nature versus nurture
The dubious history of the heredity environment controversy can be easily traced as far back as the start of the present century with at least some historical evidence placing the roots of this dispute in the time of John Locke. This controversy has continued despite continual reiteration that the critical question is not how much of a trait is due to heredity and how much is due to environment, but rather how environment transact to influence development. This paper will focus on the nature/nurture controversy and the extent to which an individual's intellectual level is determined either by inborn intelligence or by environmental factors. Psychologists and biologists striving to determine how heredity and environment influence the development of intelligence have actively pursed the relative powers of nature and nurture. Before we can go on to discuss the relationships between intelligence and the controversy that exists between the different schools of thought r!egarding inherited or environmental issues we must have an understanding of what intelligence really is. Of all the words used in pressed day psychology, intelligence is one of the most difficult to define and is also one of the most
There is no evidence that differences in IQ scores between cultural, ethnic, or racial groups are due to hereditary factors. But, many studies point of a strong genetic influence on differences between individuals within a group. About 50 percent of the difference in intelligence between persons in a group is believed to be genetically determined, with the remaining variation due to each person's experience. Jensen argues however that reported differences in average IQ between black and white children is due in part to systematic genetic difference. At this point one or two somewhat consistent differences can also be mentioned about race. Comparisons of black and white samples in the United States show typical IQ differences of nearly 15 points in favor of whites. The black white difference depends somewhat on sex membership and upon what special ability is measured. The differences IQ and in school achievement are smaller for black females. Blacks do relativel! have gained an understanding of the importance of genetic constitution, the significance of which in the formation of intelligence and individuality is clearly demonstrated. The studies have also provided ample evidence to support the importance of environment influences in individual development. Clearly, the studies demonstrate that the contribution of nature and nurture may no longer be set in opposition for each is conceivable as one factor, or as a set of factors in a complex situation. Indeed, one has no meaning without the other, both nature and nurture are inextricable related in intellectual development. Thus, instead of writing nature and nurture we should write nature/nurture for the two sets of facts exist as integrals in a single process of development. The two are mutually inclusive, since innate tendencies are capable of expression on in terms of environments, and environmental influences can only act together with the genetic bases of individuality. Marie Dkoday and Harold Shell's report of a longitudinal adoption study of IQ is one of the most frequently cited articles in developmental psychology. The IQ scores of adopted children tested four times between infancy and adolescence were compared to characteristics of both their adoptive parents and their biological parents. The results of the study were impressive, the correlation between the IQ of 63 biological mothers and their adopted children indicated increasing hereditary influence. However, a study done on adopted children in France found that white children abandoned at birth by lower-class parents and adopted at an average age of 4 months by white professionals, when compared with their siblings who we reared by their biological parents, the adoptees scored about 14 points higher than the average IQ and were less likely to be held back in school. Two of the largest adoptive studies were conducted by the Horn, Scarr and Weinberg. They concluded that individual differences in IQ are substantially influenced by genetic differences among individuals and that family environment Orphanage life is a form on environmental deprivation, since the children lack personal attention that would occur in normal families. These children generally show slower intellectual developments, as reported by Skeels and J.M Hunt. Jense, found
Some common words found in the essay are:
Adoption Project, John Locke, IQ RACE, Japanese Chinese, According Layer, TWIN STUDIES, Harold Shell's, Raymond Corsini, Bouchard McGud, Adoption Study, adopted children, iq scores, environmental factors, nature nurture, home environment, black interracial, identical twins, twins reared, black interracial children, biological parents, biological mothers, twins reared apart, twins alike iq, intelligence test scores, fraternal twins alike,
Approximate Word count = 2235
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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