“Of course you’re good at math, you’re Asian.”
“You’re black, of
course you can play basketball.”
“A Jew? Are you going
to be a doctor or a lawyer?”
Stereotypes
are not novel phenomena, and they’re not going away anytime soon either. They
permeate almost every level of society world-wide, and blur the line between fact
and fiction. So how can we know what’s true and what’s false if all of these
stereotypes are jumbled around in our heads? Answer: Science! There are
hundreds of stereotypes that I could pull from the top of my head, but so as
not to bore you, I will question the legitimacy of one of the most popular: Are
Asians actually more intelligent than other races? If so, why?
A
plethora of studies legitimize that the SATs are a good indicator of
intelligence and future success. Using statistics categorized by race from
1986-2011, researchers found that white and Asian students always scored higher
than any other races. Specifically, Asians have consistently scored higher in
the mathematics section, while white students have consistently scored higher
in the reading section. The fact that Asians don’t score higher in both
categories may suggest that there are different genes dictating proficiency in each
one. Or perhaps, the categories that Asians excel in are simply rooted in their
culture.
To
fully understand the origination and legitimacy of stereotypes, it is important
to consider the basis of these observations: the priorities of the culture
(nurture), and the genes of the race (nature).
Eastern culture differs from Western culture in that the East values collectivism while
the West values individualism. Collectivism values the group over the
individual, while individualism is about being self-reliant and unique. Perhaps
this difference in values contributes to the priorities that each culture sets.
Because Eastern culture is more interested in improving the group, they may not
be concerned with “finding themselves,” and instead stress the importance of
mathematical intelligence rather than creative thinking and reading. The East
may also be less concerned with social life and more concerned with intellect,
discipline, and good working habits, which would also account for Asian
superiority in their given fields.
But
is intelligence just based on cultural priorities? Or is there something biologically
different in Asians that makes them more intelligent? Science says there is.
General intelligence is heritable, and by following the gene FNBP1L, a known
gene that predicts high intelligence, scientists were able to anticipate who
would and would not be generally smart. So do Asians simply have better genes?
Or is there another chapter to the story? Is there a motivation gene? If so,
would it be more prevalent in Eastern cultures? Would a contrast in genes
result in the difference in culture? What are your thoughts?
By Project 80
I personally believe that the dominance of Asians in certain intellectual areas stems from the cultural push to achieve the highest results in academics, there's not really any proof (yet) that could suggest that Asians have "smarter" genes
ReplyDeleteWe learned in psychology class that, on average, surveyed Asians scored higher than all other races on IQ tests. Of course, we must take culture (nurture) into account as well as race (nature), however there has been a study done to prove this at least well enough to arrive in our psychology classroom.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gabby S. I am not arguing that there is no 'smart gene,' but in many asian cultures parents push their kids to study and work all day long. You don't only have to be 'naturally' smart to get good grades on tests, you can also study really hard and get good grades. So maybe scientists could do future experiments testing natural smart vs. working hard to be smart.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above, In these cases I belive it's more of an effect of effort and motivation rather than genetic superiority. I think though books like "Battle Hym of the TIger Mother" blow the pressure on asian students slightly out of proportion.
ReplyDeleteI (unintelligently) disagree with the idea that asians are smarter by any gene as well, and agree in the cultural push point by Gabby.
ReplyDeleteI'm asian and not that smart. I get B's and that's fine, even though both my mother is like a tiger mom on steroids. I can't cite evidence and make general claims like Lauren because, as has been pointed out, I speaky nonsmarty.
Looking at SAT scores is not an accurate reflection of intelligence (the case for future success could be argued). As any college admissions officer would tell you, the SATs aren't really a measure of intelligence at all. As of now, SAT scores are actually more a reflection of how wealthy the taker is, since so many people are spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on SAT prep courses and the like. Naturally, those who can afford to take these prep courses generally have higher scores on the SATs than those who don't. And that goes for all the races. Maybe Asians seemingly have higher SAT scores because, even if they weren't as wealthy, their parents were willing to pay the money for those prep courses. And yes, maybe they will be more successful later on, but I believe that their success is a reflection of their upbringing.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, the idea that "Asians are smarter" is totally blown out of proportion by white people. There are plenty of dumb Asians out there, just as there are plenty of dumb Caucasians. But to the average white person, it might seem that "all Asians are smart" because one might not be exposed to that many Asians in a white-dominated society. Because honestly - there are 1.3 billion people in China alone. How could every one of them have above-average intelligence? This blog post should take into account that not all Asians are the stereotypical Asian-Americans we see in places like Pingry.
So what would you use to measure intelligence in a large population of people from around the country? You can't use grades, because schools differ.
DeleteHey guys! I found this post to be very intriguing, great work Harrison! I have never been one to really generalize a person based on common biased stereotypes, and I think this example of Asians being the "smartest race" is a perfect reason why. I definitely see the point that was made about collectivism vs. individualism. I think that generally that standard is correct when analyzing Eastern and Western cultures, yet it still is a generalization and I believe it does not directly correlate with intellect.
ReplyDeleteI think that a persons drive plays a huge factor in how well they perform overall. A will to learn goes a long way. To put some personal proof behind that statement I'll use myself as an example. I think I am very smart, yet at times, I have little motivation to achieve my best. Sometimes, just getting by is okay with me. At other times, with the right about of ambition and motive, I can do exceptionally well. To me, the key to being "smart" comes from ambition, and ambition is not expressed in a gene. It comes from within. Regardless of race.
P.S i dont know what it is referring me as "basketballstar111," but I think it's funny and I'm not going to complain Hahah.
This is Hayley Advokat by the way :)
DeleteWhat about not just the culture though? okay, so they may not have genes for intelligence, but again i raise the question of motivation. Do you think there is a gene that allows people to be more motivated than others?
ReplyDeleteIn short, no.
DeleteAgain with the theme of Asians: Asians might seem more motivated but that doesn't necessarily mean they're self-motivated. While some do have the idea that they want to achieve something, motivation comes just as easily from the threat of no dinner or from a leather belt. Or, you know, grounding.
I do believe that genetics could possibly play a role in determining motivation. I think that motivation can be the result of many different things both internal and external. While motivation may come from family, culture, or other outside sources, it can also come from inside. If someone is competitive by nature, this trait may create a sense of motivation. With so many different sources, it is hard to believe that one gene could determine whether or not someone can be easily motivated. However, I think that there could be a gene similar to the FNBP1L gene that Harrison mentioned above. He said that this gene "predicts" a high intelligence. Couldn't there also be a gene the "predicts" increased motivation? I think that genetics could definitely play a role in determining the likeliness that someone is highly motivated. Though, even if this is the case and there is a "motivation gene", I think that environment will also play a role in motivation just like intelligence.
DeleteI think that, as stated by a few above, it is the Asian culture that teaches motivation and therefore produces smarter students. Studies show that they spend more time, on average, studying which is known to produce better results in school and on standardized tests. While I don't doubt that it is possible that they have different genes, one which possibly could "make them smarter", I think the cultural pull is stronger.
ReplyDeletei believe that while Asians may (or may not) have a genetic advantage, i do not personally believe that they are smarter than everyone else. I think that in most cases, they are more driven/motivated which brings about better grades, study skills, etc. but in terms of pure intelligence, i think that Asians are no smarter than anyone else for the most part. It may seem like eastern cultures are smarter but the truth is that if one were to work hard, study and strive to be as 'smart' as Asians, then there is no reason why you cannot achieve that goal.
ReplyDeleteAHHH this is my second attempt to post. I totally agree with what Diana is saying. It really depends on your study habits. My SAT score has increased drastically because of my realization that I don't focus enough on the material. I sort of hinder myself, in a way, from analyzing the questions and passages. I also had to push myself to work hard and not procrastinate. These gene's may have some determining factor in one's intelligibility, but increased diligence and concentration may help students to become "smarter."
ReplyDeleteMany Asians are pushed by their parents to study hard. All their lives, they are in an environment where they are trained to work hard. This environment and study skill becomes a natural part of an Asian student's life and becomes an advantage to them when taking tests such as the SAT's.
I also believe that scientists should not use the SAT's as a study to determine one's intelligence. Some of the smartest people failed their SAT's! Ultimately, The 'smart gene' may be able to scientifically determine one's intelligence, but it certainly does not determine one's ability to succeed.
I agree that culture is the main reason for the intelligence level of anyone. If Americans were exposed to the same culture as Asians, they would become much smarter and adapt to the culture's push for more knowledge. I also believe that there are some genetic factors which have evolved over time, but none that could be the only major factor influencing intelligence levels.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds an awful lot like eugenics to me.
DeleteI'm not a master in any of the fields required to fully understand this topic, but I believe that nurture is definitely a controlling factor in this argument. I know Asians with all levels of intellect, as well as Asians that excel in areas other than math or science. While there is proof that an intellect gene exists, I think that the "Tiger Mom" mentality is much more important in this topic.
ReplyDeleteNicole Blum Writes:
ReplyDeleteI think Harrison worded this perfectly in his article. Eastern cultures indeed value collectivism; from what I know, the Chinese especially believe that you must succeed in order to bring honor to your family name. One way to succeed is academically, especially since academic success often brings success career-wise and then perhaps financial success. Mathematical skills, or the practical thinking that it both requires and teaches, are obligatory and/or very helpful in many of the careers that earn lots of money. So, it wouldn’t be surprising that Asian cultures emphasize the studying of mathematics and that then Asians typically do well on the assessment tests.
I agree with an above poster (OS Card) that tests such as the SAT and IQ are not accurate measurements of intelligence. In fact, there still doesn’t seem to be any concrete way of measuring intelligence, not to mention that the definition of intelligence varies among different scientists. Personally, I did not do very well the first time I took the SATs. But with lots of practice, I improved my score—a score that, although representative of me to admissions committees, does not take into account other qualities of the mind such as creativity, a quality actually included in most scientific definitions of intelligence.
I also want to comment that I agree with what an above poster (OS Card) said about how not all of the 1.3 billion Asians are smart. Perhaps it is just that white Americans have happened to encounter the more intelligent Asians because the more intelligent Asians (either by way of their sheer wit or their wealth) were the ones who had the means to leave Asia and come to the U.S.
I really liked OS Card's point about how not all 1.3 billion people of China are of above-average intelligence. That actually reminded me of something that pertains to the question of culture's role in intelligence: this year my cousin from China came to America for college. My dad told me how, by Chinese standards, she probably wasn't a great student. However, she was getting along fine in a college level calculus course because the math classes she had taken at school in China were much harder than they are here. So I guess at least in her case, her intelligence comes as a result of the culture being more demanding.
ReplyDeleteThough I firmly believe in the impact of one's environment on one's ability to strive intellectually, I do believe that genetics- or "nature"- also plays a part. I personally have never been pressured by my parents to study excessively for school, they were never on my back about grades and so I was never an avid studier, yet I have been essentially a straight A student for as long as grades have been assigned to me. Additionally, I know kids whose parents actually scheduled every last minute of their study time and those still struggled immensely to retain the information that they needed to know. I believe that the data displaying significantly higher SAT scores for asian students is compelling and that it is entirely possible that a "smart gene" is prevalent in asian DNA.
ReplyDelete"It is entirely possible that a 'smart gene' is prevalent in Asian DNA" because there exists "data displaying significantly higher SAT scores for Asian students?" There's a significantly higher percentage of black people in US prisons right now. Is there a "crime gene" that's prevalent in black populations?
DeleteRace, as it is currently defined in popular culture has little to do with true groupings in biology. If we take DNA samples from people around the world and do a phylogenetic analysis, we don't see categories coming out neatly.
Deletehttp://www.andaman.org/Background/WorldGenetics.jpg
If you look at the tree presented at the link above, you will see the following:
Investigate the term "Asian"--this typically includes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, and others. It also excludes American Natives (counted as a separate race). But this phylogenetic tree demonstrates that Native Americans (Amerinds on the tree) are more closely related to the Japanese and Koreans than to the south Chinese. In fact, the Japanese, Korean and Amerind group is more closely related to the european group that includes Greeks, Danish and English than they are to the South Chinese and Polynesian groups. Until we properly define the groups, we will have exactly zero ability to draw generalizations on the basis of genetics.
As for the question "does intelligence have a genetic component?" - that has been established without doubt to be true. Likewise, the question "does intelligence have an environmental component?" is also a yes.
I agree that it is definitely asian culture to push kids harder in academics so I feel that is a main reason why they score higher on exams. I do think it is somewhat about effort and someone can score high on tests because they study, not because they are "smarter" than others. I think it is very easy to confuse intelligence with effort/work ethic because there is a difference between a person who naturally learns quickly and scores equally as well without studying as someone who is a slower learner, but works harder than the naturally smart person. Drive and motivation are very important in deciding how well a person will score on a test, it is all about intelligence and I don't think one race is superior in natural intelligence. Could one race score higher because of an engrained motivation and cultural attitude? Definitely. I really do want to know more about the smart gene though because I am not discarding it as a possibility (I do agree that SATs and such are not accurate measures of intelligence). I think the environmental component to intelligence is definitely shown in different cultures, but I am interested to see how genetic intelligence can be found in a race as a whole.
ReplyDeleteWow this was a very well written article! I would have to agree that all of the examples above are example of culture and effort rather than genetic superiority. However, in sports I don't think its that easy for example in the NBA, based of Slam Online's article on the NBA, "78 percent of all players were African-American" in the 2012 census and in the NFL there are also a rather significant percent of African Americans. I don't think African Americans have a genetic superiority,so that brings up the "not so easy part". Why is this so?
ReplyDelete