How might environmental factors influence intelligence?

Environmental factors play a crucial role in shaping intelligence, as they can both enhance and inhibit cognitive development throughout a person's life. Factors such as socioeconomic status, access to education, nutrition, exposure to toxins, and the quality of social interactions all contribute to the cognitive abilities an individual can develop. For example, children who grow up in enriched environments with stimulating educational opportunities and supportive social networks are likely to exhibit higher levels of intelligence. Conversely, environments that are impoverished or filled with stressors can hinder cognitive development and lower potential intelligence.

This understanding highlights the complex interplay between nature and nurture in intelligence, emphasizing that while genetics certainly influence cognitive capabilities, the environment is equally impactful. Thus, saying that environmental factors can enhance or inhibit cognitive development captures the dynamic and significant ways in which one's surroundings contribute to intelligence.