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Discussion » Questions » Human Behavior » What factors result in a child prodigy?
Benedict Arnold

What factors result in a child prodigy?

How do some super-gifted children get their abilities? Genetic mutations? Supersmart brain? Gifted parents? Reincarnation? What do YOU think? 

Posted - March 7, 2017
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Responses


  • Much, much nature/inherited and a fair chunk of nurture.. I think generally these prodigy kids have very encouraging parents, parents who have introduced things like musical instruments, books etc at a very early age and then taken time to nurture any talent they show.
      March 7, 2017 3:49 PM MST
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  • That's gotta be a big factor but not all. There's a very well-known story about José Raoul Capablanca watching his father play chess at age 4. When he told Dad that he'd made a wrong move the man asked him to play. He not only beat his father he went on to beat anybody within range and was World Champion from 1921-1927. (The Polgar sisters, however, support your idea. With them it was certainly a mixture of nature and carefully-planned nurture.)

    Capa's story is echoes in other fields, of course. I just happen to be more familiar with chess history.
      March 7, 2017 4:15 PM MST
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  • well that's kinda what I said.. a mix of nature and nurture.. that Jose was able to watch his father play chess shows nurture.. he was given exposure and opportunities.. that may not have existed in another setting.. nature and nurture
      March 8, 2017 8:51 AM MST
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  • 22891
    its probably genetic, god probably gave them that gift
      March 7, 2017 4:52 PM MST
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  • Genes would have to be a factor, Pearl. It's something that's long intrigued me but I don't think anybody has yet come up with a decent answer. 
      March 7, 2017 6:03 PM MST
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  • 53509


    I'd prefer that you did not pry into my birth records, please. (That shouldn't be too much to ask.)

    Thank you. 


    ~
      March 7, 2017 7:26 PM MST
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  • I shall recall my spies. Your records are sacrosanct, Randy. 
      March 7, 2017 8:35 PM MST
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  • 53509
    Harumpf!
    ~
      March 7, 2017 9:19 PM MST
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  • Um, shouldn't that be Harrumph? 
      March 7, 2017 9:32 PM MST
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  • 53509
    Making fun of my accent, are you?  Grrrrrrrrr!

      March 7, 2017 9:40 PM MST
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  •   March 7, 2017 9:59 PM MST
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  • Dear Dozy,
    I am going with the possibility of reincarnation - and that is a little more than halfway serious, too...
    Mozart, people like that...makes the most sense?
      March 8, 2017 2:24 AM MST
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  • I was a little more than half way serious when I listed it as an option. 
    It's a very strange phenomenon.
      March 8, 2017 9:15 AM MST
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  • ...and some of your chess stories? Yes, it's almost like they were born that way.
      March 8, 2017 9:37 AM MST
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  • I've met a couple of people with convincing personal stories about reincarnation. It doesn't fit my paradigm at all but I can't deny what they told me.
      March 8, 2017 9:41 AM MST
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  • Reincarnation kinda does fit my paradigms...which still does not mean I buy into it!
      March 8, 2017 9:47 AM MST
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