The cultural malleability of intelligence and its impact on the racial/ethnic hierarchy.
Abstract
This commentary highlights previous literature focusing on cultural and environmental explanations for the racial/ethnic group hierarchy of intelligence. Assumptions underlying definitions of intelligence, heritability/genetics, culture, and race are noted. Historical, contextual, and testing issues are clarified. Specific attention is given to studies supporting stereotype threat, effects of mediated learning experiences, and relative functionalism. Current test development practices are critiqued with respect to methods of validation and item development. Implications of the genetic vs. culture-only arguments are discussed with respect to the malleability of IQ. Rushton and Jensen (2005) review decades of literature to support a genetic basis for the racial/ethnic group hierarchy in intelligence, a position they have held unwaveringly for over 30 years. Their report gives little mention to findings that point to the impact of environment and race (i.e., race as a social construction) on intellectual development or performance—what they term the culture-only perspective. We are not among the culture-only adherents as characterized by
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- Authors
- Suzuki, L., & Aronson, J.
- Affiliations
- New York University (US)
- ORCID
- Suzuki, Lisa
- Venue
- Psychology, Public Policy, and Law
- Published
- 2005-06
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 320-327
- ISSN
- 1076-8971 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1528
- OpenAlex
- W2118049732
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 6.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychology Public Policy and Law (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Race, Genetics, and Society
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Keywords
- stereotype threat, mediated learning experience, heritability of intelligence, social construction of race, exam question design, environmental influences on intelligence
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