Behind the Scenes: The Effects of Acting on Personal Identity

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Recommended: Determinants of intelligence according to heredity

Scientists have found it most valuable to study the cases of twins in order to determine the relative contribution of genetics or environmental factors to intelligence. First off, it is important to have an understanding of the genetic distribution between the different groups. Identical twins share the exact same genetic material, giving them 100% genetic overlap. Secondly, all other first degree family members such as fraternal twins, siblings, and biological parents and children share 50% genetic overlap. Cousins have 15% overlap, and all other relationships share 0% genetic overlap.

In twin studies, psychologists study a variety of different cases; identical twins raised together, identical twins raised separately, and fraternal twins raised together and separately. The reason for including these groups is to examine the correlation they have for intelligence. These studies have shown the intelligence correlation in identical twins is higher than in fraternal twins, even when the identical twins are raised apart. Examining these different groups helps to determine the influence both genetics and environmental factors have on intelligence.

Other groups that have been included in these studies are: siblings raised together, siblings raised apart, biological parent and child that lived together, biological parent and child that lived apart, adoptive parent and child that lived together, and cousins that lived apart. These groups were included because comparing identical versus fraternal twins is not the only method to help determine the influence of genetics on intelligence. Because these other groups have varying degrees of genetic overlap with each other, they provide information that can contribute to understandi...

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... person possesses is irrelevant. A person that is skilled in mathematics is intelligent, as is a person that has the ability to choreograph a Broadway dance routine. Everyone has a degree of intelligence in every subject; however, some people have a very high amount of intelligence in some particular areas compared to other areas.

Both nature (genetics) and nurture (environment) make definite contributions to intelligence. The most accurate way to put the contributions together is to say that genetics allows for intellectual capacity and it is the role of nurturing to bring that capacity (“intelligence”) to its fullest capabilities. Without an enriched environment, a lot of intelligence may be put to no use at all. If a person has no outlet to channel the intelligence he or she has there is intellectual potential simply sitting there, but not being exercised.

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