Intelligence a function of Nature or Nature? Read to learn more...

In the course of impelling the factors that affects intelligence in humans, experts have scrutinized the issue from two primary perspectives: Nature and Nurture. In spite of all the irregular perspectives presented by Experts from different fields, on what influences intelligence, Plomin & Spinath (2004) reaffirms that heredity plays a key role in the development of intelligence. He states that genetics studies have defined clear boundaries between nature and nurture, and provided the magnitude of influence caused by genetic factors on the development of intelligence.

Intelligence is the ability to acquire and appropriately apply knowledge. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is a measure of intelligence which is adjusted for age. In the context of the nature, nurture debate, Nature refers to biological or genetic impact on human traits, and Nurture defines the influence of learning from one’s environment. The debate over whether the prowess and redundancy of people are the result of nature or nurture has, and somewhat continues to rage on between experts and lay people alike. This debate has had significant social implications, particularly concerning what are thought to determine people’s ability to learn/intelligence (Lynch, 2016). However some elite researchers believe there's an interaction between Nature and Nurture.

*Impact of Nature on Intelligence*

Genetic factors act as the primary force for the development of intelligence in identical twins. On the other hand, fraternal twins share similarities in IQ. As such, it is apparent that genetic factors determine their intelligence (Devitt & Ormrod, 2007). Moreover, studies on adoption indicate that children who were adopted express intelligence commensurate to their biological parents.

Heredity has been found to be one of the most influential factors determining the development of intelligence in humans according to research. Approaches for testing human intelligences have not changed significantly over the past 100 years. Some of the most primary cognitive domains that have been recognized by researchers in impelling the influence of genetics on intelligence include processing speed, verbal comprehension, working memory, and perceptual organization (Deary, Spinath & Bates, 2006).

*Impacts of Nurture on Intelligence*

Subsequent research has also found that Environmental factors influence intelligence, and that these factors account for the differences observed in children’s cognitive development (Heffner, 2002). Some environmental factors that influence intelligence are home environment, nutrition, toxic substances, and formal schooling (Devitt & Ormrod, 2007). Home environment is considered influential in impelling intelligence. For instance, the socioeconomic status of the family in which a child was brought up does influence their Intelligence Quotient score. According to Wahlsten (1995), children who are brought up in homes with a high socioeconomic status have in most cases recorded high IQ scores than those raised in low budget homes. To sum this up, the environment in which a child is raised influences their intelligence. Devitt & Ormrod (2007) presents IQ similarities or correlation between monozygotic twins (Identical Twins) and adopted children in two different environments, to explain the influence of environmental factors on intelligence. According to reports, the correlation of IQ for identical twins raised together is 0.86 (86%) as compared to IQ correlation of 0.72 (72%) recorded in twins raised in different homes. Similarly, studies of adoption indicate that children who were adopted record a higher IQ correlation than children who weren't adopted (Devitt & Ormrod, 2007)

*Interaction between Nature and Nurture*

Researchers believe that the interaction between heredity and environment is often the most important factor of all. For example, The ability to detect the pitch of a musical tone without any reference is called Perfect Pitch. Researchers have found that this ability tends to run in families and believe that it might be tied to a single gene. However, it has also been discovered by the same researchers that It is not enough to develop this ability by just possessing the gene alone. But, it is necessary to allow this inherited ability to manifest itself by musical training during childhood

Another example of a trait that is influenced by nature and nurture interaction is Height. A child might have inherited genes for height from a family where everyone is tall. However, if he is brought up in an environment that is deprived, where he does not receive proper nutrition, he might never attain the height he would attend, growing up in a much healtheir environment.

In the development of intellectual, Nature is believed to determine the susceptibility of humans to Nurture. As such, Nature creates an array of abilities whose expression in the form of Intelligence Qoutient are shaped by Nurture. This phenomenon can be expantiated by the Skinner model of learning; the operant conditioning that relies on enforcers. Research shows that intelligence is a product of Nature-Nurture interactions; therefore, inherited abilities interact with environmental factors. Naturally, some children who possess particular inherited traits are a fit to particular environmental conditions. This is a phenomenon which has been described as ‘niche-picking’ (Rodgers, 2014).

Dr. Wisdom Patrick Enang (AMIMechE)