Does Hereditary Influence Iq Scores Essay - 1530 Words

Does Hereditary Influence IQ Scores? Stephen Gould’s monograph, The Mismeasure of Man, examines and denounces the belief of biological determinism. In Chapter 5, titled â€Å"The Hereditarian Theory of IQ†, Gould addresses the idea that the average intelligence quotient (IQ) of an individual is strictly based on their hereditary. Gould condemns the belief of hereditarianism through reconstructing and finding inaccuracies in the experiments that leading scientists and researchers in the field, such as H. Goddard, L. Terman, and R. Yerkes, made while supporting the idea of biological determinism. Gould articulates how scientists, who allow their own personal prejudices and bias seep into their data, have inaccurately mismeasured man from the beginning of time. Scientists, who publish bias data in their work, even if not a supporter of hereditarianism and biological determinism, cause the general public to be misinformed about important social issues. Chapter 5 allows read ers to understand why these inaccuracies happened and how the data from the experiments conducted impacted society as a whole. Alfred Binet, once a pioneer of craniometry, came to the conclusion that he allowed bias to influence the results of his experiments on human intelligence. In 1905, Binet created the Binet-Simon Scale, a scale that sought to discover the measurement of a human’s intelligence without bringing brain size into the equation. However, IQ testing did not become popular outside of Binet’s nativeShow MoreRelatedEssay on Human Development: Nature vs. Nurture1393 Words   |  6 Pagescan be made based on the influence of hereditary and environmental intellectual variation (Leahy). The study was conducted with strict standards to make it valid. For example, the adopted children that were studied were young; they also were brought up in similar backgrounds as the control children. Parents’ occupation was also similar, as this would affect the results if the parents had varying occupations (Leahy). The results from this study showed that: â€Å"Variation in IQ is accounted for by variationRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Freakonomics By Steven D. Levitt Essay1502 Words   |  7 Pagestotally different statistics, can be linked together. In the first chapter, school teachers and sumo wrestlers, the authors show how an incentive are able to influence individuals. The definition of an incentive, â€Å"is urging people to do more of a good thing, and less of a bad thing (17).† However, incentives are sometimes able to influence an individual into doing the wrong thing, in order to obtain the incentive. The book states that the top three incentives are: â€Å"economic, social and morals (17)Read MoreThe Development of Measured Intelligence Essay1851 Words   |  8 Pages IQ and intelligence tests ========================= IQ stands for intelligence quotient. IQ tests enable us to calculate a childs mental age. For example, if a child passes tasks in the general mental ability test that average 8 year olds pass, but cant pass tasks that an average 9 year old can pass, then the child has a mental age of 8. If we divide the mental age by the childs chronological age, then multiply it by 100, the childs IQ can be foundRead MoreIntellectual Success Is A Determining Factor That Will Govern An Individual s Quality Of Life3403 Words   |  14 Pagesstatus, profession ranking, and self-importance within society. An individual’s intellectual success enables then to succeed further in society and as a result, gain more opportunities and better prospects. Fundamental intelligence is measured using IQ (Binet, 1905), which has been the basis of determining standards within educational systems and an individual’s ability to succeed within society. 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However, academic success is measured using standardized testing and testing throughout an individual’sRead MoreNature Vs Nurture Centers On How Much Of A Person s Biological, Cognitive, And Social Development1541 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION Nature Vs Nurture centers on how much of a person’s biological, cognitive, personal and social development can be attributed to either the genetic (hereditary) determinism i.e. nature or the environmental determinism i.e. nurture. Charles Darwin (1809-1882) noted that â€Å"Physical characteristics that promote survival of the individual are more likely to be passed on to offspring because the individuals with these characteristics are likelyRead MoreExamining Genetic Influence On Intelligence1753 Words   |  8 Pages Identical twin studies are most useful in determining genetic influence on intelligence. Since the identical twins share the same exact genes, the straightforward comparison of intelligence can display if this human trait is truly heritable. Similarity of intelligence scores between identical twins supports the genetic influence on intelligence. According to Myers (2007), Across studies of 10,000 twins, the intelligence test scores of identical twins reared together are virtually as similar asRead MoreEthical And Ethical Aspects Of Social Ethics2191 Words   |  9 Pagesbetween racial and ethnic groups. The authors of The Bell Curve argue that no amount of education or teaching methodologies can overcome supremacism. Case Study 1 The Bell Curve holds the position that human intelligence is inborn and measurable by one’s IQ, which in turn shows how much success a single individual will have in life. The Bell Curve supports a class system, arguing that the intelligent people are likely to become ever more dominant and prosperous, while the unintelligent are falling further