Nature vs Nurture in the Context of Intelligence - Research Paper Example

Storing and retrieving information; command over language; rapid learning; calculating; reasoning; and perceiving analogies and relationships (Intelligence).
Intellectual functioning can be defined as functioning that could be evaluated by one or more separately applied intelligence tests that have been formed for that purpose (intellectual functioning).

In the Nurture Assumption, Harris has stated that the peer group of individuals has a major effect on their intelligence. The disparity between the intelligence quotients of the Whites and the Blacks could be due to peer group traits (Environmental Influences on Intelligence).

Worker productivity is indirectly affected by general intelligence. The more intelligent people are quicker in learning the necessary job-specific knowledge. They learn faster on the job and during training. Job performance, on the other hand, is directly affected by general intelligence (Jones & Schneider, 2006, p. 73).

Jensen has stated that intelligence consists of two sets of abilities. Level I abilities relate to simple learning by association and memory functions. Level II abilities relate to thinking about concepts and abstract reasoning (Arthur Jensen, 2012).

Jensen applied statistical analysis to the data collected by him. From this analysis, he came to the conclusion that Level I abilities were distributed equally among all the people. However, Level II abilities were to be found more among the Whites than the Blacks. Asians were seen to have more Level II abilities than the Whites (Modern I.Q. Theorists – Arthur Jensen).

In addition, the theory of rational choice is now generally accepted with regard to choice behavior. This theory was developed by economists over several hundred years. It states that individual choice aims to maximize their well–being under the limitations they face (The Matching Law, 2013).

The person-environment, need–press theory of Murray, resulted in the notion of psychological needs. Murray made a list of such needs that were important for human behavior. These needs refer to the behavior, feelings, or reactions of the individual. Press describes the effect of the environment to promote or impede the fulfillment of needs. In combination, environmental press and individual needs can explain a large number of behaviors (Rounds & Armstrong, 2004, p. 307).

Flynn noticed that intelligence levels are significantly affected by environmental factors. Improved schooling, clean air, public health, and nutrition bring about an increase in IQ scores. This is especially true for the low end of the distribution. This is known as the Flynn Effect. It explains the increase, of 3 points every 10 years, in the IQ scores of the people in the developed world. In the US the average increased by 18 points in tests, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Stanford – Binet, Raven’s tests, and the Armed Forces Qualification Test (Jensen, 2011, p. 171).

Around a hundred years ago, the British psychologist Charles Spearman made a very important observation. This was in relation to mental tests. He noticed that individuals who performed well in one such test would also perform well in other tests. The goal, content, or format of the test had no effect on their performance. For instance, if a person does well in a test of mathematical aptitude, then he will also do well on a test of verbal ability (Gottfredson, 2011, p. 1).

This made Spearman conclude that such tests were actually affecting some deeper and general ability. He invented factor analysis to estimate this common factor from the complex correlations among the tests. He was successful in establishing that tests, in general, measure what the termed the g factor. This is the general factor of intelligence (Gottfredson, 2011, p. 1). He also showed that in all the species, variation in cognition was due to variation in the g factor.

The study of intelligence changed significantly, due to the analyses of Jensen. The g factor cannot be observed directly. It has to be understood from its effects. At the behavioral level, the g factor provides the capacity to manipulate information mentally. This is very important for the learning process, reasoning, and solving problems. At the psychological level, the g factor explains the variations in the overall integrity and efficiency of the brain. At the genetic level, the g factor is based on features that are highly dispersed. It can be assumed that the g factor is the end result of the action of a large number of genes (Gottfredson, 2011, p. 2).

Gardner has stated that intelligence is the capacity to manufacture an effective product or to provide a service that has cultural value. In addition, intelligence is a set of skills that enable a person to solve the problems of life (Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory).

Our intellectual functioning is due to our genes and our environment. As stated by Gardner, there are nine types of intelligence that relate to us. Some of these are linguistic intelligence, or the capacity to use language for making others aware of our thoughts. Then there is logical intelligence, which enables us to understand the principles of a causal system or the ability to manipulate quantities and numbers. Another intelligence is musical rhythmic intelligence, which is the capacity to think in music, to hear patterns, and recognize them. These are some of the effects of Howard’s theory on us. Read More