Intelligence : born smart, born equal, born different. 2/3.

Radio documentary, presented by Adam Rutherford, looking at the genetics of intelligence. In this episode he looks at how post-war studies on intelligence focused on nurture rather than nature, pointing out that we are not all born equal. Harvard psychologist, Steven Pinker, asks whether differences are due to opportunity or whether they are inborn. Rutherford asks whether the environment in which we are raised has any influence on our intelligence. Anna Vignoles, Professor of Education, Cambridge University, talks about the influence of family background and environmental factors. Psychology professor, Jill Boucher, City University in London, considers how ideas have shifted in psychology. After the Second World War there was a strong desire for social equality and some scientists who studied genetics were villified. Professor of Education, Michael Rice, mentions the general revulsion against genetics at this time. Steven Pinker, too, talks about the reaction against genetics. Social scientists did not want genetics to be used as an excuse not to improve social mobility and health. Post-war psychology centred around behaviourists who hoped changes in environment would lead to greater improvements in education. Moral philosopher, Peter Singer, talks about how unpopular geneticists were during the 1970s. Professor Robert Plomin, King's College London, recalls the hostility from psychologists in the United States early on in his career. Many did not want to recognise genetic studies because there was an innate suggestion that it meant people were not equal. There was a strong divide between those in favour of nature, or nurture. The book, 'The bell curve: intelligence and class structure in American life' by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray, is discussed. Generally, studies in the second half of the 20th century, focused on the nurture side of the debate encompassing the idea that in the right conditions anyone could achieve anything. The nature view was seen as destroying this dream of social mobility. Robert Plomin, and then Jill Boucher, talk about studies on twins. Rutherford suggests that the terms, nature and nurture, are often misunderstood. The term genetics, for nature, is often seen as very defined, but it is not recognised that nurture or environment really describes everything else (including medical factors). It's suggested that 'nurture' should be called non-genetic, and that conception is the first point of nurture. Steven Pinker talks about this and how we are affected by random events which are neither genetic nor something we can control. In his book, 'The blank slate: the modern denial of human nature', he argued against the impact of environment and the assumption that our minds are a blank slate, waiting to be influenced by society. However, Despite, many years of policy, social mobility hasn't really changed. Robert Plomin sums up the current situation and suggests the genetic situation shouldn't be ignored.