Do you think stupidity is inherited genetically? Is it learned from the environment? Is it a combination?

Question

I am NOT referring to the mentally handicapped, only the ignorant.

Stupidity
n 1: a poor ability to understand or to profit from experience [ant: intelligence] 2: a stupid mistake [syn: betise, folly, foolishness, imbecility]
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=stupidity&x=48&y=9

What do you think of this?
On 28 February 1953 biologists James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA - the chemical code for all life. The breakthrough revealed how genetic information is passed from one generation to the next and revolutionised biology and medicine.
But in a documentary series to be screened in the UK on Channel 4, Watson says that low intelligence is an inherited disorder and that molecular biologists have a duty to devise gene therapies or screening tests to tackle stupidity

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3451

Excuse me, in the second sentence, please replace ignorance with stupidity. Thank you.

Answer 1

If you look to the definition that you quoted, it says that the antonym of Stupidity is Intelligence.

Since Intelligence is controlled by a mixture of genetics and environment, how could Stupidity be any different? It has to be a combination.

Answer 2

I think that humans are naturally very smart but act stupid for whatever reason. Like girls who are smart and dumb themselves down to look "cute" in front of a guy or the kid who makes a stupid decision due to peer pressure or whatever. Then the more they pretend to be that the more the become that.
Then there are people who are born to uneducated people who don't take the time to teach their children, read to their children and sometimes don't even teach their children basic skills (Like hygiene) then they spend their lives either trying to catch up, or living with it and having more stupid children

My answer: Both!

Answer 3

Stupid and ignorant are not the same thing.

Stupid:
1.lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; dull.
2.characterized by or proceeding from mental dullness; foolish; senseless: a stupid question.
3.tediously dull, esp. due to lack of meaning or sense; inane; pointless: a stupid party.
4.annoying or irritating; troublesome: Turn off that stupid radio.
5.in a state of stupor; stupefied: stupid from fatigue.
6.Slang. excellent; terrific.

Ignorant:
1.lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2.lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3.uninformed; unaware.
4.due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.

Ignorance can not always be helped because of ones station in life, but there is always hope. However, stupidity in my eyes, can never be overcome.

Answer 4

I think stupidity is more of a learned trait than an inherited one. Anyone can learn to make the most of whatever natural mental capacity they were born with if they're raised to actually think and to value learning.

Answer 5

I think it comes from an enviornment, my dad always taught me to think before I speak, and he also said, keep your mouth shut and let them think youre smart, open your mouth and let them know you're stupid. Some parent don't try to teach thier children how to think and as a result you have idiots with Drivers License's all over the got damn road.

Answer 6

I think sometimes it can be a mixture of both. I try to avoid stupid people at all costs. It hurts my brain when they speak.

Answer 7

Genitics! Look at colored people and each generation acts dumber than the previous.

Answer 8

i think I get it from my father and from being educated in a public school