Innate talents: Reality or myth?

Behavioral and Brain Sciences 21 (3):399-407 (1998)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Talents that selectively facilitate the acquisition of high levels of skill are said to be present in some children but not others. The evidence for this includes biological correlates of specific abilities, certain rare abilities in autistic savants, and the seemingly spontaneous emergence of exceptional abilities in young children, but there is also contrary evidence indicating an absence of early precursors of high skill levels. An analysis of positive and negative evidence and arguments suggests that differences in early experiences, preferences, opportunities, habits, training, and practice are the real determinants of excellence. Key Words: exceptional ability; expertise; gift; innate capacity; music; potential; prodigy; specific ability; talent

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,221

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Talent scouts, not practice scouts: Talents are real.David C. Rowe - 1998 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 21 (3):421-422.
Innate talents: A psychological tautology?Sidney H. Irvine - 1998 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 21 (3):419-419.
Attributed talent is a powerful myth.Clemens Tesch-Römer - 1998 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 21 (3):427-427.
What can we learn from highly developed special skills?Michael Rutter - 1998 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 21 (3):422-423.
Natural born talents undiscovered.Michael J. A. Howe, Jane W. Davidson & John A. Sloboda - 1998 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 21 (3):432-437.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
144 (#119,426)

6 months
9 (#144,029)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?