Where do most psychologists today stand on the nature-nurture question as it applies to intelligence
The age-old question of which is more important, genetics or environment, is known as the nature-nurture controversy. This is one of the oldest questions of psychology. The controversy is about which of the following is more influential to a man’s qualities: genetically acquired traits or the traits that an individual acquires from the environment over his lifetime via experiences, inferences and knowledge. Several past psychologists had joined either one of the group of thinking, with some taking an intermediate position.
History tells us that this total episode of Nature versus Nurture controversy have exposed the politics of science and divided the scientific world into two halves. The scientists, who had believed that IQ (intelligence quotient) is heritable, were known as conservatives or nativists and the scientists, who believed that IQ is based on nurture, were known as liberals or nurturists.
Thus, the answer to the question regarding Nature versus Nurture controversy cannot be answered easily. Both are equally responsible for the behavioral patterns, personality and cognitive development of a person.
At present, the controversy surrounding nature versus nurture has subsided and the question today lies how much both the factors contribute to a person’s intellect. Both heredity and environmental factors have been believed to influence intelligence. It is still a matter of constant research by the psychologists that how to measure IQ of individuals in the most perfect way.