The Psychology Podcast Dean Simonton || The Science of Genius
Jul 22, 2021
Dean Keith Simonton, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology at UC Davis, shares fascinating insights into the nature of genius. He explores child prodigies versus late bloomers, pondering if anyone can become a genius with grit and openness. The conversation delves into the mad-genius paradox and the impact of fame in the age of social media, questioning what it means to be a genius today. Simonton also discusses historical figures like Mozart and the nuances of creativity, intelligence, and mental health.
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Harvard Advisors' Reaction
- In 1972, Dean Simonton proposed studying genius, creativity, and leadership at Harvard.
- His advisors didn't understand their connection, especially their relation to genius.
Initial Resistance to Genius Studies
- Dean Simonton's interest in genius was initially met with resistance in his PhD program.
- His advisors didn't consider genius a legitimate topic of study, seeing creativity and leadership as separate, dying fields.
History of Historiometry
- Historiometry, the quantitative analysis of historical data, has been around since the 19th century.
- It was used by Adolphe Quetelet in 1835 to study age and achievement.
