Is intelligence inherited?

Question

Or are we all just blank slates, waiting be be engraved by our upbringing?

Answer 1

If it is, I'm gonna be smart as hell when my parents pass away.

Answer 2

I think DNA plays a huge role in a persons intelligence but also these skills need to be brought out by education, if a child doesn't have the people around them to teach them these skills then the person suffers, There are a lot of parents that just don't take the time with their kids. I don't think a little baby is born to be a hoodlum but they are learned skills from the improper upbringing.

Answer 3

Yes without a doubt. We pass on not only physical attributes through our genes but also emotional traits behavioural traits artisticness and intelligence. WE can make a difference as to how the intelligence is developed by nurture and mental and physical stimulation but the building blocks are already there. WE are also not complete blank slates at birth as it has been proved that unborn babies are affected by stress hormones in their mothers blood and they also respond to different kinds of music which can affect them as they grow up.
The important thing with children is to nurture them from the beginning and help tham make the best of whatever they've got

Answer 4

People are not born intelligent. Babies come into life with a small amount of innate intelligence but then have to learn fast.

In the first few years they learn most from observation of people and their facial expressions and body language.

There is a huge difference between intelligence and academic ability. You can teach someone to reach high academic targets but rarely can you teach intelligence.

Most research on intelligence suggest it is self learnt.

Intelligence is measured in many different ways such as mathematical, verbal, visio spacial etc. so it is possible to be strong in some areas and weak in others.

Having a high IQ only indicates potential though and many people with very high IQs do not attain academically.

Answer 5

As far a I know there is a considerable influence upon intelligence from the genes of the parents.Although a lot of knowledge and intelligence is learnt and acquired from school ,study and experience the basic ability to process and understand all this information and to use it correctly is genetic.There are thousands of examples of very bright youngsters following in the footsteps of equally intelligent parents but rather fewer of parents of lower ability raising really intelligent offspring. This of course could be partly due to environment or economic restraints but probably more often due to the lack of inherited ability.

Answer 6

It is a combination of both nature and nurture.
I have friends from a family of 4 kids, where 2 are among the smartest people I know, and the other 2 among the least intelligent.

Of course there are different kinds of intelligence, some learned some inherent.

Answer 7

I think the basic level of human intelligence (what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom) is inherited. Also there is an aspect where some people find it easier to learn than others, which I think is also inherited. After you get those two out of the way, its all down to education.

Answer 8

Well, it depends. It's not that you just know everything from the start. But the way we learn is passed on. In example, if you studied hard and took things seriously, then your child will. But you have to be the one to teach, you can't rely on public school systems anymore. Not even Private schools can teach as well as a parent can to a young child. Teach them the right things, and they will be the smartest kid ever.

Answer 9

I think upbringing is def a part of the way you larn, remember and how you see things but when you grow up , it's up to you to decide how intelligent you want to be and decide how much you want to know and learn

Answer 10

Ussually talents and willingness to learn and how easy it is to do is inherited. For example, if your mother or father is a scientist and was very good with math, math may come easier to you, but you still have to go to school to learn the stuff, it just changes how difficult it is for you.

Answer 11

90 percent yes. another 20 percent by nurturing and upbringing