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Childhood Socioeconomic Status Amplifies Genetic Effects on Adult Intelligence
- Source :
- Bates, T C, Lewis, G J & Weiss, A 2013, ' Childhood Socioeconomic Status Amplifies Genetic Effects on Adult Intelligence ', Psychological Science, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 2111-2116 . https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613488394
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- SAGE Publications, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Studies of intelligence in children reveal significantly higher heritability among groups with high socioeconomic status (SES) than among groups with low SES. These interaction effects, however, have not been examined in adults, when between-families environmental effects are reduced. Using 1,702 adult twins (aged 24–84) for whom intelligence assessment data were available, we tested for interactions between childhood SES and genetic effects, between-families environmental effects, and unique environmental effects. Higher SES was associated with higher mean intelligence scores. Moreover, the magnitude of genetic influences on intelligence was proportional to SES. By contrast, environmental influences were constant. These results suggest that rather than setting lower and upper bounds on intelligence, genes multiply environmental inputs that support intellectual growth. This mechanism implies that increasing SES may raise average intelligence but also magnifies individual differences in intelligence.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Employment
Male
Parents
Intelligence
Environment
Social class
Developmental psychology
Young Adult
Child Development
Environment and intelligence
Twins, Dizygotic
Humans
Gene–environment interaction
Child
Socioeconomic status
General Psychology
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cognition
Twins, Monozygotic
Middle Aged
Heritability
Child development
Social Class
Socioeconomic Factors
Intelligence assessment
Income
Female
Gene-Environment Interaction
Psychology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14679280 and 09567976
- Volume :
- 24
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Psychological Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....b1362577c7a71bf1bc62e395c435933a