conditioned genes which is believed to function effectively if it is carried from the mother. Thus, it can be said that intelligence may also be regarded as a conditioned gene which is inherited from the mother.  Research also indicates that genetics is not the sole determinant of intelligence; only 40-60% of the intelligence is believed to be hereditary while a major chunk depends on the environmental factors.  On the other hand, according to a report published in the Forbes(2016), it can be said that intelligence is transmitted both from mother as well as father. However, it has stated that mother have two X-chromosomes but they might not be identical in all cases.

Therefore, it can be said that children inherits practical intelligence from  the home environment and from their parents. Intelligence may be regarded as complicated because it is difficult to identify whether it is inherited or acquired. These two variants operate in  different way to form intelligence. Therefore, the conditioned genes can only be activated when they are inherited from mother and thus it helps in the development of intelligence.

References

Forbes Welcome. (2017). Forbes.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2016/09/16/no-research-has-not-established-that-you-inherited-your-intelligence-from-your-mother/#38896e4b6502

Independent. (2017). independent.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2017, from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/children-intelligence-iq-mother-inherit-inheritance-genetics-genes-a7345596.html

Science News. (2017). sciencenewsforstudents.org. Retrieved 21 December 2017, from https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/iq-genes

Vernon, P. E. (2014). Intelligence and Cultural Environment (Psychology Revivals). Routledge.