Nature vs. Nurture and Intelligence

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the issue of nature versus nurture regarding intelligence. It examines whether persons' potential for learning and success is due to their environment or their genetic makeup. It contends that whether nature or nurture influences intelligence remains a matter of debate between scientists. However, it appears that nurture outweighs nature when it comes to intelligence.

From the Paper:

"Many scientists believe that people behave as they do according to genetic predispositions or "animal instincts (Powell, 2003)." This is known as the "nature" theory of human behavior. Other scientists believe that people behave in certain ways because they have learned to do so. This is known as the "nurture" theory of human behavior. Increasing understanding of the human genome suggests that both sides are partly right. Nature provides human beings with inborn abilities and traits; nurture takes these genetic tendencies and develops them as we learn and mature. However, despite these common beliefs, scientists still argue over how much of who we are is shaped by genes and how much by the environment."

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