Why are you smart but still ... poor?

Recent studies show that a person's personality has a greater impact on their success than IQ.

How will a child's innate intelligence play a role in determining its successes in the future? According to economist James Heckman, the answer may make some people disappointed. He has an interest in asking highly educated people - especially politicians and policymakers - how IQ IQ is related to each other's income differentials. Most guesses, he said, are between 25 and 50 percent, meaning your IQ has made you halfway to wealth. However, the data obtained show that its effect is much smaller: from 1 to 2 percent.

Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen are both "noble people".(photo: AFP / Getty Images).

So if IQ is just a small factor to lead to success, then what is the difference between high-income people and those who are "not as high" ? In other words: Why are you smart but still . poor?

According to Bloomberg, science does not have a definite answer, although luck also plays a significant role. But according to an article that Heckman was co-author published on the National Academy of Sciences' Proceedings last month, personality is the most important factor. He found that successful people have devotion , a personality trait that is made up of diligence, perseverance and discipline.

To that conclusion, he and his colleagues studied on four factors: IQ, results of individual standard tests, academic scores and human dignity of thousands. people from England, the US and the Netherlands. These factors have been monitored for decades, collecting information not only about personal income but also with criminal records, precedents, BMI (Body Mass Index) and self-reports. about the satisfaction of current life.

Devotion is the key to success.(photo: Licdn).

Research shows that scores and results of individual standardized tests are factors to predict each person's success better than a simple IQ score. That may make you feel confused - aren't they the same? Not quite so. Scores not only reflect intelligence but also show qualities that Heckman calls "cognitive skills" , including perseverance, good study habits and the ability to work in groups - in other words devotion in work.

Mr. Heckman, who shared the 2000 Nobel Prize with Daniel McFadden with contributions in econometrics and macroeconomics. He is also considered one of the 10 most influential economists in the world. As the founder of the University of Chicago's Center for Human Development Economics, he believes that everyone's success is based not only on their innate talents but also on the skills learned in life . His research shows that when young children are the most malleable, and developing mental skills will be easier (and more effective) than focusing on developing much more IQ. Honesty is also linked to test results and scores.

Mr. James Heckman does not deny the importance of IQ, but does not think that is the deciding factor.(photo: USC News).

Of course IQ also has its own role . A person with an IQ of 70 is not necessarily able to do things that people with an IQ of 190 consider easy. But Mr. Heckman thinks that many people fail to get a place in the labor market because they lack skills without relying on intelligence tests. They do not understand how to behave properly when interviewing. They may be late or wear inappropriate clothes. Or when working, they show that they will only do the minimum work if possible.

John Eric Humphries, co-author of the article with James Heckman, said he hoped his accomplishments could help clarify complex things and often misunderstand everyone's abilities. Even in IQ tests, designed to assess problem-solving abilities seem to measure more than just intelligence. In a 2011 study, Angela Duckworth, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, found that IQ also reflects testers' goals and efforts. Careful, hard-working children will try to solve tougher questions than those with similar but lazy intelligence.

Developing IQ is good, but there are many more important aspects that need to get the right attention.(Photo: Cafefcdn).

Developing a child's personality in a school environment is certainly not easy. There are aspects that more are not necessarily better. It is possible that the higher the IQ and conscientious children, the better, but with other traits, the researchers think that should be just enough. For example, you will not want your child to be introverted so that you do not know how to communicate, or are too outgoing and active, so you do not know when to order.

So what does this have to do with the economy?"Our biggest goal is to improve people's well-being," Heckman said. "The key to doing that is skills."

A new study published in Nature Human Behavior this month focused on the opposition of success: failure. After monitoring 1000 New Zealanders for more than 30 years, researchers concluded that language, behavioral and cognitive abilities tests were performed when three-year-olds could predict who will have a difficult life, become a criminal or suffer from chronic diseases.

The lead author of that paper, Terrie Moffitt, Duke University psychologist, said she hopes the results of the study will contribute to promoting compassion and empathy, not stigma. Her results also suggest that helping others improve certain skills will benefit everyone.