Final answer:
The relationship between IQ scores and socioeconomic status is complex, with children in poverty potentially scoring lower due to environmental stressors. Research also indicates that social environment significantly affects juvenile delinquency rates, not ethnicity. Additionally, attributes like grit and perseverance can be more important than intelligence alone for academic success.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between IQ scores and socioeconomic status (SES) is complex and multifaceted. Studies have shown that children living in poverty are subject to daily stressors that can affect their brain development and function, which may result in lower IQ scores. Research by Kishiyama and colleagues highlights that children in poverty may show brain function similar to those with prefrontal cortex damage, potentially impacting their cognitive abilities and performance on intelligence tests.
Regarding delinquency, the work of Shaw and McKay underscores that it is not ethnicity but the socioeconomic environment that plays a key role. When families move out of impoverished neighborhoods, the rate of juvenile delinquency declines, suggesting that the social environment, not ethnic background, is influential.
In a case study featuring Candace, a 14-year-old girl with an IQ score of 68, we see an example of how socioeconomic factors and school environment can mask learning difficulties. Candace's academic and behavioral issues could stem from the challenges posed by a lack of appropriate educational support considering her IQ level and potential learning disabilities, exacerbated by possible stressors related to her SES or experiences with discrimination.
While IQ can be an indicator of cognitive capacity, studies have also found that attributes like grit and perseverance are more predictive of academic success and achievement than raw intelligence. This indicates that personal characteristics and environmental variables can significantly influence educational outcomes.