There’s a fascinating article over at Scientific American that runs through the evidence supporting the idea that intensive training and education (e.g., knowledge) can be just as good, if not better, than innate talent.

Using chess as the main example, the author Philip E. Ross, describes how anyone can learn to play at an advanced level of the game through training. “[...T]he expert relies not so much on an intrinsically stronger power of analysis as on a store of structured knowledge.”

Of course, in my mind, this begs the question — if all it takes is increased knowledge through learning and training to achieve Grand Master status in chess, why don’t chess experts achieve that status fairly easily? Ahh, but they do more so and more so, claims the author, as we’ve seen a proliferation of chess “prodigies” as well as experts in other fields become more and more commonplace.

It’s a convincing argument.

The preponderance of psychological evidence indicates that experts are made, not born. What is more, the demonstrated ability to turn a child q uickly into an expert–in chess, music and a host of other subjects–sets a clear challenge before the schools. Can educators find ways to encourage students to engage in the kind of effortful study that will improve their reading and math skills?

An interesting question, if the supposition holds true.

Read the full article over at Scientific American.com that describes how studies of the mental processes of chess grandmasters ave revealed clues to how people become experts in other fields as well.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 16 Aug 2006
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