Groundbreaking study reveals the impact of genetics on IQ scores over time
A study by Nancy L. Segal in Personality and Individual Differences reveals genetic factors' increasing influence on intelligence as individuals age. Research on reared-apart twins highlights genetics' role in shaping intellectual abilities over time.
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A recent groundbreaking study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences delves into the age-old debate of nature versus nurture in shaping intelligence. The study, led by Nancy L. Segal, focused on young monozygotic twins reared apart, revealing that genetic factors play a more significant role in shaping intellectual abilities as individuals age. The research involved three groups: Chinese reared-apart twins, Danish adult reared-apart twins, and virtual twins. The findings showed that genetic influences become more prominent over time, leading to increased IQ resemblance among twins raised apart. In contrast, virtual twins, who do not share a genetic link, displayed a decrease in IQ similarity over time, emphasizing the diminishing impact of shared environmental factors as they age. Despite the study's limitations due to small sample sizes, the results underscore the growing importance of genetics in shaping intelligence as individuals mature. The study sheds new light on the interplay between genetics and environment in determining IQ scores over time.
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4 commentsI have peers who have not evolved any further since the end of university, despite now having decades worth of life & work experience, professional and social connections, which is reflected in how they do their jobs, especially when they assume leadership in some department or company (evidence acquired from their current and former colleagues) and in how they raise their children as well.
Other peers, who were less educated and were considered less intelligent and who did not go down the beaten path came out smarter, harder, faster, stronger and more disciplined & deliberate in their roles at work and as parents.
The focus on IQ is as absurd. Learning, including learning to learn, which is the main intended outcome of school, is not an ability that can be tied to "healthy genetics" because amount of/exposure to unhealthy stress, and healthy stress without proper recovery, nutrition (person & parents), and how stimulating & inspiring the socio-cultural environment is, are not genetic.
But that's only an outline of thoughts and observations & exceptions expand the rule, ofc.
Using r/K theory as an analogy, K-selection (few, high effort offspring) works for organisms without a lot of intra-species competition, and few of those species tribalize or murder each other at any scale. r-Selection (many, low effort offspring) lack sophistication, but dominate by sheer numbers. If you started breeding modified high-IQ humans, the rest would just end up organizing to hunt them to extinction. There are others who say this has already happened.
But what if we ask whether the difference in intelligence between humans and chimps is environmental or genetic?
It seems to me that genes are quite obviously the most influential factor in intelligence. Or at least for 'potential intelligence' - correcting for health or education deficits, etc.
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