Structural and functional theories of genius

Lecture



2. STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL THEORIES
Structural and functional theories of genius are based on the originality and degree of development of individual integral components of the personality and, accordingly, the methods and mechanisms for their implementation. These theories explain on the basis of which integral internal components and by means of what kind of activity geniuses realize their universal creative potential.
The structure of the creative position of the individual reflects a certain invariant three-component structure of the structure of holistic objects and includes cognitive, emotional and behavioral components. Another F. Galton (1875), and after him, many researchers considered genius a combination of the highest level of three traits - intelligence, passionate zeal and extraordinary performance. At the same time, in the structure of a personality, it is necessary to single out an axiological (value) component that permeates the three-component structure and appears not as its separate highest level, but as its systematizing factor and center of organization.
Table 3 Structural and functional theories of genius

Component Theory
Axiological
  Structural and functional theories of genius
Perfectionist
theory claims that
at the heart of genius lies
craving for
improvement of all
existing and permanent
following the highest
standards of excellence.
According to this theory, genius
committed to achieving
extremely high goals
making for this huge
efforts.
Cognitive
  Structural and functional theories of genius
Intellectualism
theory believes
that genius is a person
possessing an emergency
intellectual power
exceptional and unusual
mental abilities.
This is a person with
extremely high
intelligence that has
IQ above 140.
Emotional
  Structural and functional theories of genius
Passionate
theory believes that
at the heart of genius
lies limitless
love for the world, for people
to their business as well
passionate desire to know
the truth.
Behavioral
  Structural and functional theories of genius
Health
This theory claims
that genius is the result
titanic labor
exceptional
performance,
great diligence
immeasurable stability
and patience
extraordinary
purposefulness and
phenomenal willpower.


2.1. Perfectionist theory (from the Latin perfectio - completion, highest perfection, ideal) theory - states that the basis of genius is a passionate desire to improve everything that exists and the constant adherence to the highest standards of excellence. According to this theory, the genius seeks to achieve extremely high goals, making for this great effort. In addition, this is a vision and achievement of the ideal by performing titanic work and the embodiment in the objects of the highest values ​​of beauty, truth, goodness and good.
Perfectionism - is based on a mighty driving force in human life and evolution, manifested in the stubborn desire of the individual to perfection. Achieving excellence requires intense concentration of will, unremitting efforts and constantly renewing cycles of activity. This desire and the ability to refine, a tendency to detail, following the principle of perfectionism - "God is in the details." The main purpose of a genius is to create "a higher order in which unity is achieved or restored, and in which humanity fully fulfills itself" (R. Kerry). "Genius more often uses its strength to organize existing elements and to give them an unknown pore strength, expressiveness and power, than to find and create these elements themselves ”(G. Joly).

2.2. The intellectualist theory of genius asserts that a genius is a person with extraordinary intellectual power, exceptional and unusual mental abilities. This is a person with extremely high intelligence, who has an IQ above 140. At the same time, “Intellect is the ability to solve problems or create products that have value within one or several cultural contexts (G. Gardner). That is why a genius is extremely concerned powerful intellectual abilities to create creative and original products.
This quality characterizes, first of all, the scientific genius, which is inherent in the global nature and depth of comprehension of problems, extraordinary clarity of thought, a tendency to formulate and resolve the cardinal contradictory trends in the development of science (J. Holton). At the same time, G. Gardner identified eight basic types of intelligence, which, in fact, reflect various ways of interacting with the world. Thus, geniuses in all types of creativity are distinguished by the ability to see the most important, to grasp the essence and deep connections between phenomena, to intuitively reveal the hidden order and the universal laws of existence.

2.3. Passionate ( from Lat. Passio, passion) theory, which considers that at the heart of genius lies unlimited love for the world, for people, for their work, as well as a passionate desire to know the truth. The term “passionarity” was introduced by Lev Gumilyov to denote the individual’s ability to change the external world and overcome the inertia of the physical state of the environment. According to the idea of ​​drive, progress is realized by creative, passionate personalities, batteries, and carriers of creative, emotional, and volitional energy that the Earth receives from space.
Persons possessing this instinctive desire for purposeful activity commit actions that overcome the inertia of traditions and initiate changes in the environment.
Passionality is considered as a personal characteristic that is the opposite of the instinct of self-preservation. It is a source of intrinsic motivation of creativity, based on the expansionist tendency, which manifests itself as a research instinct, a desire to enjoy novelty and risk. (M. Chiksentmihali).
Zeal, enthusiastic dedication to the cause or ideal goal and tireless diligence, as well as such kinds of passions and powerful, intense emotions like joy, hate or anger, unlimited enthusiasm and love are manifestations of passionate genius. “Passion breeds genius” (A. Robbins), “Passion is like a genius: a miracle” (R. Rolland) and “Nothing great in the world is accomplished without passion” (Friedrich Hebbel).
Ch. Darwin and I. Pavlov wrote that it is love and a great passion for science that are the most important qualities of a real scientist, and O. Balzac, L. Tolstoy, M. Gorky argued that everything that was done with love was brilliant. Love makes man a creator, elevates to new, higher levels of existence, on which new ideas, meanings and values ​​are embodied (B. Vysheslavtsev). Without passion, there is no ingenuity. (T. Mommsen). “The initial and final feature of a genius is the love of truth and the pursuit of it” ( IV Goethe ).

2.4. Health (hard work) theory. This theory claims that genius is the result of titanic work, exceptional workability, tremendous diligence, immense perseverance and patience, extraordinary determination and phenomenal willpower. In a concentrated form, it is expressed in the well-known phrase of T. Edison “Genius is 1% of inspiration and 99% of sweat.” Douglas believed that genius is inherent in every person and it is achieved by the ability to work and beat at one point, “the king of mathematicians” Karl F. Gauss argued that he was different from other people only by diligence. "I do not know such a thing as a genius. Genius is nothing but labor and zeal. "(W. Hogarth).
Charles Darwin among his main qualities distinguished boundless patience in thinking about any questions and diligence in observing and gathering facts. When Newton was asked how he managed to make so many discoveries, he replied: "I was constantly thinking about them, that's all." “Let me tell you a secret that led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my perseverance ”(Louis Pasteur).
According to this theory, the inherent qualities of a genius are perseverance, steadiness, perseverance, diligence, diligence, diligence, perseverance, vitality, endurance, hardening, the ability to deeply concentrate on a specific problem for a long time. There can be no genius without exceptional energy and exceptional performance. (W. Liebknecht). “Genius is nothing but the gift of great patience” (JL Buffon).
The great workers were: brilliant writers: O. Balzac, L. Tolstoy, A. Dumas, V. Hugo, G. Flaubert, artists: Michelangelo , Vincent Van Gogh, P. Picasso, musicians: I.S. Bach, D. Verdi , L. Beethoven, I. F. Stravinsky, scientists: L. Pasteur, C. Darwin, I. Newton, inventors: T. Edison, N. Tesla. A. Dumas talked about himself "Hands that wrote four hundred books are the hands of a worker!", O. Balzac wrote "... I really work like a convict," and Michelangelo stated: "Nobody exhausts himself with work like I . I do not think of anything else, as soon as I work day and night. ” Hard work can relate to both learning, self-education and gathering material, and to perseverance, the achievement of goals and creative work. All the beautiful original works represent a serious intellectual work not only in the process of their creation, but also in the preparatory collection and partial processing of the material (J. Sally). “It would be a very big mistake to assume that my art was easy. I assure you that hardly anyone has worked so far on studying the laws of composition as I am ”(V. A. Mozart). On the other hand, it correlates with the creation of a mental image of an idea, persistent thinking, carrying out a plan (N. Tesla) and its embodiment, or the achievement of a result by trial and error ( T. Edison ).


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Psychology of creativity and genius

Terms: Psychology of creativity and genius