Unit 11: Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Although girls have an edge in math ___, boys score higher in math ___ ___. Boys tend to outscore girls on tests of ___ ___.

computation; problem solving; mental rotation

Group differences in intelligence scores (do/do not) provide an accurate basis fro judging individuals. Individual differences within a race are (greater than/less than) between-race differences.

do not; greater than

Studies indicate that neglected children (do/do not) show signs of recovery in intelligence and behavior when placed in more nurturing environments. Although normal brain development can be retarded by ___, ___ deprivation, and ___ ___, there is no sure environment that will transform a normal baby into a genius.

do; malnutrition; sensory; social isolation

If we know a trait has perfect heritability, this knowledge (does/does not) enable us to rule out environmental factors in explaining differences between groups.

does not

The intelligence test scores of other siblings. This provides evidence of a (genetic/environmental) effect because fraternal twins, being the same ___ are treated more alike

environmental; age

Working from an ___ perspective, some theorists speculate that these gender differences in spatial manipulation helped our ancestors survive.

evolutionary

Studies of adopted children and their adoptive and biological families demonstrate that with age, genetic influences on intelligence become (more/less) apparent. Thus, children's intelligence scores are more like those of their (biological/adoptive) parents than their (biological/adoptive) parents.

more; biological; adoptive

The intelligence scores of identical twins reared together are (more/no more) similar than those of fraternal twins. Brain scans also reveal that identical twins have similar volume to their brain's ___ ___, and those areas associated with ___ and ___ intelligence.

more; gray matter; verbal; spatial

Because intelligence is influenced by many genes, it is said to be ___.

polygenetic

In the sense that they detect differences caused by cultural experiences, intelligence tests probably (are/are not) biased.

are

Most psychologists agree that, in terms of predictive validity, the major aptitude tests (are/are not) racially biased.

are not

Under the skin, the races (are/are not) alike. Race (is/is not) a neatly defined biological category.

are; is not

The amount of variation in a trait within a group that is attributed to genetic factors is called its ___. For intelligence, this has been estimated at ___ percent.

heritability; 50

Although Asian students on the average score (higher/lower) than North American students on math tests, this difference may be due to the fact that _____________.

it reflects conscientiousness more than competence

According to many, boy's and girls' interests and abilities are shaped in large part by __ ___ and divergent opportunities. The mental ability scores of males tend to vary (less/more) than those of females.

social expectations; more

Girls tend to outscore boys on ___ tests and are more ___ fluent. They also have an edge in ___ and ___ objects, in sensation, and in ___-detecting ability.

spelling; verbally; remembering; locating; emotion

When women and members of ethnic minorities are led to expect that they won't do well on a test, a ___ ___ may result, and their scores may actually be lower.

stereotype threat

On an infant intelligence measure (preference for looking at novel stimuli), Black infants score (lower than/higher than/as well as) White infants.

as well as

High-quality programs for disadvantaged children, such as the government-funded ___ ___ program, increase children's school readiness; that is, they increase their ___ ___, creating better attitudes toward learning.

Head Start; emotional intelligence

There is evidence that spatial abilities are enhanced by high levels of ___ ___ ___ during prenatal development.

male sex hormones