Is IQ inherited?

[Anonymous]

And by intelligence, I mean the ability to learn easily and retain the information.

It certainly seems to me that intelligent parents have intelligent kids. And in terms of intelligence only, average parents have average kids. And before you attack, I am only talking about the ease of learning and retaining what was learned. Millions of people with average intelligence go on to be billionaires in business, have magnificent marriages and happy fulfilled lives...

[Anonymous]

Seems to be the case, IME.

[Anonymous]

There's a lot of research on this top. Yes, intelligence is heritable, but environment matters as well, particularly when it's extremely bad.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that has certainly been my experience with very smart people - they have very smart kids.

[Anonymous]

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]

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?

[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?

What kind of plans?

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

[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

Very interesting link - thank you!

[Anonymous]

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

[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?

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.

[Anonymous]

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).

[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?

Yes, as long as they don't take it as a guarantee and remember that regression to the mean happens.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

Yes, if DH and I both had IQs that topped 180, we would definitely make the assumption that our off-spring would be equally intelligent and would make plans accordingly (we don't so no worries here).

Another question - is talent inherited? If you and partner are both concert pianists would you make the assumption that your off-spring would also possess the same talent (excluding physical complications as PP said)?