Do Genetics or Intelligence Play A Bigger Role in Determining Intelligence?

Despite the fact that intelligence stabilizes in early adulthood it is thought that genetic factors
come to play more of a role in our intelligence during middle and old age and that the
importance of the environment dissipates.
Do Genetics or Intelligence Play a Bigger

Role in Determining Intelligence?
Today, psychologists recognize that both genetics and the environment play a role in determining
intelligence.
It now becomes a matter of determining exactly how much of an influence each factor has.
Twin studies suggest that between 40 and 80% of the variance in IQ is linked to genetics. This
research suggests that genetics may play a larger role than environmental factors in determining
individual IQ.
One important thing to note about the genetics of intelligence is that it is not controlled by a
single "intelligence gene." Instead, it is the result of complex interactions between many genes.
Next, it is important to note that genetics and the environment interact to determine exactly how
inherited genes are expressed.
The influence of both genetic and environmental contributions to intelligence has been widely
investigated by different sociologists and psychologists. Their conclusions reveal that
intelligence is the product of heredity and the environment (Mangal, 1998). This is shown in
various empirical investigations. This essay will therefore, discuss the research supporting the
influence of both genetic and environmental contributions to intelligence.
The educational implications from this discourse will also be discussed. Kundu and Tutoo (1998:
294) state that intelligence is, "the capacity for solving practical problems of life, it is not just
intellectual activities of perceiving, thinking, remembering and observing. It is the ability to put
intellect to use". We can thus deduce that, the nature and nuture of inteligence is influenced by
both genetic and environmental contributions.
Intelligence is genetic and manifests itself in many forms. These include: Verbal Linguistics
intelligence, which is good reading and writing skill; Bodily Kinesthetic intelligence, which is
psychomotor skills like sports and dancing; Logical Methamatical intelligence, which is logical,
abstractive, deductive and inductive reasoning; Naturalistic intelligence, which is sensitivity to
nature and its welfare; Intrapersonal intelligence, which is perfectionism. Most people with this
form of intelligence make good theologians and philosophers; Spartial intelligence, which is,
good visual memory and spatial memory and the last form to highlight is, Musical intelligence,
which is good rythm and music skills (Mwambwa, 2011). These are determined and stiffled or
nutured by the influence of both genetic and environmental contributions respectively. Genetics
is the study of genes that harbour inherited characteristics (Farrant, 1980). Caharcteristics such
as, intelligence are resident in genes. Intelligence may be seen as a person's genetic ability to
comprehend and apply cognitive capabilities to environmental or life's situations. Artkinson
(1983:156-157) claims that, “a child may have an ability to walk in the sense that his muscles
have now reached the required strength; he has a good sense of balance and so forth. But if he is
not faced with an example of walking, he might not learn to do it”. So genetic charcteristics are
influenced by the environment.
Mwambwa (2011) also suggests that, " intelligence is the ability to learn about, learn from,
understand, and interact with one's environment". This is certainly a fact, because the things that
a child will learn in his lifetime will depend on his genetic traits which are developed in
interaction with the environment. Nevertheless, the experiences in the environment cannot
change the nature of intelligence, it can alter only its field and scope. Vertically it remains the
same. Horizontally it changes. The environment provides opportunities for the development of
intelligence that genetics dictates.
Genetic influences are hereditary as seen in traits such as, different forms and levels of
intelligence inherited from parents. The environment is the physical and social surrounding in
which people abide. A person's genetic capabilities are realised in interaction with the
environment, so intellectual development is limited, but not completely defined by genotype
(Artkinson, 1983). It is clear that a person's genetics determine their intelligence, but the
environment provides the opportunity and or limitation for development and so both play a
complementary role in contributing to intelligence. For example, a person might inherit the genes
of a genius, but how much of a genius they will become will depend on environmental factors
such as: nutrition and health (Kraus, 2012). Genetics determines the inherent aspects of
intelligence, while the environment influences its development.
A high socioeconomic environment will provide the necessary intellectual stimulation to unlock
genetic potentials and increase the likelihood of high intellectual performance, on the other hand
a low socioeconomic environment is impoverished and lacks the necessary stimuli for unlocking
genetic potentials (Kraus, 2012) . This would be evident in the different intellectual capabilities
that identical twins may exhibit if they were raised in two different socioeconomic conditions.
The one from a high socioeconomic environment will most likely exhibit high intellectual
capabilities as compared to the one from a low socioeconomic environment (Mwamwenda,
1995).
Mwamwenda (1992:281) further asserts that, "heredity sets the potential, while environment
determines the extent to which it is fulfilled". Intelligence can surely be seen as hereditary while,
the environment influences how far and wide it will develop or fail.
The environment will determine whether a person will live up to their genetic inteligence or not.
Derville (1966:117) supports this and claims that:
Heredity refers to the characteristcs which the child inherits from the parents. The Environment
means the surrounding; it includes not only the place in which the child lives, but also the people
with whom he comes in contact. The environment cannot alter the limits imposed by heredity. A
good environment will enable the individual to reach these limits. A poor one will prevent him
from doing so.
Therefore, genetics determines the level of intelligence. The nuturing of it is facilitated by the
environment, which includes: the physical surrounding such as materials, and the peopl

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Despite the fact that intelligence stabilizes in early adulthood it is thought that genetic factors

Do Genetics or Intelligence Play a Bigger

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