Genius as a phenomenon of the human personality and psyche. How common is it and is it possible to develop this quality?

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.

About the nature of the phenomenon. Whether geniuses are born or made, is it possible to develop this quality?

The concept of genius is so hackneyed that the average person has long not understood what such a phenomenon is. The term is used as a synonym for giftedness and talent, which is not true. There are a lot of myths regarding this phenomenon. Including the origin of extreme giftedness from birth. What can be said about this, what is the nature of genius? There is a group of theories.

• Biological or genetic

It is considered one of the leading ones today. What is its essence? According to the views of a large group of neurophysiologists, the extreme degree of giftedness is determined by the combination of a certain group of genes that are responsible for thought processes and productivity, and the general tone of the body. The theory has the right to life, but it faces a difficult question that indirectly denies it. If genius is determined genetically, why is genius not passed on from parents to children and even after several generations? Perhaps we are talking about random, spontaneous combinations or mutations. There is no evidence or refutation yet. Further scientific research in this area is underway.

• Social

According to it, the basis is the peculiarity of the child’s environment from the moment of his birth. And then the sphere in which there is a potential “darling of nature.” In this case, extreme giftedness is made dependent on the influence of the environment on the individual. How valid is this theory? It's hard to say yet. Most likely, genius is not a trait that can be developed. It is rather innate. But without a doubt, with improper upbringing, suppression of initiative, and lack of adequate workload, there is every chance of destroying a person’s potential and ruining his talents. If we consider the issue in this context, the influence of the social environment on genius is likely.

• Historical

A controversial and rather old theory. According to it, the scale and number of super-gifted people cannot be calculated at the current moment in time. Because many ideas may turn out to be advanced and not understood by others. The environment and historical situation create a gifted individual, and recognition comes later. The theory is not supported by most scientists. Because, as already mentioned, the social environment does not play a primary role. On the other hand, if in former times such a phenomenon really existed, now discoveries for the most part undergo objective verification and can be soberly assessed. The percentage of exceptions is extremely small.

• Psychological

Has an indirect meaning. In fact, supporters of psychological theory equate genius with originality. That is, they talk about the randomness of the development of this phenomenon. Nature goes through various options for qualities, millions of them, and as a result constructs certain psychotypes, personalities and characters endowed with certain properties. With a successful random combination, the result is an extremely beneficial “set” in intellectual or creative terms. There is some truth in this, since, oddly enough, the extreme degree of giftedness was manifested in people born from parents without special intellectual qualities or creative potential, realization. The same applied to the children of thought giants who did not show any special skills, knowledge, or abilities.

• Psychopathological

It is considered the most common today. Although the genetics of genius are not yet clear, scientists generally accept that extreme levels of talent are associated with the development of certain mental disorders in the patient. Genius and schizophrenia are often linked.

Do the schizophrenia gene and genius really go hand in hand?

No, this is nothing more than a myth. Schizophrenia is a disease that destroys the psyche. As a result of a long or aggressive course of the pathological process, the ability to productively use thinking and think from a logical position becomes unrealistic. Therefore, such a seriously ill patient cannot be taken into account. The connection between genius and mental disorders occurs in milder clinical cases. For example, with sluggish forms of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders. Much more often, exceptional qualities are observed in persons suffering from all kinds of phobias, unusual sexual disorders (disorders of sexual preference), patients with depression, and bipolar affective psychoses. That is, those disorders that do not disrupt the functioning of the individual.

Special qualities are observed not only in mental illnesses, but also in organic pathologies. For example, hydrocephalus, epilepsy, in some cases after intrauterine hypoxia and others. There are many options.

With all that said, is it true that genius is a disease?

No it is not true. This is a group of personal qualities, mental characteristics and other factors. But not a disease. Although such a complex of beneficial properties can be “bundled” with mental disorders. Not crazy, but easier options.

Finally, is it possible to develop genius?

Scientists say no. This is an innate complex of personality qualities. There is probably a group of genes (not just one gene of genius) that determine such a disposition. However, as can be judged from history, such a gift of nature is not at all necessary to achieve outstanding results in the field of interest.

Signs of a talented person

There are several signs of a person who has a gift:

1. Creative people have a lot of energy in their field of interest and can be obsessed with an idea for days on end.
2. Gifted individuals are both introverts and extroverts.
3. The uniqueness of talented people is manifested in the fact that they are modest and confident at the same time.
4. For the sake of what they love, such individuals are ready to sacrifice their career.
5. Extraordinary individuals are not always gifted in all areas, but often in just one. Talent and genius should not be confused, because in the second case the person is considered gifted in all areas. In other words, genius represents the highest level of creative manifestations of personality.

What factors influence the speed of implementation?

As was said earlier, genius can not only be realized faster, but also ruined. In the second, human society has achieved particular success. The social environment is the catalyst or inhibitor that determines the realization of natural talents. What factors have a significant impact?

1. Methods of education. Imperative education suppresses initiative. In this case, the person becomes lethargic, weak-willed, and does not show independent interest. By encouraging initiative, it is possible to achieve the realization of the natural qualities of the individual.
2. Possibility of free creative realization. That is, sufficient freedom of action, without control from parents and teachers (except for reasonable control to ensure the safety of the child and direct the creative spark in the right direction).
3. Amount of free time. The more it is, the more effective the development. Provided that the resource is spent correctly.
4. Environment. It influences in a significant way.
5. Material component. Satisfying natural basic needs. With a sufficient degree of satisfaction of needs, an adequate environment for self-realization and development arises. Although, sometimes, need also becomes a catalyst for rapid development.

These are the main points. In fact, the speed and quality of development is influenced by even more factors: from health to motivation.

How to raise a genius from a child

Many parents consider their children gifted and brilliant not objectively, but based on their own desire for the child to be better than others. The makings of genius can only be discovered by impartially observing the child and giving him the right to choose his activity.

Knowing what genius means, you can, with patience, carefully observe the child in order to initially identify the makings of genius.

It is important not to interfere with the child’s search for himself and his favorite direction. In addition, parental support is extremely important for the child himself, even if he has chosen a non-standard activity. Self-confidence will allow a little person to double his potential and achieve high results at a young age.

Olga Figura

About testing for genius. How to diagnose a person’s originality?

Testing in such a context is very difficult. Especially if the test is carried out on a child. The rudiments cannot always be recognized immediately; sometimes more than one consultation is required. The issue of diagnosis is dealt with by specialists in clinical psychology. The psychologist must have sufficient experience, otherwise the results will be inaccurate or completely false.

There is no single test for genius, since we are talking about an integral quality that combines three characteristic features:

1. High level of intelligence.
2. The ultimate level of creativity.
3. High flexibility and mental agility. Also her activity.

As part of the examination, special events are prescribed.

Oral conversation

Allows you to evaluate the logic of statements and the structure of the subject’s speech. Also direct the conversation in the right direction and lead to certain actions. Provocations are also used to understand how a person gets out of difficult situations. Here, again, the specialist is required to have sufficient experience and impeccable adherence to the rules of formal logic.

Torrens test

In different modifications. As part of this testing, special stimulating graphic material is used: figures, lines. The subject is asked to complement the drawn forms at his own discretion to create complete images or even compositions. A psychologist does the decoding. Upon completion, a final score is assigned. Depending on the result obtained, we can talk about both very low and extremely high creative potential of the individual. Before testing, especially if a child is being tested, you need to carefully explain the rules to avoid misunderstandings and false underestimation of the results.

Intelligence tests

Ravena, Eysenka, other modifications. Of course, taking into account the age of the subject. The questions that are used are divided into categories - from logical (which figure is extra) to mathematical, based on simple calculations. Also verbal, assessing the ability to perform operations with linguistic units. Some tests only use a graphical representation of the material. The use of various tests and questionnaires allows you to obtain the most accurate and unbiased results. In such a situation, errors are practically eliminated.

Observation of the behavior of the subject. Assessing his interests and preferences

Conclusions are drawn based on observations and the specialist’s own understanding. Although there are no formal criteria, the signs of a person’s genius are quite clearly visible.

How does genius manifest itself? Among the features:

• high intelligence - in adulthood, the limit indicating exceptional abilities lies at the level of 145-150 units and above, depending on the individual characteristics of the individual, this number may be more or slightly less;
• the maximum level of creativity is originality of thinking, even in standard situations such people come to paradoxical and non-standard conclusions, which is noticeable when conducting tests;
• well-developed imagination - found in everyone, but at the same time, it does not always allow one to effectively engage in artistic activity in a broad sense; in childhood, imagination is especially noticeable; during diagnosis, this makes the task easier;
• multitasking - the ability to solve several problems at once in parallel, is found not only among geniuses, but for them this quality is organic and does not require special efforts for development or ongoing implementation;
• mental flexibility - the ability to quickly switch from one issue to another, is accompanied by a sufficient level of mental energy, this in turn determines the extreme performance of such people, they rarely get tired and quickly regain their strength, with a willingness to continue working;
• multipotentiality - that is, the development of extraordinary qualities in several areas at once; often extremely gifted people are able to work productively in several areas at once;
• sensitivity - high sensitivity, susceptibility to external factors, stimuli and other factors;
• curiosity.

Such criteria of genius are difficult to identify in one consultation. You need to observe for a certain time to draw conclusions.

Curiosity and determination

Two more qualities that mark geniuses in early childhood. Such children can be real little people, they love to read encyclopedias and just books, and are happy to learn new things. Having become adults, geniuses can receive several educations at once, but not in order to gain a diploma, but for the sake of new knowledge.

Geniuses clearly see a goal before failure and go towards it in all possible ways, often finding non-standard solutions. They will never waste time on activities that simply take away precious minutes that they could be using to get closer to their goal.

Classification

There are several forms of genius.

1. Practical. One can say about a representative of this species that he has “golden hands”, is capable of designing, making, repairing or creating something new.
2. Household (the rarest form), the presence of skills for life orientation.
3. Creative. The owner of such genius has a very developed imagination, knows how to translate his fantasies into reality, and realizes himself in the creative process.
4. Entrepreneurial, the ability to attract money.
5. Scientific and academic, the acquisition of great achievements in studies and scientific activities. They may say about such a person that he has a “bright mind.”
6. Emotional, the presence of developed empathy, the ability to feel and understand other people.
7. Sports-physical, high development of physical strength, agility, endurance and flexibility.

It is also worth considering two types of genius, based on the scale of its implementation:

• the first category are people who are constantly open to new things,
• the latter are fixated on the same activity, which they continue to improve and hone until the end of their lives.

Learned to live in my inner world

Newton's father died before his son was born. Apart from the strangeness of his character, the future genius inherited nothing from his father and immediate relatives. So where did his genius come from?

From early childhood, the future genius felt like a complete orphan, since his mother remarried, gave birth to three children and she no longer had time for her eldest son.

Isaac built a unique world - he drew the mechanisms he invented on the wall of his room, and when he grew up, he made them according to these schemes to check whether they would work in reality. The boy had plenty of imagination, curiosity and perseverance.

Feelings of orphanhood and abandonment led to thoughts of death, and sometimes turned into embitterment. He even threatened to set fire to his stepfather's house along with its inhabitants.

Biographers believe that the teenager’s personality was deformed since childhood; many researchers of Newton’s work attribute to him, and not without reason, the properties of an extreme neurotic.

He was always characterized by ambition and suspicion, caution and secrecy. He often burned his own and other people's letters and manuscripts

In order to improve his thinking abilities, concentrate his attention, sharpen his memory, he drove away extraneous thoughts... mortified his flesh, limited himself to a small amount of bread and a small amount of wine and water

Desire to act

Giftedness, talent, genius - all of this is so similar to each other, however, each of these concepts has its own aspects, and each of them can describe a wide variety of people. And the task of this article is to identify the signs and characteristics of genius that would allow you to know that you have met not a gifted person, not a talent, but a real genius. You have already read about unconventional thinking and vivid imagination, but you should also not forget about the constant desire of a brilliant person to act. Part of this is because genius can lead to madness. If a person keeps everything to himself, closes himself in his imagination and inner world, he instantly goes crazy. That is why a brilliant person always tries to act, always strives to bring his ideas to life. Even if ten, fifty, or one hundred of his ideas turn out to be unusable, dysfunctional, or unpopular, the likelihood is that the one hundred and first idea will be revolutionary. Also, the desire to act in brilliant people is associated with their self-esteem. Talent can be modest and even try to belittle its achievements in one area or another. A genius knows what he is capable of, so he never stops at anything.

Concept in psychology

If society defines genius as a spark of God, then psychoanalysts consider it the fruit of a defense mechanism of the psyche - sublimation. When such protection, which is responsible for relieving internal stress, is triggered, the overvoltage energy is directed toward achieving social goals. According to psychologists, a genius person is capable of insight.

From a psychological point of view, the state of genius is nothing more than a deviation from the norm. It has a genetic predisposition and sometimes borders on madness. Such people may have low emotional intelligence, which contributes to the development of bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia. In this case, it is the disease that helps create brilliant masterpieces.

Noticed. Geniuses are “people not of this world” and are often not adapted to ordinary life. They are so passionate about what they do that they live in the gestalt moment (“here and now”). Such individuals are helpless in everyday situations and sometimes cannot find a common language with other people.

Genius and madness

Intuition

If you have read everything that was described above regarding genius, then you yourself could come to the conclusion that intuition is an integral part of the life of a genius. He needs to be able to feel the situation and trust his gut, because it is this that tells him the best decisions he can make. Genius allows a person, when a controversial situation arises, not to turn to books (or in modern realities, rather, to a search engine). Such a person can simply look into his inner world, find the answer there and trust his intuition, even if he is not sure that his answer will be correct. Perhaps his answer will be wrong by the generally accepted standard, but in the end it will come out as another brilliant idea. This is exactly how genius works. Giftedness, as you can imagine, doesn't work like that at all, which is why you can't compare gifted people with geniuses. These are two completely different categories.

Restructuring your thinking

What to do? How to think in such a way as to get out of this terrible cube? Well, first of all: forget the word “genius”! Throw it out of your head the same way you would throw out a painting that hung on your wall, liked it, and then suddenly began to irritate you. So let the word “genius” begin to irritate you, so that you find reasons to throw it out of your head! Forget! Nasty! Ugh!

Let's say we succeeded, we forgot that very nasty word. Now what? Now it turns out that people are all the same. That everyone is born naked, but some achieve a lot in life, while others have what they have and don’t try to have more. Why? Because he doesn't know how to achieve it. Is there a way to find out? What needs to be done for this? What knowledge to gain?

I call the previous paragraph a “question-answer” reflection. Our brain is designed in such a way that when you ask it a question, it looks for an answer.

For example, the phrase “I can't do it” is a statement. This is a complete sentence, and if you tell it to your brain, it accepts it as truth and does not try to object (it’s your brain, it would be strange if it objected to you).

But the phrase “how can I do this?” I have a question. By asking your brain, you force it to search for the answer. He will delve into his archives (your knowledge and memories) in search of an answer to this question.

So, look at the question and answer paragraph again. Having stimulated our brains with questions, we came to the conclusion that all people are the same, and that simply over the course of their lives, some learn more, others learn less. And accordingly, whoever has more information has a greater chance of success.

If you can independently conduct the “question-answer” reasoning that we conducted above, up to those three questions (and if there are more of them, then even better!) that we came to, then I can congratulate you - you have changed your thinking!

From categorically denying your cognitive abilities, you have come to the point where you receive a bunch of questions. And it is the search for answers to these questions, as well as, of course, the answers themselves, that will give you the very experience and the very knowledge that you need to achieve success!

So, let’s summarize and highlight the main thing:

1. Genius is a myth, geniuses do not exist! All people are the same, all are born with the same number of physical and intellectual attributes. Everyone has the same potential, but how to use it depends only on you. Focus on this! Even if some part of your brain thinks wrong, tell it to sit quietly and make no noise!
2. Reach for knowledge! Ask questions to yourself, think where you can find answers to these questions, search, learn, develop! The more information you have in your head, the more developed your brain is, since it is the amount of knowledge and the ability to quickly navigate it that determine its level of development!

We live in the information age. Unlike just a couple of decades ago, we now have access to a huge information field - the Internet. There are millions of people here sharing information that is just waiting for you to receive and study.

Of course, you cannot study absolutely everything, no one can. However, no one said that we should not strive for this. It is necessary and very necessary! What is the difference between you and those people whom you consider “the ones”? They just know more than you, have more information. What exactly is stopping you from receiving and studying this information and becoming as smart as them?

I think I've given you enough food for thought. Remember: you can be smarter, more successful and richer than any person on this planet, and when you become this (which I wish for you with all my heart), then no one will forbid you to surpass even yourself!

Wish you luck!

“The secret of genius is work, perseverance and common sense.”