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Intelligence isn’t the only key for success as underdog attributes play vital role, study says
While higher intelligence is associated with better grades at school, a new study brings attention to more factors key to academic success.
The researchers found that being inherently intelligent isn’t enough to prosper as other overlooked skills significantly influenced educational outcomes.
Intelligence isn’t enough for academic success
When researchers from the Queen Mary University of London and University College London analyzed over 10,000 children aged between 7 to 16 in England and Wales while considering factors such as DNA-based analysis, environment, and academic performance, they realized that emotional intelligence along with cognitive abilities determines overall academic success.
Non-cognitive skills such as motivation and self-regulation of emotions were as important as intelligence in achieving greater results in school years, with genetics playing an important role in a child’s development.
The study highlights the significance of attributes such as grit, perseverance, academic interest, and more, which not only are “predictors of success but that their influence grows stronger over time.
The researchers took to studying the genetic makeup of the participants specifically to understand its impact on soft skills in a child and the outcome was startling.
In a world where cognitive abilities are prioritized over all else while measuring academic success, the new study proves that emotional intelligence is key to a successful life.
The genetic makeup matters
While the genetic makeup of a child undoubtedly contributes to better performance in school years when combined with cognitive skills, environmental factors play a role too.
“This suggests that children may actively shape their own learning experiences based on their personality, dispositions, and abilities, creating a feedback loop that reinforces their strengths, the author of the study published in Nature Human Behavior says.
The findings of the study challenge the traditional education system that solely focuses on cognitive development by emphasizing a “rebalance that focuses and gives equal importance to nurturing non-cognitive skills.”
