I was wondering if anyone has any information on IQ being hereditary or not? My fathers side of the family is filled with geeky smart people, like engineers, scientist, and a few mensa members. I have been tested a couple times throughout my life and my IQ has been scored at an average of 130. I have always been seen as the smartest in my family ( I have 5 half-siblings), I'm the only one to go to college and onto law school. I know this is kinda a arbitary question, but I'd like to hear what everyone has to say on the subject.
2006-11-11 15:36:43 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Oh I forgot to mention that I didn't meet my bio father and his side of the family until I was 19 years old. He was absent from my life until then. I dropped out of high school and didn't even read my first book until I was like 18. So, I'm pretty sure my enviornment didn't contribute to my above average IQ. It was amazing to meet my paternal side of the family and discover that maybe that's where my smarts came from!! Lol...
2006-11-11 16:53:36 · update #1
My background and IQ are very similar to yours.
What you do with it can make all the differences. Some of the geniuses in the family think I am the smart one!
A person can be so intellectual, that they can be a bit unbalanced in that direction. Then they have all this intelligence at their disposal but cannot properly use it. Like you said, "Geeky"!
Yes, it usually does run in families. Like maybe we got are ability to use ours from being around them in the first place?
Don't know how you feel, but I'd rather be me! It's what ya do with it that counts. And just tryin' to be a well rounded human being!
2006-11-11 15:44:17 · answer #1 · answered by smoothsoullady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IQ certainly is to some extent hereditary. However, there are tons of factors to this. Two high IQ people can have a Downs child, or one who has had damage done either in-utero or in birth. There also can be quite a range of IQs within any family. If you have been tested more than once, and your IQ is around 130, that's a good number to believe. Does this necessarily mean your IQ is similar to your parents? No, because there are a number of genes that contribute to IQ. I don't know if I've answered your question, but what I've told you is true.
2006-11-11 15:44:23 · answer #2 · answered by Caper 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My father is a registered genius by the US government. He has two brothers that have registered well above a 150 IQ as well as one sister that graduated high school when she was fourteen or fifteen. The other 3 brothers and one sister score above normal on IQ test also. My sister has two children that have registered genius IQ as well as one who didn't. I have two children that have tested as genius. Out of my grandmother's 16 grandchildren the lowest IQ that I know of is about 130. If it is not hereditary there is some killer karma going on here.
2006-11-11 16:14:01 · answer #3 · answered by tim b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother has an IQ so high it could not be tested in a regular school setting(over 200)...my other brother has an IQ of 142 and I have an IQ of a mere 135...my parents are certainly intelligent but nothing like my brothers...None of us have done anything remarkable in life(graduated from college, got jobs and have lives that are middle class and pleasantly comfortable).
So, what does an IQ actually do?? It is indicative of a possibility ...but it is NOT an absolute guarantee of anything...
2006-11-11 16:04:39 · answer #4 · answered by Mod M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although I'm not really qualified to claim much knowledge on this subject, I've often heard it said that such things as intelligence and personality traits can be hereditary, but I'm not sure that there is proof. I am sure, however, that there is some logic behind the nurture theory; if you are raised by intelligent/brainy people, chances are, if you have the aptitude, you will reach more of your potential for intelligence than you otherwise may have. Smart parents, for example, may read to their children more, make sure they do their homework and take advantage of every learning experience. So yes, I think it quite likely that if you have intelligent parents you are likely to be intelligent as well.
2006-11-11 15:44:03 · answer #5 · answered by Leta 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Intelligence is based on ones Karma(reaction to our actions) from a previous life. Though generally one is put into a family with similar Karma. One has to understand karma and reincarnation to get the full picture of why we have any traits or qualities. go to http://www.stephen-knapp.com for universal understandings
2006-11-11 15:42:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it is hereditary
2006-11-11 15:38:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋