"What makes a genius?"

I think the question is asked wrongly.

I think we should ask

"who makes a genius?"

The answer would be, the parents, of course.

I would half way agree, but the student needs to have the desire to learn also and need the proper teachers...

Recently a study was conducted that showed motivation was a HUGE factor in IQ testing. Students who where highly motivated to do well did MUCH better on average.

The brain is highly adaptable, however if you just dont care about giving it your all . . . . well.

Before I read other posts, I would like to write out my respose to your initial question...

When I hear (or read) the word "genius" I think of one who is gifted with an an uncommon intelligence in a subject(s) special to each of the individual genius. So, with using the word "gifted" I think of that which one is given without having to work hard to achieve, study to know, or keep trying to obtain.

(Someone who is intelligent, on the other hand, is one who is able to understand complexities, to put it simply.)

I do not believe that genius reside in each and every one of us. Here I will metion personality tests. I do not use personality tests as a matter-of-fact that one is exactly defined as a result from such a test tells him he is. Rather, from such tests I come to realize that the pool of geniuses is rather small while there are many people who can be identified as protectors and healers and artesian (for examples).

Could it be a Western thought, that each and every person have genius potential, running along the same line that you can be what ever you want to be, so long as you put your mindg to it and work hard?)

On the other hand, there is a possibility that I have yet to explore. What is one's environment has a role in molding a genius? I would have to research various geniuses and look back on their early lives and their influences. That is all I will say on this, although my hypothesis is that one's environment does not play a part in shaping a genius. To say that I would also need to mention that there may be a comparison of genius across cultures...

My definition of genius:

Being able to take the complex and make it simple yet feasible.

That sounds like a good doctoral thesis.

My little pocket imp says that your hypothesis is not provable theoretically, by pure speculative methods, and you can't use empirical data, as no useful set of that exists.

Anyhow... good luck with your dissertation.

I was talking about the physical creation, of flesh and blood, not of the post-inseminational influences.

Literally. When you make love, you run the chance of making a genius as a bi-product. Expecially if the woman in the act is bi.

If motivation was the only variable, then the study may have a confounding variable by way of "intrinsic" or "extrinsic" attributions, more commonly referred to as locus of control.

Whether an individual attributes their test taking ability to internal or external controlling factors, affects test outcomes regardless of how higly motivated the individual is to do well.

It would seem that such "uncommon" ability would have to stem from some intrinsic factor or combination of factors.

For exmaple, if an individual is genetically predisposed to extroversion as a personality trais, that person could end up excelling in something which requires a great deal of social interaction.



Are you contrasting 'general'(g) intelligence to that of a 'gifted' ability? In other words, g intelligence requires a lot of knowledge and informtion that are NOT part of the 'intrinsic' factors of 'gifted' individuals. (yes?)



Personality tests attempt to discover what personality traits an individual portrays at the moment. While the theories surrounding such tests indicate that persoanlilty stems from traits that tend to be embedded and enduring there are two things we cannot deny. First, that cultural norms play a role in how personality traits develop. Secondly, there may be many environmental factors which help determine whether a particular predisposition will be affected or not. I think certain personality traits must be affected in order for some forms of 'giftedness' or 'uncommon' learned intelligence to become recognized.

For example if Albert Einstein had been a very neurotic individual with low self-esteem and an external locus of control, his scientific contributions may not have developed. To me that means that environment does have a part in determining if an individual will reach full potential and be recognized as a genius.

Some might argue that point by suggesting that child prodigies can appear at extremely young ages. Obviously that's true, but even in the case of sevantism, the child must make the proper connections, and have the necessary social support and access to the tools that will ultimately help develop the talent.

For example: Social class often limits the exposure children have to art, music, theatre and so on. Occasionally a child from this background has a rare experience and a gift or uncommon talent is discovered.



It certainly could be and I'm sure that error occurs often. Good point.




I think your research would have a major flaw - you would be studying those who have already been catagorized as gifted/genius. It would be impossible to study it from any other perspective unless one had a totally unlimited budged a very huge staff and the persistance to carry out, perhaps a lifetime, of longitutinal studies on this matter.

It would sure be interesting thought, wouldn't it? Think of all the psychological,and social psychological theories that could be verified or further developed. It would be interesting.