Einstein and Jobs need to be born, or with due diligence can anyone become a genius? This question has haunted mankind for centuries. The whole world, with bated breath, followed parents from different countries, who at different times, by strict and sometimes frankly extreme methods, raised geniuses from their children in any field. True, almost every such story ended in tragedy for the child's psyche, but this does not stop the followers.
However, is it worth it to make extra efforts and try to raise a new Newton or da Vinci from a son or daughter? Or is everything predetermined before the birth of a person? Scientists have been trying to find the answer to these questions for a long time and lately they have never been closer to the truth.
Are there genes for genius? Look for answers in the article estet-portal.com!
1. A Brief History of the Study of Human Genius
2. The hereditary factor in human genius
3. Does the environment influence a person's genius?
A Brief History of the Study of Human Genius
Not every smart person can be called a genius. Many people can be called smart, erudite, capable, even outstanding, but only a few become geniuses.
But how to measure the degree of genius? The first attempt belonged back in 1884 to the Englishman Francis Galton. He was sure that mental abilities are directly correlated with the diameter of the head and the brightness of the expression of reflexes. Now such a hypothesis causes only laughter, but then it was considered seriously.
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After 25 years, the Frenchman Alfred Binet developed the prototype of the modern IQ test, which is still used in a modernized form, helping to assess mathematical abilities, working memory and spatial thinking.
However, in recent years, even such a seemingly panacea method as an IQ test has begun to go out of fashion – it is criticized for its inferior approach. Because such important factors as emotional intelligence and a creative streak, which can also elevate a human genius to heaven, are not taken into account at all in an IQ test.
The hereditary factor in human genius
Scientists once realized that it is not always necessary to expand a person's DNA in order to study genius. It turned out to be enough to compare identical and fraternal twins. It is logical that if genetically identical brothers and sisters are more similar to each other in terms of academic success, then the hereditary connection plays a huge role in the development of intelligence.
According to the results of studies of numerous pairs of twins, scientists concluded that, in percentage terms, at least half of outstanding abilities depend on the hereditary factor.
The results were confirmed by another study that examined the intelligence of adopted children. It showed that no matter how good schools the adopted children were sent by adoptive parents, no matter how they tried to pass on their knowledge to them, they still remained at the intellectual level of their biological parents. And this is even taking into account the fact that the studied children have never seen or talked with their real parents.
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Of course, on a global, that is, world scientific scale, the sample with twins and adopted children is too small to derive accurate statistics from the above studies. Therefore, scientists continued their experiments.
As a result, recently, in collaboration with mathematicians of genetics, having examined the DNA of tens of thousands of people, they proved that thousands of genes influence intelligence. Individually, each of them does not guarantee anything, but a successful genetic code (that is, a successful complex combination of genes in a certain combination) – pledge of the birth of a new Stephen Hawking or Mendeleev.
To fully decipher the "smart gene cipher" so far none of the world's scientists have succeeded, although research with huge budgets and scales continues, so sooner or later success is inevitable.
But geneticists have found out for certain that the genes that reduce mental abilities regulate the growth of nerve tissues that form neuronal connections. That is, the brain of an ordinary person with an "average" the mind is initially formed differently than the brain of a great genius.
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Alas, it sounds unfair, but it is so from a scientific point of view – some people are born with an alpha brain, while others may try all their lives to at least get closer to the ideal, but never achieve this. And you can try to fix it with many hours of practice, but the effect will not be impressive – just like tuning in a cool car dealership will not turn a Zhiguli in the Bentley.
However, the Bentley – this is not Einstein. Intrigued? Read on!
Does the environment influence a person's genius
So, someone travels all his life in a Zhiguli, someone manages to "accumulate" their resources on the Volkswagen, and someone from birth got used to the Bentley, which you rarely see on the roads of life. However, once every N years there are also reports of flying saucers…
Catch the essence of the metaphor? Outstanding Mind Machine – it's not genius yet. Genius – this is something completely out of the ordinary, just like a UFO in the night sky.
Most of all in the life of the owners of the average mental level – they form human society. There are much fewer obvious idiots and cool nerds. But here are the real geniuses – a few units that go down in history. Their intellectual abilities go beyond the limits of even high rates of the conventional norm. Such a unique combination of genes cannot be inherited from smart parents – it is possible only as a result of gene mutations. Apparently, this is why the percentage of brilliant people in society never exceeds 0.1%.
Genius daily routine: secrets of success
This may seem very offensive and unfair, because in fact, scientists have proven the initial inequality of all people. However, psychologists continue to insist that upbringing, education, environment also contribute to the intellectual development of a person. And there is a lot of evidence of this from the life stories of real people.
While a high level of intelligence increases the chances of success in any area and life in general, it does not guarantee success by default.
Even a genius must work hard to become a master in any field. And if his willpower (more precisely, its absence) does not allow him to make incredible efforts, most likely, the results of his life and professional results will be even lower than those who have the most ordinary intelligence, but there is perseverance, perseverance and the ability to work systematically.
After all, at least once in their life they have observed a situation when a talented person gave up / drank himself / went downhill, as they say, and remained on the sidelines of life, although he showed great hopes.
So even if you or your child did not get a lucky ticket to be born with an outstanding intellect, do not rush to get upset. Remember the opinion of psychologists and try to grow (from a child or from yourself) just a happy and hardworking person – it is these people who are able to move mountains in their path!
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