Why do some people have a higher IQ than other people?

Answer 1

All people are not the same; environment and genetics play huge roles in someone's iq. One could not expect people from poor backgrounds who no access to books and learning resources to score highly on I.Q tests, and this is why they are a flawed way of measuring intelligence.

A different answer...Hard to disagree with a statement like, "All people are not the same" -- and I don't disagree with that at all. But from that point on our answers diverge.

IQ stands for "Intelligence Quotient". In this case, it refers to the subject's inherent intelligence, and specifically not to their education. These tests attempt to focus on reasoning and logic skills as opposed to one's comprehension of math, composition, etc. And the results are not intended to show how much one knows, but rather how much they potentially could develop.

What causes higher or lower IQ scores is the subject of many a doctoral thesis, and just as many arguments in the medical, social and educational sciences. Nature or nurture; we don't really know. Exceptionally bright children can arise from normal (in the statistical sense) parents in impoverished conditions, just as perfectly normal children can derive from genius parents in well endowed environments. While there appears to be a correlation between genetics, environment and IQ potential, we are far from clear about the root causes of this correlation.

As to IQ tests being flawed, they are to some extent. But this comes down to communications. If you only speak French, and the tests are available only in English, for instance, the tests cannot be valid. And what if you don't speak at all? In order for IQ testing to occur, there has to be a fundamental commonality at the point of communication. If one cannot read or speak, one cannot take an IQ test, and so the quality of the child's education and inherent ability to learn manifest in (hopefully) this one category. But what else would one do? With no communication, intelligence, as humans define it, is not measurable.

So in conclusion, yes -- the tests are flawed. But try and find a way around that flaw! :}

Answer 2

IQ is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Factors such as genetics, education, nutrition, and cognitive stimulation can all contribute to variations in intelligence levels among individuals. Additionally, differences in brain structure and function may also play a role in determining IQ.