Intelligence is considered a hot button topic when the debate over the influence of environment and heredity continues to be in the spotlight. Spotlight on Ethics page 235, 2nd edition, mentions a controversial publication The Bell Curve, and its effort to link IQ and race using test scores as an argument. How can you equate race( skin color comes in many hues) and IQ when humans have similar DNA. There is more variation within groups than between. Geneticists accused the authors of pseudoscience and ignoring the environmental factors that could play a huge role in test scores. State at least one environmental factor that you believe influences intelligence.

Why is discrimination considered a public health issue? We have mentioned some multifactorial traits such as hypertension, heart disease, depression etc. Education, health, economic disparities may also play a role. Stress is also considered a huge risk factor. Are there any connections? Previously, the American Medical Association issued a statement responding to how stress or chronic stress due to discrimination could be a contributing factor to many health issues, physical or mental.