PSYC 1010 Study Guide - Heritability, Stereotype Threat

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: Heather Jenkin

Document Summary

Module 31: genetic and environmental influences on intelligence. People who share the same genes also share the same mental abilities. The intelligence test scores of identical twins reared together are very similar as those of the same person taking the test twice. Studies of twins, family members, and adoptees indicate a significant hereditary contribution to intelligence scores. Intelligence seems to be polygenetic, and researches are searching for genes that exert and influence. Brain scans reveal that identical twin s brains are built and function similarly. heritability: the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied. Studies of twins, family members, and adoptees also provide evidence of environmental influences. Test scores of identical twins raised apart are slightly less similar (though still very highly correlated) than the scores of identical twins raised together.