wang1926: November 2011 Archives

In chapter 9, the author introduced the concept of intelligence quotient, which is defined as systematic means of quantifying differences among people in their intelligence (Page 327, Lilienfeld textbook, intelligence qoutient). The author also mentions different means of calculating IQ and the influence factors of IQ. Among these ideas, I found the genetic influence on IQ most interesting.

First of all, in the textbook the author introduces three studies to research genetic and environmental influences on IQ: family studies, adoption studies and twin studies. The family studies allow us to examine the extend to which a trait "runs" or goes in intact families, those in which all family members live together in the same home (Page 337, Lilienfeld textbook, family studies). The trait we are studying here is the intelligence. The research from the family studies shows that intellectually brilliant individuals had many first-degree relatives (parents, siblings and children) who were also brilliant, but fewer second-degree relatives (such as cousins) (Page 337, Lilienfeld textbook, family studies).

Secondly, the adoption studies is another way to research influences on IQ. Compared to the family studies, the adoption studies emphasize on the environment influence in the research. Adoption studies allow us to separate environmental from genetic effects on IQ, because adoptees are raised by parents with whom they share an environment, but not genes. It has shown a clear contribution of the environment in IQ. However, research also shows that adoptees's IQ tend to be similar to their first-degree relatives (Page 338, Lilienfeld textbook, adoption studies)

The last comes the twin studies. Compared to the family studies ad the adoption studies, the twin studies mostly focuses on the biological perspective of IQ research, but it also shows that environmental factors influence IQ. The twin studies is based on the idea that identical twins share same genes, and therefore we can research their IQ based on the assumption of same genetic structure. A research conducted by Paul Thompson at the University of California in Los Angeles shows that, in identical twins, certain brain areas related to intelligence showed a 95 to 100 per cent correlation between one twin and the other - they were essentially the same. Other researches show that the identical twins' IQ correlation have been .7 to 1.0 where fraternal twins' IQ correlation is between .3 to .4. The higher the identical than fraternal twin correlations shows IQ is influenced by genetic factors. On the other hand, the twin finds shows that identical twins' correlation for IQ is not 1.0 but a little less than that. Therefore we can conclude that environmental influences also matters on IQ. In my opinion, the twin studies focuses both biological and environmental perspectives, and it shows most results and evidences in researching of genetic influences on IQ.

In addition, while research shows that both genes and environments have influences on IQ, the correlation and causation scientific thinking principle tells us there is a possibility that neither of the two factors is the main influence on IQ. There might be a third party contribute to IQ, genes and environment. For example, the education one received can contribute to higher IQ, which will change the environment he/she is in and may also change the genes for his/her offspring.In this case, genes and environment are correlated.

IQ is inherited, suggests twin study
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1520-iq-is-inherited-suggests-twin-study.html

Twins: Nature or Nurture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egXIk_4-qMY&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLA028B06086BFD6F7

There has been a debate about violent video's effect on children development. Some people believe that the violent content of video games would increase aggressive behaviors for children while others don't. After reading some articles online, I personally believe that violent video games would increase aggressive behaviors for children.

After reading some articles about violent video games' affect on children, I found the study conducted by Brad Bushman of The Ohio State University most convincing. The study shows violent video games increase aggression even long after the game is turned off. In a study conducted by Bushman, participants are assigned to play violent video games and non-violent ones, and it shows that at least for males, the game increase the tendency of aggression for a long period after the game is off. It also founds males who think more about the violent games are more likely to have aggressive behaviors, while females who played the violent video games and thought about the games did not experience increased aggression 24 hours later.

Secondly, scientific thinking principle can be used to consider the debate about violent video games's affect to aggressive behaviors of children. In the article "Could Violent Video Games Reduce Rather Than Increase Violence", the author argues that violent video games do not contribute to aggressive behaviors because the young age violent crime has decreased since the early 1990s while at the same time, the sales of violent video games have increased. However, the decrease of young age crime may be led by other reasons such as the increased police force at the communities and better school education. This claim violates the correlation vs. causation scientific thinking principle. The researchers also mentioned that it is not entirely clear what to make of the results that violent video games don't contribute to aggressive behaviors, but there is clearly an influence of playing violent video games on aggression. According to extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and the article does not have a lot of evidence to support violent video games do not contribute aggressive behaviors, violence video games contribute to aggressive behaviors seems more likely to be true.

Thirdly, I believe that violent video games contribute to aggressive behaviors of children more likely to be true based on my own experience. In high school, I used to be a fan of Counter Strike, which can be defined as a violent video game. During the school year I played this game, I feel excited when think about aggressive behaviors and believe it is cool to behave in that way. I got involved in physical fight in my junior year, and it can be contributed by the Counter Strike game.

http://www.osu.edu/watch/45X3SA0YdK53g
Violent Video Games Harm Children

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080514213432.htm
Could Violent Video Games Reduce Rather Than Increase Violence?