What is genius? In a general sense, it represents the extreme degree of a person’s creative, intellectual or other potential. That is, such a special personality and mental constitution in which a person is able to engage in one or another activity with high efficiency and productivity.
As a rule, it is a somewhat universal structure. Allows you to effectively solve a wide range of issues that require innovative thinking. However, such a gifted representative of society can be most productive in only one or two areas, sometimes showing complete helplessness in simple matters. This is a paradoxical phenomenon, but it is not uncommon.
What is the difference between genius and giftedness and talent?
These concepts need to be differentiated. Giftedness is a certain combination of a group of qualities that are present from birth and provide the potential for productive activity in a certain area. These are the so-called makings. If they are not developed, they will remain unfulfilled. Talent is a group of qualities that allow you to achieve results in a particular activity. What is the difference between giftedness? To a more developed degree the qualities necessary for implementation. Plus, there is a quick learning component: all questions related to talent are answered without problems.
Genius represents the highest degree of giftedness and talent. This is an extremely rare occurrence. And even the presence of such a mental constitution and personality traits does not provide a 100% guarantee of success in life. As in other cases, it is necessary to create conditions for the necessary personality traits to develop and bear fruit. The issue of genius is considered by both clinical psychologists and neurophysiologists and psychiatry specialists. For now, not much can be said for sure on this topic.
Who are geniuses and what is genius?
From time to time, a person with exceptional abilities appears on the world's horizon - a genius whose activities change the world, accelerate progress and bring society to a new stage of development. How to distinguish genius from giftedness and talent, which also help a person stand out from the mass of people? Is there some set of properties and distinctive features that determine whether a person is a genius, or whether he simply has well-developed intellectual abilities?
Talents often manifest themselves in several areas, but genius, as a rule, is narrowly focused and develops mainly in only one direction. In geniuses, a bias often works according to the principle: if there is a lot somewhere, it means there is little in something else, which is why geniuses are people unadapted to real life.
If we combine many definitions of genius, then in general it is clear that a genius, if he manifests himself, will be able to stand out from the crowd by creating something special and historically significant for society. The ancient Romans called genius (from the Latin genius - spirit) the highest degree of creative manifestations and abilities of an individual. Early Greek thinkers built on Hippocrates' idea of the "four humors" that determine human temperament. They believed that outstanding abilities were ensured by an excess of black bile (phlegm) in the body.
Phrenologists tried to find a genius by special bumps on the head, craniometers collected skulls - including the skull of the philosopher Immanuel Kant, which were then weighed, tested, measured in search of features in great people. And philosophers, at the suggestion of Immanuel Kant, adopted the following definition of genius - “the rare ability to independently understand concepts that, as a rule, are taught to a person by other people.”
Today, the term “genius,” although used in a broad sense, has not been fully studied by science, but scientists are actively trying to unravel the secret of genius. And the more they learn, the more new questions arise: is it possible to develop a genius in oneself, is genius inherited, is it determined by the special structure of the brain? Or the appearance of geniuses on the planet is like a flash in the sun, just a coincidence of circumstances and a gift sent down to a person from above.
People with EQ: why they are called to work
Rule TWO: Go to the goal not through the intellect, but through feeling.
Once you see your goal, don’t rush straight to it. Learn the art of stopping and develop the ability to listen to yourself.
Your higher “I”, which knows much more than your intellect has managed to accumulate, will tell you, guide you, and give you signs. Dissatisfaction, fear, sucking in the pit of the stomach - these are the very signs. This is how mental attitudes manifest themselves in the body.
Use your intuition. Don't think, but feel. The ability to feel opens a direct path to the perception of the invisible, helps to bypass minor fears, standard solution methods, and the traps of thinking stereotypes that prevent you from producing an impeccable result.
Imagine that you are a psychoanalyst, and your problem came to you as a patient. Listen to her with all your attention. Feel why she came. Don't solve the problem, but let your feeling lead you to the right path.
Rule THREE: Develop your undeveloped skills
There are two ways to develop skills. The first is to develop the strong and not deal with the weak. The second is to develop your weaknesses.
Alas, neither the first nor the second path will reveal your genius, which includes three components:
- Originality
, or the skill of bringing the quality of an idea to the point where it acquires the ability to translate thoughts into practice; - Craftsmanship
, or the ability to wield the necessary tools; - Efficiency,
or the ability to get things done.
If you are like the majority of creative people, then most likely your skills are strong in only two of these areas. Then, to elevate your talent to the level of genius, work on developing a weak area of skills. For example, if you already excel at skill and originality, then set a goal to develop speed. If you are efficient and skilled, develop originality. By strengthening the weak links of your genius, you allow it to develop.
Take on projects and set yourself tasks that will be outside your comfort zone. There is no need to look for workarounds to overcome fears. Any genius will advise you to look your fear straight in the eye - this is the only way you can get rid of it. Remember that a person is not just a large accumulation of molecules, but also a spiritual being, each of us has his own special talent and ability to see.
By combining your passion with time-tested principles, you can begin the eternal cycle of creativity. This is the very ordinary magic that reveals genius.
Does genius depend on brain size?
Scientists tried to find the answer to genius by comparing the brain volumes of ordinary people and geniuses. For example, the brain of Albert Einstein, which is kept in the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia. The brain of the great scientist was removed seven hours after his death, and in 1955 it was divided into 2000 parts and distributed among 18 research institutes located around the world to study and study such a valuable specimen. The museum houses only 46 parts, and entire queues of visitors line up to look at them under a magnifying glass and a microscope.
Scientists have conducted research and published scientific papers on the structural features of Einstein's brain to identify the relationship between brain neuroanatomy and genius. It turned out that Einstein’s brain weighed 1230 g, with the average value for an ordinary person being about 1400 g. The theory of the interdependence of brain volume and genius was smashed to smithereens by the scientist’s brain. In fact, if you look at the brain sizes of various animals, dolphins and whales are very smart - just like crows with their tiny brain sizes.
Scientific studies have shown that the areas of Einstein's brain responsible for speech and language are reduced, while the areas responsible for processing numerical and spatial information are enlarged. In 1984, Marian Diamond and her colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley were the first to publish a study of Albert Einstein's brain. The ratio of neuroglial cells in Einstein's brain was compared with the brains of 11 other men.
Neuroglial cells provide support and nutrition to the brain, form myelin and participate in signal transmission, and are another integral component of the brain in addition to neurons. This study showed that Einstein had more neuroglial cells than the average man. There is also a greater density of neural connections, and an unusual, very dense pattern of grooves in the parietal lobe. This probably provided the unique ability for abstract thinking with which Einstein formulated his theory of relativity.
Develop systems thinking skills
Our brains hate “either/or” situations where we need to analyze many disparate factors and make a choice. It is much easier to choose between conditional A and B. A simple choice between two options gives people a sense of control. At the same time, unlimited choice makes you feel anxious. Therefore, the author says, we subconsciously strive to choose “between” and not “among”.
Developed systems thinking helps solve problems with an eye to context.
This is also why we break complex tasks into parts. It is easier to solve a problem step by step than to try to approach the solution in a comprehensive manner. But at the same time, our emotions and intuition greatly complicate decision-making. After all, many rely on them in the process of searching for answers. Add to this thought patterns and prejudices regarding most issues. The human mind is a collection of stereotypes.
You can curb your biases through the habit of thinking big. It can be developed in three stages:
- Evaluate and consider your own point of view. Determine what it is based on and what arguments it supports
- Try to imagine how the solution might be viewed by others involved in the task or problem. This is where intuition and empathy come to the rescue.
- Step out of the situation and look at it through the eyes of an outside observer. This metaposition requires a person to have developed critical thinking, which, alas, is unusual for most.
It is the combination of all three components that form that very “systems thinking”. It is based on the study of relationships between parts of something whole. Developed systems thinking helps solve problems with an eye to context.
If we translate all this into an applied plane, then the designer who designs the furniture needs to take into account the features of the room where it will stand. When planning the size and shape of rooms, think about the house where they will be located. And when thinking about a house design, take into account the area where it is located.
Is genius accompanied by pathologies?
Scientists from the Icelandic company deCODE genetics conducted a study on the interdependence of creative abilities and mental disorders. The results were published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Neuroscience. For the study, deCODE genetics used data from 130 thousand Europeans.
The summary of their work is that creativity is associated with genetic risk factors for schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. In other words, for people with the appropriate hereditary characteristics, there is a high probability that they will become musicians, artists, writers and scientists. It is assumed that creativity and bipolar disorder are somewhat correlated: during episodes of mania, a person suffering from this disease feels an incredible surge of energy and motivation - this is the period when he is most productive.
The most famous schizophrenic genius is Vincent Van Gogh. Thanks to his nervous illness, very contrasting paintings appeared in an expressive, impetuous manner, with ragged strokes. Edgar Poe, who wrote his stories under the influence of illness, said: “The world has always been filled with crazy people. People with mental illness or just eccentric crazy people changed the world. Bouts of rage or depression, or simply a different way of thinking, gave rise to mathematical theories, amazing inventions, amazing poetry, as well as musical and artistic creations.”
There is a hypothesis suggesting that among the geniuses of different eras there were autists. This assumption was made on the basis of the biographies of some famous personalities who, from childhood, were withdrawn and deeply focused on their inner world: Michelangelo, Hans Christian Andersen, Nicola Testa, Thomas Jefferson. However, Joan Freeman, a professor of psychology from London, founder of the European Council on High Ability, believes that the percentage of geniuses among autistic people and ordinary people is approximately the same. In general, highly gifted individuals on the planet are about one percent of the total population, that is, about 70 million.
Scientist Ruth Karpinski and her colleagues from Pitzer College (Claremont, USA) conducted an online survey among members of a non-profit organization for people with high IQs, Mensa, who were asked questions about their psychological and physiological health. To join the Mensa community of intellectuals, you must score 140 points or more during an IQ test (the IQ of the vast majority of people is 100). A survey of members of this organization showed that they are more likely than ordinary people to suffer from a number of serious disorders.
Trying to explain the results of the study, Ruth Karpinski and her colleagues developed a theory of the relationship between the superbrain and the hypersensitive body - those with high intelligence are prone to increased psychological and physiological excitability. Increased psychological excitability manifests itself in a tendency to ruminate and worry, while increased physiological excitability is the body's response to stress.
According to the superbrain theory, emotionally unstable people who are unable to ignore the flow of the smallest stimuli from the external environment are more susceptible to psychosis and react more violently to external circumstances. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution—showing that the disorder occurs more often in people with high IQs than in most people does not prove that high IQ causes the disorder.
How to calculate a genius and is a high level of intelligence equal to genius?
There is no particular need to calculate geniuses - Mozart was already composing musical works at the age of four, and it was clear that this child was born a genius. Intelligence is often considered the measure of genius—a measurable quality that leads to incredible achievement. On the other hand, identifying abilities and talents helps to direct a person’s learning in the right direction in a timely manner. Currently existing tests cannot fully reflect the full potential of a particular person. According to the results of an IQ test, a person with high intelligence is not necessarily a genius.
The first IQ test was invented in 1912 by the German psychologist William Stern: a set of well-known problems and puzzles was supposed to determine the developmental potential of children. However, the tests that followed to measure mental abilities, including the questionnaire of the British psychologist Hans Eysenck, who made the very idea of assessing intelligence popular, were intended rather for adults.
Today, most IQ tests measure a person's ability to analyze visual-spatial information, short-term memory and processing speed. In this case, the age of the subject must be taken into account. The questionnaires are compiled in such a way that the average value is equal to 100 points. A score below 70 is considered to indicate mental retardation, and people who score above 115 are especially intelligent. One can speak of outstanding abilities and even genius with an IQ above 140 points.
Lewis Terman, a Stanford University psychologist who helped develop the IQ test, observed more than 1,500 California schoolchildren with IQs above 140 in the 1920s. Years later, he concluded that monumental intelligence alone does not guarantee genius achievement. Some study participants were unable to achieve success; some were even kicked out of college. At the same time, Luis Alvarez and William Shockle, Nobel laureates in physics, did not have a high IQ, but became famous.
Testing does not prove a person’s real intelligence, because, firstly, you can train yourself to solve a certain type of problem, and secondly, the assessments of the same person may depend on his physical and psychological state. By the way, the American William James Sidis had a record IQ - his tests showed from 250 to 300. He was an expert in 40 languages and entered Harvard at the age of 11. And at the same time he did not make any contribution to science, having worked all his life as an ordinary office clerk.
A genius not only has a brilliant intellect, he knows how to use his talents in a way that others cannot: he is able to influence the world; behind genius there is always something more than generalizations and templates.
How to raise a genius
Abilities, giftedness, genius are concepts similar in meaning, but genius is the highest degree of talent and human development. In the 21st century, scientists, psychologists, and sociologists are actively studying the nature of genius and offering new methods of raising children and approaches to development.
Genius, genius - these words are shrouded in mystery and seem unattainable to the average person, but is that so? Any child is talented by definition, many have abilities in several areas. Why do some become more successful than others, and grades at school do not help in future life? Recommendations from experts in raising geniuses will help you find the answers.
The problem of genius, arguments in favor of educating geniuses. Genius Development Program:
- Determine the child’s abilities and type of thinking - to determine the child’s development and upbringing, it is important to understand his way of perceiving the world, interests, and inclinations. There are tests and characteristics that help to understand the child. The book “How to Develop Genius and Charisma in a Child” talks about ten types of thinking in children, each with its own characteristics and predispositions. Having understood the child, it is easier to find an approach to upbringing, determine what talents to develop, what path in life to choose.
- Help in development, do not interfere - observing certain interests, hobbies, it is worth supporting the child’s aspirations for development, not interfering and not imposing your ideas. The main rule: do no harm. There are so many situations when children, under pressure, play sports or go to clubs and music school. The child must determine for himself what is closer to him in spirit, what his hidden strength is; parents can give a choice, offer, nothing more.
- Develop leadership, charisma - when a child realizes his advantages and strengths, he can feel his strength.
You can offer to teach other children, help those behind in class, show talents in society: performances, competitions, concerts. Leadership is the ability to lead people; its development is possible with high self-esteem and a sense of self-worth. The child needs the support of his parents and approval of his actions and life choices. The problem of genius, arguments for the development of a child capable of becoming outstanding and making a contribution to public life. Leadership is a necessary quality of genius. - Increase self-confidence - developing talents and demonstrating genius cannot happen without confidence. How can a person declare himself in the world if he is used to hiding from people like a snail? How to help a child develop confidence?• Keep a Success Book, record achievements, positive feedback; • In case of failures, remember your life experience, everyone has difficult periods, the main thing is not to give up; • Never generalize - difficulties have reasons, it is important to understand them, find ways to achieve results; gain life experience - the child develops confidence by overcoming difficulties, it is useful to give the opportunity to act independently, cope with simple tasks first, and later complicate them; • Positive thinking - the example of parents is irreplaceable; if the mother does not despair and always strives to achieve what she wants in life, the child will also be able to accept failures more easily and strive to succeed in his affairs.
- The main thing is skills, not cramming - school and education are needed to develop learning skills, often they do not keep up with time, programs do not correspond to modern life. It is important to be able to find the necessary information and educate yourself. A child should be taught useful skills - searching for data, setting goals, planning, achieving the desired result. Why do C students succeed in life? They often have developed resourcefulness and creativity, they understand their inclinations and preferences earlier, they concentrate on their own interests, and do not waste time on uninteresting subjects.
- Develop perseverance - to realize talents, achieve your desires, make dreams come true, a child will need perseverance. It is this property that can develop even from small inclinations to the level of high skill. Children who are able to persistently do what they love every day will definitely become the best, ahead of their peers.
- Develop creativity and out-of-the-box thinking — now even adults strive to discover creative potential and learn creative thinking. For what? This is a huge competitive advantage; creative people are able to create new technology, make discoveries in science and art, and find solutions where others see only problems. How to develop creativity?
• listening to music with your child, starting from pregnancy, classics are especially useful (Mozart, Vivaldi), jazz and blues also increases creativity;• engage in modeling, drawing, crafts, helping to develop creativity. In addition, working with your hands stimulates the development of the brain and speech;
• develop fantasy, imagination - come up with a continuation of the fairy tale, your own plot with famous characters, answers to various questions. For example: where are the clouds flying, where is this woman going, where is the plane flying in the sky? Let the child learn to invent and fantasize. You can make up stories, act out pantomimes. This quality will help you find new approaches in life and think differently than others.
The problem of genius, arguments for the development of non-standard thinking, which is considered a key factor in distinguishing geniuses.
- Freedom of choice - a child should try himself in different activities and directions in order to determine what he is more drawn to, has abilities, what is more interesting, more enjoyable. It is important to experiment, try - sports, music, technology. You shouldn’t get hung up on finding talent; any child can become a genius if they have an interest in their studies and constantly improve their skills. At a certain stage of life, they will make a choice and can take up their main field seriously by their own decision. There is no need to force children, to persuade them, let them feel that they are closer.
- Don’t stop there - if you notice a propensity for linguistics and good memorization of words, you can learn several languages. Why only English? There are also German, Chinese, French and other languages. This will be an advantage in the future. For musicians, it is useful to be able to play several instruments; such specialists are also valued more and can excel in concert performances or music production. Versatility and versatility are always at a premium. It is important to be able to quickly adapt and adapt to living conditions.
- Be objective - you shouldn’t realize your dreams in your children, send them into medicine or law because they didn’t succeed themselves. Also, negative experiences in the lives of parents should not interfere with children. They are different and can succeed in any field that is close in spirit.
It is very important for a child to choose his own profession and life path. After all, when parents decide, children in the future suffer from unloved work or change their field of activity years later, and time cannot be returned. The task of parents: to raise a happy and successful child, to help find a calling in life.
Ability and genius can be developed and help a child succeed in life, express himself, realize his talents. Parents should teach them useful skills and abilities, and creativity, confidence and perseverance are the most important ones.
Genius gene
Advances in the study of genetics have made it possible to study human traits at the molecular level. Over the past few decades, scientists have tried to find genes associated with intelligence to prove that they play an important role in our intelligence and talents. In 2014, all the tabloids reported that scientists had found a gene for genius.
A study led by Dr Silvane Desrivieres from King's College London found that teenagers who scored high on intelligence tests had a high functioning NPTN gene. This is the gene responsible for encoding the neuroplastin protein, which is involved in intercellular interactions.
In addition to the standard medical examination, the participants' mental functions were assessed, including an IQ test to determine nonverbal intelligence, as well as tasks testing vocabulary and a matching test. In addition, using magnetic resonance imaging, data were obtained on structural differences in the brain of adolescents (differences in the thickness of gray matter were recorded in 33 different areas of the cerebral cortex).
Dr. Silvane Desrivieres emphasized that she and her group did not discover the intelligence gene at all, since the strength of the influence of this gene on mental abilities is small and does not exceed the influence of many other factors. The scientist believes that it is incorrect to say that a single gene determines a large complex of psychological characteristics. "We wanted to find out how structural differences in the brain relate to differences in intellectual ability."
Today, world science is conducting research to identify genes that are responsible for various biological and behavioral programs in the human body. However, there is no single gene of genius that contributes to the emergence of new Beethovens and Einsteins. Scientists from the Institute of Psychology at King's College London have found that a person's intellectual level and educational abilities are determined by the combination and work of almost two hundred genes.
Since each of the huge number of genes that form the “genius cocktail” is irreplaceable, not only their presence is very important, but also the way they are combined. However, genius is not a closed whole - the transfer of individual properties from parents to children does not at all guarantee inheritance and the method of their combination. That is why the likelihood that the children of a brilliant scientist will also be brilliant in science is quite small.
Favorable conditions can contribute to the best use of innate abilities. Heredity creates the possibility of genius, but the social environment increases the likelihood that a new genius will shine on the horizon. The birth of an intellectual “supernova” is influenced by many factors, time and place: the cultural level of the era, its demands, the opportunity to gain new knowledge, train and test one’s abilities.
Secrets of wild tribes - how people live without civilization
Rule ONE: Break the rules
Creativity is not limited schemes, but generalized models and systems that have guided artists over the centuries as they create their masterpieces and scientists as they make their discoveries. To go beyond the limits, you need to become thoroughly familiar with them (the limits).
Having learned what and how it should be, test all the rules, trying to follow and break them. Evaluate the experience gained and rewrite these rules in the form in which you see them now.
You will be surprised to discover that there are rules for creativity - and these are your personal rules. And other people don’t have to do the same as you. But for you, these rules will be perfectly balanced and will suit all parameters.
Is it possible to develop genius?
According to American psychologist Robert Strenberg, it is worth taking a broader approach to measuring intelligence levels. He included in the rating scale: creative intelligence - the ability to generate new ideas, analytical intelligence - the ability to compare, evaluate facts and draw conclusions, practical intelligence - is responsible for ensuring that a person can successfully socialize. And although critics call Strenberg's theory imperfect, it is believed that it is more capable of capturing the concept of “genius” than conventional IQ tests. Despite the fact that different geniuses are strong in different areas, they are all united by high creative abilities. This is probably one of the signs that distinguishes a genius from just a highly developed intellectual.
A good way to develop genius is through intensive improvement in your field, constantly leaving your comfort zone and communicating with other talented colleagues in the industry. The techniques are simple but very effective.
British scientist Hans Eysenck conducted many studies and was able to prove that creativity is associated with biological changes in only 15% of cases. This means, first of all, that the famous phrase “Geniuses are not born, they are made into geniuses” is true. And if not a genius, then anyone can potentially become creative.
For example, neurosurgeon John Adler devoted 12 years of his life to developing a radiotherapy system capable of removing tumors not only in the brain, but also in other parts of the body. In the 1980s, the medical community laughed at him and did not believe in the success of the venture. In 1992, Adler, together with the Schonberg brothers, developed the Cyberknife, thereby changing the approach to neurosurgery and giving the world a new tool that can be used to treat diseases. Did Adler change the world? Without a doubt. But it took him 12 years to do this. Moving towards a goal for so long is not an easy task.
The author of the book inGenius, Tina Seelig, has devoted several years to studying genius. In her opinion, all brilliant people have developed two skills: the ability to combine unrelated ideas and the ability to go beyond the boundaries of habitual thoughts. At the same time, by developing and improving skills, working hard and overcoming obstacles that 90% of people cannot overcome, you can become special.
2. Stay curious and double-check your facts.
Ideology is the enemy of learning. Once you start believing in something, the spirit of exploration begins to die. If we accept on faith that climate change has no correlation with human behavior, there is no reason to think about our own behavior in relation to nature. Or, if we think that all technologies are developed for the benefit of humanity, we let our guard down.
It's not about the amount of knowledge you have, but how it meets your strategic goals.
And the belief that your company or enterprise is the best in its niche prevents you from improving your performance. Blind faith is the shortest path to stagnation of imagination, innovation and progress.
Genius, as a rule, is hidden in a powerful system of disbelief. A genius is always curious and eagerly seeks answers. He is a skeptic who tries to overcome prejudices and refute dogmas. If you want to think the same way, imagine that you are a visitor from another planet who is not aware of the rules of life on Earth. Fill yourself with knowledge, leaving ideology behind.
