Too high IQ can get in the way of genius

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High IQ can hinder genius in some domains, like leadership, as it can make one a less effective manager. In contrast, high persistence is more likely to lead to greatness regardless of IQ level. Potential for mastering complex domains is what a high IQ buys, but it doesn't guarantee creativity or critical skills. Genius is best defined as making a major and unique contribution to an intellectually demanding culturally valued domain.

In this episode, we are exploring the complexity of the concept of "genius" with two experts on the topic. First you’ll hear from David Krakauer, the president of The Santa Fe Institute, a research institution in New Mexico dedicated to the study of complexity science, and then you'll hear from professor Dean Keith Simonton, one of the world’s leading researchers into the psychological mechanisms and influences that generate the phenomenon we so often refer to as "genius."

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