Chapter 5: Intelligence

You have now read several views about intelligence. What do you think about intelligence? Is it one trait or many? More heavily influenced by nature or nurture? A fixed capacity or a modifiable ability? Articulate your views in a paragraph of 6-8 sentences.

In my view, intelligence involves a combination of mental processes and cannot be defined as one single trait. I believe both nature and nurture have an influence on how intelligence develops, but I think that the nurturing aspects plays a much greater role. Children are born with the capability of learning (nature); however, without the proper environment and support, intelligence is not allowed to thrive, flourish, and grow (nurture). Intelligence can be modified over time. Again, it depends on the environment. The environment can have many influences on how a child's intelligence develops and also can influence what aspects of intelligence a child most often uses. Since intelligence involves many mental processes, those processes can be nourished or hindered over time.