Eric Turkheimer
Department of Psychology
UVA

What is Intelligence? What is Heritability? What is the Heritability of Intelligence?

Starting with Francis Galton, scientists trying to understand the genetics of complex human behavior have begun with the question of why people differ in intelligence; similarly, the foremost goal of intelligence researchers has been to understand why and how intelligence is transmitted in families.  The concepts of intelligence and heritability share much in common: both are based on straightforward but easily misunderstood mathematics, and both are too easily dismissed or oversimplified.  Misunderstanding of intelligence and heritability has led to some of the worst scientific and social outcomes in the 150 years since Galton founded the field. Understanding them properly shows how a sensible genetics of behavior can be grounded in non-deterministic science and a progressive social outlook.

The talk will begin at 12:00pm. A pizza lunch will be served at 11:45am.