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A certain subsection of Jewish people are known to have some of the highest IQ's in the world. I can't help but sometimes think that it could be genetic.
Maybe partly. But IQ is not strictly genetic. Environment plays a significant role. That's especially true with young children.
I think there's a tendency to chalk everything up to genetics so no one has to do anything differently or put forth more effort. We do the same thing with weight, even though the rate of obesity 2 generations ago was much less than it is today (newsflash: genetics don't change that fast).
Can we define "gifted?" or does it refer to academically motivated?
SRY about feeding after hours...
But lets be real. Jewish people are pretty much at the top of the economic and academic hierarchies wherever they go. They're obviously doing something different than most of the rest of us.
My son goes to a school that has a high number of Jewish students. Almost without exception the best students are the Jewish students. Their parents do well and they work hard. Now if you tried hard enough you could come up with a example of dumb and lazy Jewish people but they would be the exception. What is it about the Jewish expeience and culture that causes so much academic success?
My .02 worth.
Jews have faced adversity for centruries, so they know how, more than anyone else, to turn lemons into lemonade.
Most of it is the value system:
--achievement
--discipline
--having "chutzpah" or guts
--lower than average divorce rate
--they read more
--they know how to work both hard and smart
--I've also read that some Jews attribute their success to regular reading of the Torah. There's an interesting link about that here:
Being Jewish, I can attest that intellectual and academic achievement is not strictly genetic.
Jewish familes, in general, insist that there their children produce academically and place a high emphasis on study time and school work. The parents take a very high degree of interest in the academic progress of their kids----to the point that a lot us feel the their is some nagging. At the time its considered nagging, but in retrospect it is considered care and concern for their children.
Asian families also place a similar value on academic achievement for their children---again not all is inherited genius and brilliance---it is a supportive environment.
Yes Jews have a significant representation in the worlds of academia, broadcasting, finance, and the political world----this can cause suspicion and villification by many factions. The truth is that Jewish families are driven to see their children succeed in taking advantage of what this great country has offerred to all its citizens.
Jews realize that education is portable. If it's in the back of your mind that you may get kicked out of whatever country you're living in at the moment or have to leave your degrees can come with you more easily than any possessions you can carry.
There are generally a lot of books in any jewish household and elders with professional or business careers and degrees. Having to learn hebrew enough to read it by middle school is also a challenge that makes schoolwork look easy.
It has much less to do with genetics and much more to do with understanding the importance of developing the mind.
My grandfather used to explain to me that your education, your knowledge is the one thing that can never be taken away from you.
The ability to use your brain (versus your prowess) to earn your living is of great importance. I really do wish that more Black parents would push their children toward becoming doctors and business owners versus pushing them to aspire to the NBA, NFL or MBL.
Interesting topic. It's funny, I've been studying a jewish marketing/sales guru,
or expert. Who commands one of the top rates in the field. He fits a lot of points in the value system...
chutzpah
achievement
reading more
working hard and smart (street smarts and book smarts)
etc
I don't think it's a blantant stereotype.....they dominate so many areas....hollywood, politics, finance, wall street (hedge funds), the forbes 400 (over respresented), nobel laureates, etc. I think it's akin to "something in the water".
They know that knowledge is portable, and that you can take it with you. If you're being persecuted, or think you're going to be kicked out of whatever country you live in,....knowledge becomes your only wealth.
Why don't other groups develop this attitude towards education? Isn't it something that everyone should be modeling?
Other groups have faced adversity for centuries, why don't they have the same attitude? What group hasn't faced adversity? Which is harder to learn, hebrew or an asian language? Learning a hard language early, probably contributes to achievement later on.
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Here is an interesting article
