Book contents
- In the Know
- In the Know
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Introduction
- Section 1 The Nature of Intelligence
- Section 2 Measuring Intelligence
- Section 3 Influences on Intelligence
- 11 IQ Only Reflects a Person’s Socioeconomic Status
- 12 High Heritability for Intelligence Means that Raising IQ Is Impossible
- 13 Genes Are Not Important for Determining Intelligence
- 14 Environmentally Driven Changes in IQ Mean that Intelligence Is Malleable
- 15 Social Interventions Can Drastically Raise IQ
- 16 Brain-Training Programs Can Raise IQ
- 17 Improvability of IQ Means Intelligence Can Be Equalized
- Section 4 Intelligence and Education
- Section 5 Life Consequences of Intelligence
- Section 6 Demographic Group Differences
- Section 7 Societal and Ethical Issues
- References
- Index
14 - Environmentally Driven Changes in IQ Mean that Intelligence Is Malleable
from Section 3 - Influences on Intelligence
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 October 2020
- In the Know
- In the Know
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Introduction
- Section 1 The Nature of Intelligence
- Section 2 Measuring Intelligence
- Section 3 Influences on Intelligence
- 11 IQ Only Reflects a Person’s Socioeconomic Status
- 12 High Heritability for Intelligence Means that Raising IQ Is Impossible
- 13 Genes Are Not Important for Determining Intelligence
- 14 Environmentally Driven Changes in IQ Mean that Intelligence Is Malleable
- 15 Social Interventions Can Drastically Raise IQ
- 16 Brain-Training Programs Can Raise IQ
- 17 Improvability of IQ Means Intelligence Can Be Equalized
- Section 4 Intelligence and Education
- Section 5 Life Consequences of Intelligence
- Section 6 Demographic Group Differences
- Section 7 Societal and Ethical Issues
- References
- Index
Summary
Chapter 12 shows that high heritability and strong environmentally driven change are both possible in the same trait. By providing an appropriate diet to people with PKU, reducing lead exposure to children, and treating iodine deficiency, it is possible to either increase intelligence or prevent large drops in intelligence. These environmental interventions are major successes that are probably responsible for millions of people being smarter today than they would have been otherwise. Adoption studies also show that being raised in a middle- or upper-class family home probably raises IQ scores by as much as 4–5 points, an increase that would have major positive impacts on people’s lives (see Chapter 11).
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- Chapter
- Information
- In the KnowDebunking 35 Myths about Human Intelligence, pp. 125 - 132Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020