Lecture 2 - History of Intelligence in Psychology Flashcards
Who were the two key figures that marked the beginning of modern intelligence investigation in psychology?
Francis Galton and Alfred Binet
What was Lewis Terman’s contribution to intelligence testing in the USA?
He developed the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test and expanded on Binet’s work to create the American approach to IQ testing
What major concept did William Stern introduce in 1912?
The Intelligence Quotient (IQ), a single numerical figure representing an individual’s general intelligence
Who developed intelligence tests for adults during WWI, and what were they called?
Robert Yerkes and his team (including German). The tests were the Army Alpha (for literates, comprised of 8 subsets) and Army Bets (for illiterates, comprised of 7 subsets)
What are two major areas of controversy in intelligence research?
The heritability of intelligence and race/sex differences in intelligence
How did Galton support the nature argument in intelligence?
He observed that eminent individuals were more likely to have eminent first-degree relatives than second or third-degree ones
According to Bouchard and McGue (1981), what is the IQ correlation for identical (MZ) twins raised together?
86%
What is the IQ correlation for identical (MZ) twins raised apart?
76%
How does IQ correlation change across relatives (Give 3 examples)
- Fraternal twins reared together: 55%
- Parents and children living together: 40%
- Cousins: 15%
What do twin and family studies suggest about intelligence?
Intelligence is significantly heritable but also influenced by the environment
Name 5 categories of environmental influences on intelligence?
- Biological variables
- Family environment
- School and education
- Culture
- Mixed genetic and environmental influences
Which 4 psychological studies demonstrate the role of biological factors in shaping intelligence, and what did each study find?
- Erikson et al. (2012): Found that perinatal health complications are associated with lower cognitive outcomes later in life
- Herrmann et al. (2008): Demonstrated that early brain development patterns can predict later intelligence levels
- Nyaradi et al. (2013): Identified that high quality childhood nutrition supports better cognitive development
- McMichael et al. (1994): Showed that lead exposure during early development negatively impacts intelligence
Which 4 psychological studies demonstrate the role of family environmental factors in shaping intelligence, and what did each study find?
- Baker & Daniels (1990): Reported that the quality of parental involvement influences children’s cognitive outcomes
- Belmont & Marola (1973): Found that children from larger families or later birth order tend to have lower IQ scores
- Dumitrashku (1996): Linked supportive and attentive parenting to higher intelligence in children
- Gottsfredson (1986): Argued that socioeconomic status impacts intelligence due to differences in stimulation and opportunity
Which 2 psychological studies demonstrate the role of school and education in shaping intelligence, and what did each study find?
- Ceci & Williams (1997): Demonstrated that differences in school quality and educational experiences have a significant effect on cognitive development and IQ scores
- Ritchie & Tucker-Drob (2018): Found that increased educational attainment is associated with measurable improvements in cognitive abilities over time
Which psychological study demonstrates the role of culture in shaping intelligence, and what did it find?
- Sternberg & Grigorenko (2004): Argued that intelligence is deeply influenced by cultural contexts, and traditional IQ tests might not capture all culturally relevant forms of intelligence
Which 2 psychological studies demonstrate the role of mixed genetic and environmental influences in shaping intelligence, and what did each study find?
- Bouchard & Segal (1985): Twin studies demonstrate that although identical twins have high IQ correlations, differences between twins reared together versus apart highlight the role of the environment
- Neisset et al. (1996): Confirm genetic influences on IQ while emphasising that environmental factors are pivotal, especially in early childhood
What did Bouchard and Loehlin (2001) develop regarding the influences on behaviour?
They created a framework that integrates both genetic and environmental influences on behaviour
How have personal positions on intelligence research influenced history? (Give an example)
Positions on intelligence have impacted history significantly. For example, Francis Galton’s advocacy of eugenics has affected policies and societal views
What major work on intelligence and race was published by Herrnstein and Murray (1994), and what did it analyze?
Their book, The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life, analyzed IQ test scores throughout the USA and stirred controversy over its claims about race and class
What themes were central to the discussion in The Bell Curve?
- The idea of a cognitive elite
- The role of socio-economic variables in IQ scores
- The relationship between intelligence and race (illustrated by the new bell curve comparing IQ distributions among different racial groups
What implications and solutions did The Bell Curve propose regarding national intelligence?
- The book claimed the national IQ is declining
- It suggested that interventions are ineffective
- It proposed that more resources should be allocated to supporting individuals with high IQ
What is the main criticism leveled by Gould (1996) regarding The Bell Curve?
Gould (1996) attacked the book’s six underlying premises, arguing that the questionable foundations made its policy recommendations insecure
What statistical criticisms did Kamin (1995) raise about The Bell Curve?
Kamin (1995) criticised the book for:
- Poor statistical methodology
- Questionable validity of the measures used
- Questionable validity of the selection and interpretation of research to build its arguments
What ongoing debate is raised about the concept of race from a genetic perspective? (Provide Studies)
Studies by Collins et al. (2003) and Duella et al. (2021) question whether race is a genetically meaningful category at all
