Innate = people are born with natural level of intelligence - inherited
Burt and Seligman = 2 examples of psychologists who believe its innate
others believe environment - physical and social world - is responsible
'nature-nurture debate' = term coined by Francis Galton who studied behaviour genetics
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research method = twin studies
monozygotic and dizygotic
comparing intelligence of monozygotic twins
same genes
differences in intelligence show it cannot all be innate
similarities support innate argument
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definition of intelligence
limitation = different measures of intelligence - not always directly comparable
Plomin (1944 onwards) found that GCSE results and IQ correlate at rate of 0.5
most psychologists use IQ as a measure of intelligence
the independent - IQ tests are fundamentally flawed because they don't take into account the complexity of human intellect
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monozygotic vs. dizygotic twins
Burt (1966) - identical twins reared apart have closer IQ scores than non identical twins reared apart
supports innate argument
however there is still a difference therefore it cannot all be innate
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Galton (1869)
believed success is due to superior qualities passed down to offspring through heredity
'inherited genius' was his book
used obituaries in the times to trace lines of eminent men in europe
questionnable how much evidence this provides for innate argument as it's possible that being born into a wealthy/important family meant environment enabled them to become eminent
Galton was inspired by Darwin
Seligman (2002) was also inspired by darwin
said human mental abilities and personality traits - no less than plant and animal traits described by darwin - are essentially inherited
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Conclusion
lots of support for the argument
however cannot ignore the fact that environment lpays a part too
differences in identical twins
Goodhart (Galton Institute) suggests important parts of our cultural inheritance are transmitted through teaching and learning from one generation to the next
implies nurturing/environmental factor of teaching develops intelligence
overall, more research using modern technology and increased knowledge about genetics is needed to form a conclusion to the age-old nature-nurture debate
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