Human Intelligence: Nature or Nurture?

Submitted by admin on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 13:13
IT HAS BEEN A DEBATE for more than a century, on whether our intelligence was inherited by nature or acquired through nurture. It is an argument between the Principles of Psychology and Sociology and the meticulous studies of Science. Intelligence is the capacity of our rational mind to consolidate and evaluate external stimuli by integrating sensory input with our memory and our programming.
           
More than a century ago, Sir Francis Galton, a scientist who began studying the role of genes in intelligence, theorized that parents transferred intelligence to their children, who in turn passed these intelligent-boosting genes down to their offspring. Science Daily, on one of their articles, said that our brain structure is considerable under genetic influence.
            
On 1979, a professor of University of Minnesota, Thomas Bouchard, conducted a study through IQ testing about twins separated from their biological parents and adopted children to their foster parents. Then, he found out that intelligence was being passed genetically and the correlation of the adopted children to their foster parent is zero percent.  Daniels, Devlin and Roeder (1997) and Matt Ridley conducted several studies and concluded that heritability can account for 48% of the variation in IQ.
           
In the field of Psychology and Sociology, they believed that intelligence is being affected by the environment.
 
Herrnstein and Murray (1994) on their Bell Curve Experiment found out that people from different part of the world have different IQ due to their difference in their environment. (Related: Recognize how the human body imposes limits and possibilities for transcendence and Evaluate own limitations and the possibilities for transcendence)
 
These two psychologists also concluded that intelligence is being affected by their socioeconomic status. They also said that education really affects one’s intellectual capacity, that a person who goes to school has a higher IQ compare to those who don’t. Lastly, that intelligence is also affected by the person’s occupation, as they concluded that those persons whose jobs exert less skill constitute a lesser IQ.
     
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John Cyrei Kennedy C. Tamo is a proud graduate of Sto. Niño De Novaliches School. He loves to read, surf the net, socialize in networking sites, and write articles.
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Diana Mae Gipanao finished elementary and high school in Cornerstone Academy. She is currently taking up Legal Management course.
 
INVITATION:
Our dear readers, which is which? Is human intelligence more of a product of nature or nurture? We want to hear your opinion. Please leave sensible comment/s.
 
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Comments

Shan (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 02:43

Nurture kasi nadedevelop naman ang human intelligence.

Rizze Anne Morales (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 02:45

I agree on Neil. Hindi naman kasi lahat ng tao nakuha ang talino sa parents nila. Merong mga taong natural na sa kanya or bigay na talaga ni God na ganun sya.

Jengky Marie (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 02:54

Because we can inherit our intelligence and it can be develop or mold through Nature.

perry (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 04:01

para sakin nurture.. kasi kahit mahina ka, pero ngaaral k ng mabuti makakakuha k pa rn ng magandang grades. Ang importante masipag kng mg aral.

radian (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 04:08

For me its also both nature and nurture. Because most of the children nowadays are influence by their environment, and they nurture it to excel on a particular subject.

sophia (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 04:12

in my own opinion intelligence can be acquired from both parents and by nurturing the kids talents and intelligence.

Lady Ellah (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 05:15

For me human intelligence is the product of nurture because what we learn and experience from others around us influences us in different ways.

Lady Ellah (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 05:29

For me human intelligence is the product of nurture because what we learn and experience from others around us influences us and helps develop ourself in different ways.

Christine Ghie-... (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 05:32

HUMAN INTELLIGENCE is NURTURE dahil nang isilang naman tayo sa mundo ay wala tayong alam, natututo lang tayo dahil sa mga bagay sa paligid natin.We addopt things and we learned from these things .Tama rin naman ang nature pero mas sumasang-ayon ako sa NURTURE.

Lady Ellah (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 05:53

For me human intelligence is the product of nurture because what we learn and experience from others around us influences us and helps develop ourself in different ways.

Cristina (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 06:55

Not all the people are the same in everything so it really depends on the people on how to developed their knowledge.

Mick (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 07:08

Nature or Nurture? For me it's both because some people are nature to become a genius because of inherited by their parents but the others they need to developed their skills to become genius.

Karen Denise Ca... (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 07:20

because it is always depend to people on how they are using their intelligence.

chazelyumul (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 08:21

i think human intelligence is acquired through nurture,like the concept of tabula rasa, i also believe that our mind is a blank slate and our knowledge came from our experiences.

Karlo (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 08:52

For me, nature at the same time nurture :D inbor na ang human intelligence.Nasa satin na lang kung paano natin papalawakin.Tas kung mapapalawak na gamit ang iba't ibang paraan dyan na pumapasok ang nurture.

judy ann macaranas (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 08:56

In a first place, Intelligence has been define in many different ways including the principles of nature or nurture . Every individual have their own intelligence . Within the discipline of psychology , various approaches to human intelligence have been adopted . For me , intelligence is being affected by the environment or the people sorround us and same with naturally intelligence it depends on us on how we enhance our aquire intelligence . So based on my opinion both nature and nurture necessarily work together 50% to nature while 50% on nurture.

Vladimir (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 08:57

Para sakin nurture, syempre wala naman taong pinanganak agad ng matalino.

Ron Carl Angelo (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 09:01

I agree with you, pero para sakin mas lamang yung nature because I believe that intelligence is inherited from parents but still napapaunlad pa yan mhie.hehe

Katherine (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 09:03

Nurture para sakin kasi hindi naman lahat ng matalino marami ng alam pagkapanganak,natututo rin sila sa pamamagitan ng kapaligiran.

Roxena (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 09:08

Ako din both nature and nurture, may mga pamilya kasi na popular dahil matatalino sila (hindi ibig sabihin LAHAT SILA) pero naniniwala din ako na nadedevelop yun through years.

judy ann macaranas (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 09:31

In a first place . Intelligent has been define in many different ways including the principles of nature or nurture . Every individual have their own intelligence . Within the discipline of psychology , various approaches to human intelligence have been adopted . For me ,intelligence is being affected by the environment or the people sorround us and same with natural intelligence it depends on us on how we enhance our aquire intelligence .So based on my opinion both nature and nurture necessarily work together . 50% to nature while 50% on nurture .

Tatum Salamanes (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 09:51

For me, nature and nurture go well together because some of the traits of our parents can be passed onto us genetically, and once it is passed onto us it can be developed or build up through education.

Donna Miranda (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 10:00

This is my reaction to CHRISTEL MAE ELVINIA's comment. For me, BOTH because I believe that Human Intelligence is came from our genetics and develop in our environment.

Marites Ventolero (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 10:14

I agree with Christel Mae Elvinia. Because I also believe that Human Intelligence is both came from Nature and Nurture. Human's are born with genetic potential came from their parents but when we was born we can'not use our potentials if we will not practice it, we will just develop it by time passes by.

Jhay-Dee (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 10:14

Nurture, because Human Intelligence depends on how a person develops its knowledge. Those who are not born to be intelligent can be improved by learning and studying new things.

Lydia Ladrera (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 10:26

This is my comment to CHRISTEL MAE ELVINIA's comment. Para sa akin depende pwedeng parehong Nature at Nurture kasi my mga taong minana nila ang kaalaman nila sa mga magulang nila pero kahit na minana nila ang kaalaman nila kung hindi nila ito mapapalawak hindi din ito magagamit. Pero may mga tao din na hindi masyadong matalino ang mga magulang nila pero nahuhubog lang sila at nag-aral ng mabuti kaya matatalino. Kaya masasabi ko na depende na lang din yun sa mga tao..

Tatum Salamanes (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 10:41

For me Nature and Nurture go well together because some of the traits of our parents can be passed onto us genetically, and once it is passed onto us it can be develop or build up through education.

Anonymous (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 11:35

I agree to what you said :)

Anonymous (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 11:49

I agree to her comment, both nature and nurture..because it is really happening in the reality.

Carl (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 11:52

I am agree in her statement, because in order for a child to be intelligence he/she might need to pay attention in his/her academics maybe they might be one factor that the genes may affect the intelligence but i believe that it depends upon the person.

Jhendy (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 11:53

I agree to that,intelligence is not based on how intelligent your parents or siblings are,not through genes nor runs in the blood of a certain family that passed on generation to generation but through the perseverance of that person to learn more from life or other things that brought him/her into curiosity.Intelligence is a gift from God that He ,Himself ,wanted us to nurture it and let us grow into a good individual and to use it on the right way to live a happy life :)

Bea (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 11:57

I'm agree because the best way to developed the intelligence of a person is through study habits and focusing in his/her objectives to learn.

Jefferson Delos... (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 11:57

I believed that all aspects of human behavior is affected through nature and nurture.Nature Because as a human being we have the capacity and capability to think,and it refers to the evolutionary factors that have shape the genetics that we inherit in our parents. while nurture is a range of our human potential. we are also affected by many of the environmental inputs that constitute in the sense that it help us to predict and control in any situations

Anna Macawile (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:01

Both syempre kasi nung pinanganak tayo ang traits na nakuha natin is galing sa parents natin. Kung matalino mga magulang mo malamang may earned intelligence ka din. Nurtured din yan kasi tinuruan tayo ng magulang natin na magaral ng mabuti

Criszchelle Ong (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:05

Very well said. yeh i think it's nurture because it depends on how study or how you learn in your own way. not on how your parents or family generation are well intelligent or smart.

Criszchelle Ong (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:05

Very well said. yeh i think it's nurture because it depends on how study or how you learn in your own way. not on how your parents or family generation are well intelligent or smart.

Julia Anne (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:06

I agree with him kasi kahit naman may earned intelligence tayo from our parents, Pwede yan mapabayaan. Pwedeng humina ang IQ natin pag di nagamit or naalagaan

Jefferson Delos... (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:07

I believed that all aspects of human behavior is affected through nature and nurture.Nature Because as a human being we have the capacity and capability to think,and it refers to the evolutionary factors that have shape the genetics that we inherit in our parents. while nurture is a range of our human potential. we are also affected by many of the environmental inputs that constitute in the sense that it help us to predict and control in any situations

Criszchelle Ong (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:12

Very well said. yeh i think it's nurture because it depends on how study or how you learn in your own way. not on how your parents or family generation are well intelligent or smart.

Criszchelle Ong (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:12

Very well said. yeh i think it's nurture because it depends on how study or how you learn in your own way. not on how your parents or family generation are well intelligent or smart.

Criszchelle Ong (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:12

Very well said. yeh i think it's nurture because it depends on how study or how you learn in your own way. not on how your parents or family generation are well intelligent or smart.

Yzzia Rances (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:15

For me nature kasi yung iba kahit anong pagaaral na gawin nila wala ng learning na nangyayari kasi nareach na yung capacity ng brain intelligence natin.

Anonymous (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:16

i agree to her comment dahil lahat naman napapag aralan...

Anonymous (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:24

I agree to her,,we can learn our ability to others and we can get it to our parents.

Karen Denise Ca... (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 12:50

Both, because for me it's based in our experience in life and it's up to us how we used our intelligence. *

Mark Angelo (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 13:12

BOTH NATURE & NURTURE kasi pareho naman silang nadedevelop e kaya para sakin parahe

Jordan Earvin (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 13:23

Mas pabor ako sa NATURE INTELLIGENCE kasi is NATIVISM . Meaning since birth nakatatak na while NURTURE INTELLIGENCE kasi is BEHAVIORISM .. it depends on our behavior, physical traits and actions ..

DOLORES TARRONAS (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 13:39

as a parents being smart doesn't make us smart as well without studying. We learn these things as we grow, thus, intelligence is being affected by our environment.

Mary Jane Pisuena (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 13:43

I believe that intelligence itself is mostly down to nurture - through what we learn through our lives either through education or experience. However, I cannot rule out a possible genetic link. The capacity to learn though? Like anything, intelligence is a skill that must be honed and perfected. Like how some children naturally have an early talent for things like drawing or sports, I don't see why it cannot be possible for other "head starts" to be passed down genetically - that children can be born with a higher aptitude for the academic. That doesn't mean that kids will be born instantly smart, but it means that they naturally have a better affinity to learning than others. So in conclusion, my answer would be that yes, I agree that both nature and nurture are determining factors in intelligence - however, they do not have equal weight. If a child with an aptitude for sports does not practice sports, than they will fall behind.

Amena (not verified)

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 13:50

If I were to base my comment or opinion about this argument to the data stated in the article, I would say that human intelligence is more of nature than nurture. Intelligence is innate in us, passed unto us by our parents, runs in our genes. However, this intelligence should also be nurtured. It should be enhanced continuously.

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