How much is a child's future success determined by born intelligence? Most guess around 25 percent, even 50 percent. So if IQ is only a minor factor in success, what is it that separates the low earners from the high ones?
Science doesn't have a definitive answer, although luck certainly plays a role. But another key factor is personality. Financial success was correlated with conscientiousness, a particular quality in your personality marked by diligence, perseverance and self-discipline.
Grades at school and achievement-test results were markedly better predictors of adult success than raw IQ scores.After all, don't they all measure the same thing? Not quite. Grades reflect not just intelligence but also" non-cognitive skills", such as perseverance, good study habits and the ability to collaborate. Personality counts.
A research suggests childhood interventions (介入) can be helpful, and that conscientiousness is more malleable (可塑的) than IQ. Openness—a broad quality that includes curiosity—is also connected to test scores and grades.
Someone with an IQ of 70 isn't going to be able to do things that are easy for a person with an IQ of 190. But many people fail to break into the job market because they lack skills that aren't measured on intelligence tests. They don't understand how to behave with kindness in job interviews. Or on the job, they make it obvious they'll do no more than the minimum, if that.
A. IQ still matters, of course.
B. That might seem surprising.
C. They may show up late or fail to dress properly.
D. How much difference between people's incomes can be tied to IQ?
E. But the data suggest a much smaller influence： about 1 or 2 percent.
F. The higher the better for IQ, and perhaps for conscientiousness as well. G. Success depends not just on born ability but on skills that can be taught.
