Is intelligence influenced more by environmental or biological factors? Justify your answer.?

Answer 1

The answer to this question lies in your definition of intelligence. All forms of life have some intelligence whether you're speaking of a squid, a toad or a human being. I assume you mean human beings by the way your question is phrased. In that case, intelligence is both a factor of environment and biology. Biologically, the brain must be physically able to function on a level of higher thought. The environment must be conducive to learning. Resources must be readily available and accessible.

Answer 2

This question has been at the heart of many debates among scholars for the last century and still hasn't been resolved. The majority of scientists today agree that intelligence is a result of both environmental and genetic factors. It's really hard to prove the relative importance of the individual factors, but it most scientists believe that about 70% of one's intellectual capacity is a direct consequence of one's genetic makeup. The basis for the latter is based on studies conducted on groups with different degrees of genetic similarity - like monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, heterozygotic siblings, and adopted children. All those studies have shown a remarkable correlation between genes and IQ scores.

The environmental influences also play a part in determining one's IQ, but aren't as important as most people think. They contribute about 25% of the difference in IQ scores in the general population. That includes the family one grew up in, nutrition, the school one went to, the level of education of one's parents etc.

Again, not all scholars agree with the above findings. Until scientists find a more effective way to measure the relative importance of each of the contributing factors, the debates will rage on.

Answer 3

Neither.

Or both.

Take your pick.

They say it's 50/50.

Well, looking again at how you phrased the answer, it's less clear -- environment includes biological factors, so those two aren't exclusive.

For instance, malnourishment hinders intellectual development -- that is both environmental and biological.

Why don't you do a little reading up on the topic?