Theories Cognitive Psychology Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 28, 2024 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Akeem Marsh, MD Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Karen Cilli Fact checked by Karen Cilli Karen Cilli is a fact-checker for Verywell Mind. She has an extensive background in research, with 33 years of experience as a reference librarian and educator. Learn about our editorial process Print Michael H / Digital Vision / Getty Images Trending Videos Close this video player What role do genetic and environmental influences play in determining intelligence? This question has been one of the most controversial topics throughout the history of psychology and remains a hot topic of debate to this day. In addition to disagreements about the basic nature of intelligence, psychologists have spent a great amount of time and energy debating the various influences on individual intelligence. The debate focuses on one of the major questions in psychology: Which is more important—nature or nurture? What is intelligence? Do Genetics or Intelligence Play a Bigger Role in Determining Intelligence? Today, psychologists recognize that both genetics and the environment play a role in determining intelligence. It now becomes a matter of determining exactly how much of an influence each factor has. Twin studies suggest that the variance in IQ is linked to genetics. This research suggests that genetics may play a larger role than environmental factors in determining individual IQ. One important thing to note about the genetics of intelligence is that it is not controlled by a single "intelligence gene." Instead, it is the result of complex interactions between many genes (or polygenic). Next, it is important to note that genetics and the environment interact to determine exactly how inherited genes are expressed, a concept known as epigenetics. For example, if a person has tall parents, it is likely that the individual will also grow to be tall. However, the exact height the person reaches can be influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition and disease. A child may be born with genes for exceptional brightness, but if that child grows up in a deprived environment where they are malnourished and lack access to educational opportunities, they may not score well on measures of IQ. What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have? Try Our Quiz If you're curious about which type of multiple intelligence style you have, our fast and free quiz can help you learn more about what makes you tick. This quiz was reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW. Evidence of Genetic Influences on Intelligence All traits are heritable, with intelligence being one of the most researched. If genetics were the only factor to consider when predicting intelligence, we would expect identical twins to have identical IQ scores. The research shows: Studies show that IQ scores of identical twins are strongly correlated, and are more similar than those of fraternal twins. Identical twins' test scores also correlate highly when given assessments that measure reading, mathematics, and language skills.Siblings who were raised together in the same environment have more similar IQs than those of unrelated adopted children who were brought up in the same household. In addition to inherited characteristics, other biological factors such as maternal age, prenatal exposure to harmful substances, and prenatal malnutrition may also influence intelligence. Evidence of Environmental Influences on Intelligence Historically, some theorists believed humans are born with a blank slate, and capable of becoming any type of person with any type of career, influence, and social status. The research shows: Identical twins who were raised separately have less similar IQs than those of identical twins who grew up in the same household. School attendance has an impact on IQ scores. Children who were breastfed for 12 months or longer had a higher IQ (about 3.7 points) at age 30. Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies are linked with lower IQ. In one example, studies have found that first-born children tend to have higher IQs than later-born siblings. Why? Many experts believe that this is because first-born children receive more attention from their parents. Research also suggests that parents expect older children to perform better on a variety of tasks, whereas later-born siblings face less task-focused expectations. What's the Average IQ? Take Away Today, scientists agree that both genetics and environment impact the physical development of the brain and the cognitive development of the mind which ultimately determines intelligence. Our genetics may provide us with an intellectual capacity but our environment determines if we reach our potential. That being the case, both would appear to be equally important. Emotional Intelligence: How We Perceive, Evaluate, Express, and Control Emotions 9 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Plomin R, von Stumm S. The new genetics of intelligence. Nat Rev Genet. 2018;19(3):148-159. doi:10.1038/nrg.2017.104 Zheng Y, Rijsdijk F, Arden R. Differential environmental influences on the development of cognitive abilities during childhood. Intelligence. 2018;66:72-78. doi:10.1016/j.intell.2017.11.005 Plomin R, Deary IJ. Genetics and intelligence differences: Five special findings. Mol Psychiatry. 2015;20(1):98-108. doi:10.1038/mp.2014.105 Pinker S. The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature. Penguin; 2003. Oommen A. Factors influencing intelligence quotient. JNSK. 2014;1(4). doi:10.15406/jnsk.2014.01.00023 Ritchie SJ, Tucker-Drob EM. How much does education improve intelligence? A meta-analysis. Psychol Sci. 2018;29(8):1358-1369. doi:10.1177/0956797618774253 Horta BL, Hartwig FP, Victora CG. Breastfeeding and intelligence in adulthood: Due to genetic confounding? The Lancet Global Health. 2018;6(12):e1276-e1277. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30371-1 Isaacs EB, Gadian DG, Sabatini S, et al. The effect of early human diet on caudate volumes and IQ. Pediatr Res. 2008;63(3):308-314. doi:10.1203/PDR.0b013e318163a271 Lehmann J-YK, Nuevo-Chiquero A, Vidal-Fernandez M. The early origins of birth order differences in children’s outcomes and parental behavior. J Human Resources. 2018;53(1):123-156. doi:10.3368/jhr.53.1.0816-8177 By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit