We’ve told you that you don’t have to be a genius to pass the EPPP. Though the assertion still stands that it takes hard work and dedicated study to pass the EPPP, as opposed to inherent talent, it’s possible to cultivate a bit of genius.
First of all, what is a genius?
Big Think author Derek Beres, author of upcoming book Whole Motion: Training Your Brain and Body for Optimal Health, pens the article 3 Keys for Cultivating Genius. Beres gives a definition of genius:
“Psychology professor Dean Keith Simonton contemplates two varying views of genius: one of achieved eminence, the other as exceptional intelligence. His research points strongly toward the first: genius as a skill that can be cultivated with discipline.”
Genius, per Simonton, is not only cultivated in people who are “born with it.” It is something that can be achieved. Beres elaborates on the myth of the genetic genius.
“Heredity has long been an argument for genius: you either have it or don’t. While certain genetic circumstances set you up for success – runners with more fast-twitch muscle fibers tend to be sprinters, for example, while those with more slow-twitch fibers are better suited for distance – there is no predetermined roadmap to genius.”
If “there is no predetermined roadmap to genius”, how, then, can it be cultivated? Beres points his readers to Daisy Yuhas, a science journalist, who says autonomy, value, and competence are the three things that matter when it comes to cultivating genius.
Keep these three points in mind as you work to pass the EPPP.
- Autonomy
Desire and choices = motivation
Beres summarizes Yuhas’ first point of autonomy and says,
“Research shows that people who are given a choice to decide what field to pursue, rather than being told what to do or coerced into a decision, are more likely to excel in their occupation.”
You are more likely, therefore, to pass the EPPP and achieve success in the psychology field if it is your choice profession.
- Value
What you care about = motivation
According to Beres’ research, you should take the EPPP personally. Doing so could help you pass the EPPP.
“Researchers from the University of Maryland and University of Arkansas discovered students who value their research are more willing to investigate the topic independently. Another study at the University of Virginia found that students who write about science as it relates to their own lives are more thorough and detailed than those who simply summarize the lessons.”
You are more likely to pass the EPPP and be a successful psychologist if you personally relate to the subject matter or have a personal reason why you want to be a psychologist.
- Competence
Practice = success
“Practice makes perfect” is a cliché is because it’s true. The thing that makes practice successful, however, is not simply the repetition of a task. Successful practice happens when you believe you can do better so you challenge yourself. Practice can make perfect but it should be challenging.
“Students told that they’re geniuses are less likely to push their boundaries if they fare well on a test, while students believing they can do better with hard work are more likely to accept the challenge.”
Even if genius were hereditary, those who work to cultivate it may have an advantage. You are more likely to pass the EPPP and be a successful psychologist if you believe you can do it and are willing to put forth the effort as opposed to believing it will come easy.
Further Reading