Success Entails More than Sheer Ability

A Scientific American article titled Beyond IQ: Youngsters Who Can Focus on the Task at Hand Do Better in Math, contains some wisdom that goes beyond the subject matter at hand. Research cited in the article (appearing in the journal Child Development) indicates that self-control and mental focus may be as important to a student's success at math than innate intelligence.

Researchers identified what they referred to as executive function- an important indicator in assessing student success at math. Executive function involves both an ability to recall information helpful in solving problems as well as an ability to control impulses which could hinder problem solving. The latter is of greater interest to me as it seems to involve the ability to override impulses dictated by habits. Yet habits can be positive.

Human behavior demands flexibility. Circumstances call for many and varied responses. Practice at anything leads to increased proficiency through the acquisition of habitual reactions or responses. Intellectual insight though can require an ability to solve problems by deviating from usual paths. This applies to math but also to biology and other problem solving endeavors.