Is IQ inherited?

[Anonymous]

What?

[Anonymous]

My younger DD is much, much brighter than her dad or I. And both of us are very intellectually-inclined people who did well in school (good GPAs, grad school degrees, etc.). Therefore, if you are correct, she was probably swapped in the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes but don't forget about reversion to the mean.... most very smart people will have kids who are less smart than they are.

Reversion to the mean can't possibly apply in the straight inheritance of genetic traits that make learning and retention easier - unless one of the highly intelligent parents chooses a less intelligent partner (I'm thinking trophy wife on this one).

Intelligence isn't a "straight" inheritance. It's controlled by multiple genes.

Exactly.

remember the Nobel Prize-type DCUMer who was so disappointed in her average son?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My younger DD is much, much brighter than her dad or I. And both of us are very intellectually-inclined people who did well in school (good GPAs, grad school degrees, etc.). Therefore, if you are correct, she was probably swapped in the hospital.

I'm the OP and I'm not the one who thinks that straight IQ is subject to reversion to the mean - so no, I think you and your DH should have expected a very bright daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: So if straight IQ is genetic... then when both parents have high IQs, doesn't it make sense that they assume their child will have a high IQ and make educational plans accordingly?

No.

Statistics apply to the population, not to the individual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: So if straight IQ is genetic... then when both parents have high IQs, doesn't it make sense that they assume their child will have a high IQ and make educational plans accordingly?

No.

Statistics apply to the population, not to the individual.

So substitute "high intelligence" instead of "IQ". When both parents are highly intelligent, doesn't it make sense to assume their child will be highly intelligent and make educational plans accordingly?

[Anonymous]

ANd patterns of strengths and weaknesses within IQs tend to be inherited. Yes, shaped by environment but given at a base.

Think nature loads the gun and nurture pulls the trigger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: So if straight IQ is genetic... then when both parents have high IQs, doesn't it make sense that they assume their child will have a high IQ and make educational plans accordingly?

What kind of plans?

With kids, you get what you get. Two highly intelligent parents may or may not have a highly intelligent child.

If straight intelligence is genetic, which is certainly appears to be, then two highly intelligent parents will have a highly intelligent child (barring illness, head injury or gestational issues, of course).

Plans like finding the best educated nanny, the more advanced preschool programs, and saving money for both. Maybe moving to the best area for the schools prior to the child's birth.

Here's what I am getting at - it just seems to me that highly intelligent parents are seen as pushy or presumptuous when they even try to quietly make plans for their child's future.

To me, the opposite would make sense. Your kid is either going to be smart or not, regardless of the environment you provide (within reason, of course). Very little of what parents do will change this much.

Wrong. IQ is so changeable, and the experiences and environment that bright parents create for their children really affect that. It is nearly impossible to tease out environment vs. genes, and no one had made the case on this thread that it's solely genetics. IQ is partly heritable, but it is influenced by so, so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: So if straight IQ is genetic... then when both parents have high IQs, doesn't it make sense that they assume their child will have a high IQ and make educational plans accordingly?

What kind of plans?

With kids, you get what you get. Two highly intelligent parents may or may not have a highly intelligent child.

If straight intelligence is genetic, which is certainly appears to be, then two highly intelligent parents will have a highly intelligent child (barring illness, head injury or gestational issues, of course).

Plans like finding the best educated nanny, the more advanced preschool programs, and saving money for both. Maybe moving to the best area for the schools prior to the child's birth.

Here's what I am getting at - it just seems to me that highly intelligent parents are seen as pushy or presumptuous when they even try to quietly make plans for their child's future.

To me, the opposite would make sense. Your kid is either going to be smart or not, regardless of the environment you provide (within reason, of course). Very little of what parents do will change this much.

Wrong. IQ is so changeable, and the experiences and environment that bright parents create for their children really affect that. It is nearly impossible to tease out environment vs. genes, and no one had made the case on this thread that it's solely genetics. IQ is partly heritable, but it is influenced by so, so much.

My statement was presuming the premise regarding genetics was true, not what I really believe. My personal belief is that it is a combination of genes and env't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The IQ of boys is inherited mostly from their mothers.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/brainy-sons-owe-intelligence-to-their-mothers-1339099.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: So if straight IQ is genetic... then when both parents have high IQs, doesn't it make sense that they assume their child will have a high IQ and make educational plans accordingly?

What kind of plans?

With kids, you get what you get. Two highly intelligent parents may or may not have a highly intelligent child.

If straight intelligence is genetic, which is certainly appears to be, then two highly intelligent parents will have a highly intelligent child (barring illness, head injury or gestational issues, of course).

Plans like finding the best educated nanny, the more advanced preschool programs, and saving money for both. Maybe moving to the best area for the schools prior to the child's birth.

Here's what I am getting at - it just seems to me that highly intelligent parents are seen as pushy or presumptuous when they even try to quietly make plans for their child's future.

I have a very high IQ and DH has a high IQ. We have not done any of these things. It is becoming apparent that our oldest probably has a high IQ but I have zero expectations about what that means for his future. I don't even expect he will go to college though I imagine he likely will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: So if straight IQ is genetic... then when both parents have high IQs, doesn't it make sense that they assume their child will have a high IQ and make educational plans accordingly?

What kind of plans?

With kids, you get what you get. Two highly intelligent parents may or may not have a highly intelligent child.

If straight intelligence is genetic, which is certainly appears to be, then two highly intelligent parents will have a highly intelligent child (barring illness, head injury or gestational issues, of course).

Plans like finding the best educated nanny, the more advanced preschool programs, and saving money for both. Maybe moving to the best area for the schools prior to the child's birth.

Here's what I am getting at - it just seems to me that highly intelligent parents are seen as pushy or presumptuous when they even try to quietly make plans for their child's future.

I have a very high IQ and DH has a high IQ. We have not done any of these things. It is becoming apparent that our oldest probably has a high IQ but I have zero expectations about what that means for his future. I don't even expect he will go to college though I imagine he likely will.

We're just average and assume our average kids will go to college - and we began saving at their births. A college degree is what a high school degree was 50 years ago and is simply necessary today - even if they decide to go to trade school after they get their BA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: So if straight IQ is genetic... then when both parents have high IQs, doesn't it make sense that they assume their child will have a high IQ and make educational plans accordingly?

What kind of plans?

With kids, you get what you get. Two highly intelligent parents may or may not have a highly intelligent child.

If straight intelligence is genetic, which is certainly appears to be, then two highly intelligent parents will have a highly intelligent child (barring illness, head injury or gestational issues, of course).

Plans like finding the best educated nanny, the more advanced preschool programs, and saving money for both. Maybe moving to the best area for the schools prior to the child's birth.

Here's what I am getting at - it just seems to me that highly intelligent parents are seen as pushy or presumptuous when they even try to quietly make plans for their child's future.

To me, the opposite would make sense. Your kid is either going to be smart or not, regardless of the environment you provide (within reason, of course). Very little of what parents do will change this much.

True, I believe an intelligent child will do well anywhere, but the environment can affect the pace and depth of learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: So if straight IQ is genetic... then when both parents have high IQs, doesn't it make sense that they assume their child will have a high IQ and make educational plans accordingly?

What kind of plans?

With kids, you get what you get. Two highly intelligent parents may or may not have a highly intelligent child.

If straight intelligence is genetic, which is certainly appears to be, then two highly intelligent parents will have a highly intelligent child (barring illness, head injury or gestational issues, of course).

Plans like finding the best educated nanny, the more advanced preschool programs, and saving money for both. Maybe moving to the best area for the schools prior to the child's birth.

Here's what I am getting at - it just seems to me that highly intelligent parents are seen as pushy or presumptuous when they even try to quietly make plans for their child's future.

I have a very high IQ and DH has a high IQ. We have not done any of these things. It is becoming apparent that our oldest probably has a high IQ but I have zero expectations about what that means for his future. I don't even expect he will go to college though I imagine he likely will.

How is that -- you don't even expect it but you imagine it's likely he will?

You don't have to have a highly intelligent child to anticipate they will go to college. It's a pretty standard expectation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The IQ of boys is inherited mostly from their mothers.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/brainy-sons-owe-intelligence-to-their-mothers-1339099.html

Ha..I knew it! I showed this article to my DH, who is British. Yes, my ds is smart