Think Your Kid Is Smart? Think Again!

Some folks are so proud of their child’s intelligence that they brag about it to the world. Emblazoned on the bumper of their SUV is the message: “My kid’s an honor roll student,” to be replaced years later with a college decal from an elite university. Since being smart is such a source of pride in our culture, let’s look at what we mean by “intelligence.” Years ago, intelligence was seen as a single entity, referred to as the “g” factor: “g” for general intelligence. Kids who were in front of the line when God handed out brains were those who scored high on IQ tests and scholastic exams. There was every expectation that these kids would be successful in life or, in the case of a girl, marry a “successful man.” For those unlucky kids who were not “college material,” boys would learn a trade or use their muscle power to make their way in the world. Girls would become secretaries and/or learn the feminine wiles to “get a man” to take care of her. As the field of psychology became more sophisticated, we became aware that it was simplistic to think of intelligence as purely a “given factor” while not taking into account other factors, such as great parenting, excellent educational resources, good mental and physical health, high motivation, sufficient self-confidence, being able to sit still, focus, concentrate and be free from emotional distress. In addition, the ability to reflect on what you were taught was important. When we do so, ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens Parenting Child Development Emotional Intelligence kids Source Type: blogs