https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/10/first-children-are-smarter-but-why/280725/
In the study noted in the article above, investigators confirmed the postulation that first-children generally excel beyond the levels achieved by their younger siblings, and they asked “Why?”
A genetic basis for the difference (i.e., where some advantage would be conferred on first-borns by “Nature” … like the first-born gets the best genes) was considered a possible explanation, but there were too many confounding factors to make it a compelling hypothesis.
After sifting everything down, the largest, most consistent and most compelling differentiation element between first-borns and later siblings was a change in PARENTING.
“Hotz and Pantano settle close to Theory (6). Parents are more likely to make strict rules (about, e.g., TV-watching) and be intimately involved in the academic performance of their first children, according to survey data. They’re also more likely to punish their first child’s bad grades. Hotz and Pantano say moms and dads start tough and go soft to establish a “reputation” within their household for being strict—a reputation they hope will trickle down to the younger siblings who will be too respectful to misbehave later on.”
One has to allow that it happens with pets, as well. The first dog is taken to “obedience school”, given all sorts of in-house and out-house training, given extra “play time”, and taught as many “tricks” as possible while the second dog is left to be “trained” by the first and its main purpose is to be a “companion”. Besides, who has the time to train TWO dogs?
An insurance agent in Appalachian Pennsylvania inquired of one of his clients how she had the time to deal with all 12 of her children. “Well, the first one took 100% of my time and the next 11 couldn’t take any more!”
The question of what comprises GENIUS was taken up by National Geographic in its May 2017 issue. The unsettling first observation made was that the gallery of geniuses past is almost exclusively populated by white males of European origin. However, considering the fact that patterns of “culturation” and “nurturation” gave most favorable advantage to males of European origin … never mind that most of that culturation and nurturation came from mothers and wives of the same, one is compelled to factor culturation and nurturation – at least to some significant degree – into the overall formula for the emergence of genius. NG further observes: “Around age six [girls] start to avoid activities said to be for children who are ‘really, really smart,’ [that’s negative nurturation]”, and asks: “Can our planet afford to have any great thinkers become discouraged or intimidated and give up?”
Equipping minds is a relatively new enterprise dedicated to intense “brain training” as a vehicle for maximizing human potential. [ http://equippingminds.com/ ] With a mission to integrate a tidal wave of new research on brain development and neuroplasticity into learning, EM has demonstrated that a broad portfolio of brain functions, including memory, cognitive processing and IQ, can all be enhanced by intensive “nurturation”.
So what’s the take-away message here? If any of the above holds any water at all, then we should become very attentive to the “environment” in which we place our brains. The bedrock platitude of computer culture is: “Garbage in, garbage out!” At least we can hold to that guideline. But brains are much more complicated – and much more malleable – both positively and negatively! There is increasing evidence that brain capacity in all aspects can be increased by normal growth and development, by experience, by exercise and by education, including high-intensity training. Conversely, it is conjectured that brain capacity can be decreased or derailed by inattention, by gratuitously indulgent activity (social media, TV, video games, etc.), by drugs and other dependencies, by decadent diet, by lack of exercise, by stress, or by physical or emotional or psychological challenges.
While a magic formula for the creation of genius has yet to be found, and while current working hypotheses are still only “working hypotheses”, there are enough nuggets of possibility emerging from the fog to suggest that we CAN do and be better than we started out, as well as better than we currently ARE!
One has to ask, then: Why would anyone not take the maximum advantage possible of the most positive environmental influences to maximize their ability to excel in the world? I’m off to the library and to do some genius-level networking, as soon as I water and fertilize the garden. You come, too! Quartermaster
