Page 88 - Advanced Biblical Counseling Student Textbook

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As you look at the chart, which types of intelligence are your strengths? For me, I have interpersonal
intelligence, verbal/linguistic intelligence and intrapersonal intelligence. It makes sense that I was drawn
to a career as a counselor with these as my strengths. What are yours? How to they apply to who you
are today and what you hope to do after university?

Nature and Nurture
“Intelligence runs in families. But why? Are our intellectual abilities mostly inherited? Or are they
molded by our environment? Few issues in psychology arouse so much interest. Let’s look at some of
the evidence: Does sharing the same genes also mean sharing the same mental abilities? The answer is
yes. Identical twins who grow up together have intelligence test scores nearly as similar as those of the
same person taking the same test twice! Even when identical twins are adopted by two different
families, their scores are very similar. Genes matter.” 142

“But shared environment matters, too. Fraternal twins, who are genetically no more alike than any
other siblings – but who are treated more alike because they are the same age – tend to score more
alike than other siblings. And studies show that adoption of mistreated or neglected children enhances
their intelligence scores (new environment, intelligence increases). So, should we expect biologically
unrelated children adopted into the same family to share similar aptitudes?” 143 For example, should my
adopted sister score about the same as me and my biological siblings on intelligence tests?

“Seeking to untangle genes and environment, researchers have compared the intelligence test scores of
adopted children with those of their family members. These include their biological parents (the
providers of their genes), their adoptive siblings (who share the same home environment). During
childhood, adoptive siblings’ test scores correlate modestly. What do you think happens as the years go
by and adopted children settle in with their adoptive families? Would you expect the effect of family
environment to grow stronger and the genetic effect to shrink?” 144

“If you said yes, I have a surprise for you. Mental similarities between adopted children and their
adoptive families lessen with age, dropping to roughly zero by adulthood. Similarities with biological
parents become more apparent as adopted children gain life experience.” 145

“Your genes and your environment work together. Suppose that you have a natural aptitude for school,
read books, and ask questions – all of which will increase your brain power. In this gene-environment
interactions, small genetic advantages can trigger social experience that multiply our original skills.” 146

How to counsel parents if a child has a learning disability.

It seems that today more and more parents in the western world are saying, “My child has a learning
disability!” In western society more and more children are being identified as having ADD, ADHD, or
being diagnosed as afflicted with autism or some sort of mental condition that makes them unable to

142 ” Myers, p. 226, 2012.
143 Ibid., p. 227.
144 Ibid.
145 Ibid.
146 Ibid.

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