An Experimental Study of the Inheritance of Intelligence

Although the development of factor analysis has led, at least operationally, to more precise description of the field of human cognition, controversy as to the nature of intelligence has not ended, although there has been a marked narrowing of the differences between extremes of view. On the one han...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of psychiatry 1954-10, Vol.100 (421), p.922-933
Main Author: Blewett, D. B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Databases, Genetic
Heredity
Intelligence
Old Medline
Wills
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Summary:Although the development of factor analysis has led, at least operationally, to more precise description of the field of human cognition, controversy as to the nature of intelligence has not ended, although there has been a marked narrowing of the differences between extremes of view. On the one hand, the monarcheal, or single factor idea, has been superseded by Spearman's two factor theory which has in turn been extended to the consideration of group factors. On the other hand, the multifactorial approach has been narrowed and refined by Thurstonian Multiple Factor Analysis. The primary Mental Abilities described by this method were found to be intercorrelated giving rise to a second order factor which Thurstone has suggested, may be not unlike Spearman's “g”. Despite this basic disagreement as to the nature of the variable under consideration, results obtained have led investigators to almost complete agreement that what they have measured as intelligence is largely genetically determined.
ISSN:0007-1250
0368-315X
1472-1465
2514-9946
DOI:10.1192/bjp.100.421.922