Dealing With The Reality That Not Everyone Can Succeed

[Keith Maitland]

As a society, we’ve failed to confront a reality that has emerged time and again from psychological research. Two traits — general intelligence and self-control — are perhaps our best individual level predictors of living a successful life. More on what “successful” means momentarily. However, failure to appreciate the reach of intelligence and self-control, though troublesome in the past, will become increasingly problematic as our modern American economy becomes ever more technological and our economy ever more global. In fact, had we appreciated the importance of these traits more fully in the decades leading up to now, we might have foreseen more clearly the rise of a Donald J. Trump style presidential candidate.

RTWT here:

http://quillette.com/2017/02/06/dealing-with-the-reality-that-not-everyone-can-succeed/

[Udayana]

I agree with the specific claim "Two traits — general intelligence and self-control — are perhaps our best individual level predictors of living a successful life", but can't see where he wants to go with that. It applies to all humans, not only Americans.

[Outrider]

As a society, we’ve failed to confront a reality that has emerged time and again from psychological research. Two traits — general intelligence and self-control — are perhaps our best individual level predictors of living a successful life. More on what “successful” means momentarily. However, failure to appreciate the reach of intelligence and self-control, though troublesome in the past, will become increasingly problematic as our modern American economy becomes ever more technological and our economy ever more global. In fact, had we appreciated the importance of these traits more fully in the decades leading up to now, we might have foreseen more clearly the rise of a Donald J. Trump style presidential candidate.

RTWT here:

http://quillette.com/2017/02/06/dealing-with-the-reality-that-not-everyone-can-succeed/

I think the very fact that 'tweet first, don't bother asking questions later' Trump has attained high office is more than adequate a demonstration that either general intelligence or self-control are required to succeed. Or, perhaps, they are required, but they can be supplied by others... There are some quite smart, quite self-controlled people in the background of Trump's campaign, who have used him to achieve access to power.

O.

[Bubbles]

People do deal with it though, they say " it's the taking part and trying that counts"

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I think society today is gladiatorial without the obvious death and bloodshed.
You cannot have won without someone having lost and been roundly humiliated.

[Udayana]

I guess people, lacking intelligence and self-control, are happy to live in a "winner takes all" society based on competition and greed, as those are then the driving factors. They think of themselves as winners who can claw their way up.

[Rhiannon]

Even baking cakes is a reality contest now and gives the opportunity for unbridled venom from the audience.

[Dicky Underpants]

People do deal with it though, they say " it's the taking part and trying that counts"

Well, they do if they're English.