Final answer:
It is true that individuals cannot substantially increase their basic IQ, but can improve the quality of their thinking through cognitive development and environmental factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that individuals cannot increase their basic IQ but can dramatically increase the quality of their thinking is true based on cognitive research. While IQ may have a genetic component and may not significantly change over one's lifetime, cognitive skills and the ability to think critically can be improved through education, experience, and practice.
The nature of intelligence and its variability among individuals is a complex topic within cognitive psychology. Intelligence is thought to be influenced by various factors such as genetics, environment, education, and socioeconomic status. Findings from research, like the Terman study or challenges to IQ testing suggest that intelligence is not a fixed attribute and is impacted by a wide array of factors beyond genetics.
For example, children living in poverty may exhibit reduced cognitive functioning due to stress, which impacts their brain development and performance on IQ tests. Adolescents can improve their cognitive skills and efficiency, which leads to more complex and abstract thinking abilities, indicating that the capacity for quality thinking can indeed be enhanced.