is your IQ genetically determined?

Answer 1

Yes and no.
There's a full and detailed report on this in today's Guardian.
Read it online at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1887781,00.html

Answer 2

yup

but clearly part of the stuff that most IQ tests test, can be trained, at least to some extent. I mean verbal, reading and such skills. But I also mean more abstract stuff such as imagining rotations of shapes.

because of this, some tests have actually been adjusted to try to compensate for the fact that the population, on average, will be a bit more trained (but obviously this is tough to do).

because of this, the better tests are probably those that do NOT rely on stuff you learn, such as Raven's progressive matrices. But the problem with such tests is that they disadvantage people with great language / verbal skills.

on the other hand, if someone has a high IQ, but just never had enough opportunity to learn to write / read properly, to read enough books, that person will be disadvantaged in many IQ tests that include reading / writing / general knowledge questions, such as Wechsler.

Nothing is perfect ;-)

But the bottom-line is, yes, your IQ is genetically determined.

Answer 3

To some extent.

Where you could fall along a continuum of intelligence (a range, rather than a point) is genetic.

But then other things come into play: Problems with your mother's health while pregnant with you might reduce your IQ. If she was mal-nourished during pregnancy.

Whether you were mal-nourished while young.

The amount and type of stimulation in your early environment.

Education and training.

Originally, IQ, and scores on IQ tests were thought to be stable over the course of one's life -- that was the point of testing for it. It's now know that this isn't so.

Not only can you be trained to be a better test-taker, but if your reasoning skills develop, it shows up as higher IQ, ditto level of education.

If you're given similar tests on different days, your score will vary depending on the exact set of questions, and your state of being (sleepy, hungry, stressed, uninterested).

Then there's a whole host of questions regarding what IQ is, whether it's one thing (it isn't), and whether it -- or whatever is measured by IQ tests -- is worth anything, really, as far as helping you understand or figure things out.

People put too much emphasis on a number that doesn't necessarily tell you anything worthwhile.

Answer 4

Your brain structure and chemistry is determined genetically, and that does have some effect on potential IQ. However, there is more to IQ than that. It is well known that children who are raised with much sensory stimulation in the early years (some would say even in utero) generally end up with higher IQ than children who lack such stimulation.

Answer 5

That depends on what you mean by IQ. You can train yourself to do IQ tests and so improve your score. If you just mean intelligence that I think it is a combination of genetics and training/education. Try reading Robert Winstons book 'The Human Mind'. It's all very interesting stuff.

Answer 6

Partially--- its the old nature and nurture argument.

I'm quite confident that aptitude, general intelligence and a variety of thinking skills are genetic. Just look at the spectrum of people from those with learning disabilities and low IQ to those who are billiant.

However, since IQ gets measured by what you know also, there has to be a learning element in there.

Answer 7

No... My father is a; Wealthy, successful business man now retired, that also happened to be an; illiterate, belligerent, uneducated, opinionated, violent, stereo typical Ginny idiot!

and my mother was an uneducated housewife by CHOICE! so even though she is very smart, with a rather high IQ. She allowed a horrible man to control her and dominate her life, morality and finances for 45 years of raising his children and cleaning his house like a slave until he divorced her and ran off with a; useless, annoying, oblivious, whore when they were both in their 60's and 70's...

Now how could any of that, be considered intelligent of her?

I taught myself everything I know beyond the usual stuff everyone really does learn in Kindergarten. My belly button is the only reminder I have that even alludes to the fact that I ever even HAD parents at all let alone smart ones! For what the name "Parent" implies, was NEVER given to me or my brothers from either of them.

Answer 8

You inherit a certain size vessel wich can contain all of the knowledge you learn, and an ability to process that information.

Now, you can put into the vessel only so much, but it is your choosing to a point how much and of what goes in, but remember, garbage in = garbage out.

You can also inhance the ability to process that information to a point with repetition and practice.

However, you are genetically predisposed with a learning cap. Most of us never get close to filling it up or fully inhancing our ability to process.

Answer 9

I think it is partially.

Some people have their brains wired up in such a way to make them have brilliant intelligence.

Some peopls's brains are OK and they achieve brilliant intelligence through hard work and training their brain.

Other people's brains are wired up in such a way as they will be better at manual type jobs and not so intellectual.

This is what I think.

Answer 10

You inherit how well your brain works, but you buld it up with learning, reading, and mental excercises as you grow up, so some people are naturally quick witted and clever, but they also buld up on it by developing a love for learning, so if you inherited an average brain, you can still be a genius by actually studying or developing certain skills..