Genius Mind

Throughout history, for scientists ‘a genius’ should have exceptional intellectual ability, creativity and originality. Steven Spielberg is in the ranks of Newton, Einstein and Napoleon due to the extraordinary creativity of the work that he produces that is revolutionary and that inspires future generations. Because of the movies that he produces such as the E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List he has been listed as the most powerful and influential person of the motion pictures. However it is not just that a person should have great creativity to be categorized as genius. There are so much more nourishing aspects adding to being exceptionally creative and intelligent. Dean Simonton argues that a genius individual should have the personality to be open to experiences. Even though this makes them join to normal activities that a non genius person would do, what makes them different is the mind receiving input from those experiences and turning them into ideas that are one of a kind. This what makes Spielberg different from me since when I see sea I see the sun, the sand, the surfers but when Spielberg looks at the sea he sees a large shark attacking panicked people.

A scientist called Angela Duckworth subdivided key traits and came up with the term ‘grit.’ She argues that even if a genius person is born with exceptional talents they have to work on them for them to be useful for years and for decades.

Simonton also argues that being intelligent, open to experience and grit is not enough to define genius. He believes that also the environment plays a important role in the nourishing of a genius. Constant travelers during childhood tend to have more original ideas due to variations.

However going to extremes may cause madness to geniuses. The neurorulin 1’s gene that is linked to creativity may also cause madness in chaotic environments.

Having genetic seeds is not enough for a genius. A genius person should also nourish their skills and practice them in order to keep them as well as having the right environment at the right time.    

Zeynep Ercan