Introduction
Many prominent psychologists have been discussing the theme of genius and the elements regarding it. Zimbardo, Johnson, and McCann have also contributed to the exploration of the topic. To understand the principles of how people become geniuses, it is vital to examine the core concepts of thinking and intelligence as the main components of genius success. Therefore, this literature review focuses on analyzing the images of thinking and intelligence and describing the main aspects related to the topic.
Core Concepts of Being a Genius
Many people claim that geniuses are not ordinary people and can be considered a minor part of the entire population. According to Zimbardo, Johnson, and McCann (2016), little evidence exists to support the view of geniuses being different from other people. It is also claimed that geniuses are more the work of nurture rather than nature. The evidence implies that becoming well-informed in one subject area is possible for nearly every individual who strives for success. The main aspects of becoming a genius seem to be practice, high motivation, and personal characteristics tied to knowledge and skill gain. Those traits are indisputably linked to two primary abilities: thinking and intelligence.
Thought Process and Thinking Strategies
Thinking is a cognitive process resulting from which the brain can construct new concepts and ideas. It can form mental representations using available sources of information, such as senses, emotions, and memory (Zimbardo et al., 2016). Thinking as a process is based on two core elements, which are artificial and natural concepts. There are also mental structures present to organize concepts and assist with understanding the problem appearing. Therefore, it is a complex system that supports the understanding of new knowledge and helps generate new ideas, which is a core quality for successful thinkers.
Successful thinking strategies are defined by skills a person should possess to operate the thought process better. The essential skills are related to problem-solving, which is crucial as it must be dealt with instead of avoiding it. There are also obstacles, such as limitations set by the thinker, which prevent the problem from being solved. Therefore, it is crucial to implement practical problem-solving strategies in the process of thinking.
Intelligence Components and Measurements
Intelligence as one of the core elements of thinking is divided into two main components: fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. Intelligence is, in fact, a combination of different abilities merged. The intelligence in its core can be divided into multiple types, such as analytical, practical, and creative (Zimbardo et al., 2016). It is debatable whether there is one helpful way to measure intelligence that will suit many. In the 20th century, the test was developed to measure intelligence, and it was based on the educational abilities of an individual. Now it has become more common to use an IQ test to evaluate the intelligence of a person. These statements prove that there are many components to intelligence, and it can be found useful to acknowledge the presence of multiple types and methods regarding measures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the core aspects of genius success, thinking, and intelligence play a big part in personal development. Thinking as a process is complex and has many layers, whereas intelligence as an individual trait is undeniably important as a factor of personal evaluation. It is debatable, however, which method is more suitable for intelligence measurement. This topic requires further development and exploration to analyze the problem better.
Reference
Zimbardo, P. G., Johnson, R., & McCann, V. (2016). Thinking and Intelligence. In Psychology: core concepts (pp. 188-230). New York, NY: Pearson Education.