Genes don't determine your child's ability - nurture is key

You might imagine that where you stand on the nature-nurture debate is purely academic. You would be very wrong. Simply holding the belief that genes largely or wholly determine you or your children can be toxic. For instance, if you suffer a mental illness, believing it's down to genes means you are less likely to recover, probably because you feel there's nothing you can do about it. Likewise, if you are a parent and you believe that what your nipper is like is basically due to nature, you are significantly more likely to maltreat them, up to and including abuse.Studies have extended these findings into the realm of how your child views its own capacity. Secondary pupils who take a malleable view of their abilities get significantly higher grades than ones who believe they are fixed. When samples of teens and undergraduates are taught to think of themselves as being...

Read the whole article on The Guardian - Science

More from The Guardian - Science

Related