Debunking The Genius Myth
Helen Lewis argues that the people we anoint as "geniuses" often reflect what a culture values, rather than any absolute measure of brilliance.
On the latest episode of The Psychology Podcast I sat down with acclaimed journalist and Atlantic staff writer Helen Lewis to explore her latest book, The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea.
We examined how society defines—and often distorts—the concept of genius. Helen argues that there’s no universal, objective definition of genius, and that the people we anoint as such often reflect what a culture values, rather than any absolute measure of brilliance. This “genius” label, she suggests, grants select individuals undue latitude and props up misleading narratives about creativity, intelligence, and individual achievement.
We also dig into the misuse and limitations of IQ, shared myths about extraordinary minds, and the social consequences of genius worship.
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch trailer here:
Scott Kaufman & Helen Lewis I ascribe to the words of Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter who famously opined that he could not define #pornogaphy, but he knew it when he saw it. To me the same is true of #GENIUS. Perhaps it cannot be readily defined but most of us recognize it when we observe it.
Every time I push the plug into the outlet ,I feel grateful to GENIUS engineer Nikola Tesla who investigated devises which made it possible the safe use of AC for humans.Every time I swallow the B12 pill I feel grateful for the Nobel Prize Winner Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin who investigated it's structure by X-ray analysis which made it possible the wide scale production of this vitamin.Using X-ray spectrometer cost her severe pain due to arthritis and disability yet she did not stop her research of bio molecules including antibiotics and sterols. She was a devoted scientist struggling to help to improve healthcare, altruist and GENIUS.
GENIUS is not the object to observe, it is the object for gratitude for innovations which brought more safety and comfort in our everyday activity.GENIUS is praised for his deeds, not just for fun
or as a strange unusual creature. We could observe such wonders as an elephant man or a man with two heads, but could not name them GENIUS until they invent something useful/extraordinary.