Is intelligence genetic?

Switzerland
August 29, 2007 10:04am CST
Is intelligence the ability to memorise large amounts of information and then being able to manipulate or apply that information when needed , or is intelligence the ability to think in ways different from the norm, when faced with a problem? Is inteligence genetic, and so if you have very intelligent parents does that mean you have the capacity to be very intelligent, regardless of enviromental factors, such as poor schooling? This probably does not make a lot of sense and i've worded it terribly but i hope you can at least sort of get my drift.
1 person likes this
3 responses
zeeduckieez
@zeeduckieez (674)
• Canada
30 Aug 07
Absolutely not. I have a friend, and he is a successful scientist. His offspring on the other hand, failed most classes in his 10th year of school. It depends on the mindset of the person, how they react to situations, and how much they want to learn.
Rozie37
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
30 Aug 07
That is a very interesting question and I have a very interesting answer. You know how when people go to a sperm bank to be artificially insimated or whatever it is that they do. They will usually want to know the genetic make up of the father. I think that people at least believe that it is inherited. However, I do not believe that it is inherited at all. I believe that some work hard to gain the knowledge and attitudes of their parents and some, for whatever reason don't. So do not believe that just because a parent is bright, their children will automatically be that way.
derek_a
@derek_a (10874)
•
29 Aug 07
I think that as people we identify with others very easily and if we have grown up with highly intelligent parents, we may set their intelligence to our own values and our subconscious mind then will respond to our beliefs. However, I don't think intelligence is anything to do with wisdom, as you can get very wise people who have no academic ability at all. My opinion is that we all have a potential to improve intelligence and wisdom, we just need to know what we need to do, and then commit to doing it. :-)