Why You’re Not a Prodigy (and What You Can Do About It)
Renee Kuo (ISB G10)
We've all watched talented child prodigies effortlessly perform skills that we spend hours practising towards and then immediately cried and asked, "Why can't I do that?". To answer this question (and rebuild her self-esteem), Renee dives into the science of natural talent and explores how it affects our daily lives.
If you’ve ever played an instrument, then chances are you’ve searched up recordings on YouTube. And, if you’ve ever been on the music side of YouTube, chances are the all-knowing algorithm recommended you a video where a “Child piano prodigy plays [in] Carnegie Hall”. You think, “There’s no way this is true,” but three hours and one shattered self-esteem later, you realize that you’re never going to be as good as them. It’s so unfair - how can they sound so good while the rest of us sound like a cat dying of pneumonia?
(Courtesy of Youtube)
The answer is luck and natural talent. As defined by Psychologists Scott Kaufman and Dean Simonton, natural talent is a “package of personal characteristics that accelerates the acquisition of expertise or enhances performance given a certain amount of expertise” (“What is talent”). In other words, talent allows someone to improve and perform better than others, given the same amount of expertise. It “develops through the interaction of genes and the environment” (“What is talent”), otherwise known as Nature and Nurture. Genes can indirectly and subconsciously influence talent by drawing our attention to experiences that will develop positive brain structures; this in turn makes us more developed and suited for the specific field. Additionally, the environment we are in also affects talent by showing us support in pursuing the field. Kaufman thinks of the “experience producing drive theory” (genetics) and the environment like an orchestra - the genes are like the players; they have to practice and be in sync in order to produce a good sound. The audience (environment) also has to be receptive and responsive - “if the orchestra plays in a totally unresponsive environment – for example, an audience of Justin Bieber fans – the players will be discouraged from further practising” (“What is talent”). In the end, the science behind talent is really the age-old dance between nature and nurture. It’s also important to note that talent is not innate nor predetermined at birth; rather, it develops with time (“What is talent”). And, in the case of prodigies, it involves lots and lots of luck and hard work.
“ In the end, the science behind talent is really the age-old dance between nature and nurture. ”
Courtesy of New York Public Radio
Prodigies are children who “reach adult levels of performance in non-verbal, rule-based domains such as chess, art, and music before the age of 10” (“The Mind of the Prodigy”). A study done with nine famous prodigies found that they all had extraordinary memories and attention to detail along with expertise in their chosen fields. According to Kaufman, prodigies are a result of various lucky coincidences, such as: “the existence of a domain matched exceptionally well to the prodigy’s proclivities and interests, availability of the domain in the prodigy’s geographical location, healthy social/emotional development, education, and preparation (informal and formal), cultural support, recognition for achievement in the domain, access to training resources, material support from family members, historical forces, events, and trends” (“The Mind of the Prodigy“). They find doing their chosen activity, whether it be music, art, or maths, to be inherently rewarding. This leads to an almost obsessive drive to practice and pursue the passion, and over time, builds up a long-term memory structure that allows them to learn new information faster than the average person. “In sum, child prodigies rapidly develop brain structures that make them even more prepared to learn new information within their domain” (“The Mind of the Prodigy”). The cycle of reinforcement builds their talent and pushes them ahead of other people in their domain, all before the age of 10.
Courtesy of EDUBLOX
While early-bloomers exist, it’s essential to remember that it’s possible for people to “discover” their talent later on in life. A common mistake that parents and educators make is attributing all success to the natural talent that shows itself early on. For instance, the kid that understands concepts and solves equations quicker than others in math class.
“Often, the kids that ‘get’ math more quickly than others are generally assumed to be gifted at math while the others aren’t. Then the ‘gifted’ ones get more encouragement, more training, and so on, and, sure enough, after a year or so, they’re much better at math than the others. This advantage can propagate through the school years, creating larger and larger disparities among children. ”
The same situation repeats in different subjects - the taller kid gets picked for the basketball team, and the faster reader gets put into the gifted reading group. They get more focused instruction that allows them to improve at a higher rate than others; over time, these small differences add up and widens the forever-growing gap between students. But what if the slow reader just hasn’t fully developed their talent yet? What if the student that’s bad at math is talented in engineering? Categorisation based on natural talent would prevent them from reaching their goals. While we should recognise talent and nurture those who discover it early on, we have to remember that talent isn’t everything. That goes for both the broader educational system and for individuals.
Courtesy of KNILT
On the last note, it’s essential not to let jokes about losing self-esteem and motivation go too far. Although it can be funny, comparing ourselves with geniuses who dedicate all of their time to their craft just isn’t practical. What’s more, it can be highly detrimental to our mental health. Remember - just because you aren’t a prodigy doesn’t mean that you can’t still practice and enjoy that activity. This sounds obvious, I know, but it’s something that we often forget.
That’s more than enough science and cheesy motivation for a BUDDY! article - go practice! Who knows - maybe you’ll suddenly unlock your hidden talent and become a prodigy. But if you don’t, remember that that’s okay too.