(no subject)
Dec. 11th, 2003 12:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timepiececlockI'm reading this long papaer on comparative educational practices between Britian, America, and Hogwarts:
http://magazine.bgsu.edu/fall03/Booth_paper.pdf
It's written by a PHD in comparative education and a minor in psychology.
But it's said some weird stuff. On page 2 she mentions "the often grey area between madness and genius." I don't see why she would say that if part of her degree was in psychology. I had one class of Intro to Psych last year, and though I disliked the class, I did come away with a lot of information, one being that, statistically, the smarter you are the less likely you are to have psychological problems or disorders. That whole cliche is a line of crap, and most often the smartest people are the sanest people. Sometimes eccentric, sometimes not, but very very sane. Why wouldn't she know that?
The second thing-- the analysis praises the House system at Hogwarts. Which I think is rather missing the point, because it's becomming more and more obvious within the books that the House system is divisive, and hurts the strength of the student body as a whole. It's actually made into a point in the beginning of book 5.
http://magazine.bgsu.edu/fall03/Booth_paper.pdf
It's written by a PHD in comparative education and a minor in psychology.
But it's said some weird stuff. On page 2 she mentions "the often grey area between madness and genius." I don't see why she would say that if part of her degree was in psychology. I had one class of Intro to Psych last year, and though I disliked the class, I did come away with a lot of information, one being that, statistically, the smarter you are the less likely you are to have psychological problems or disorders. That whole cliche is a line of crap, and most often the smartest people are the sanest people. Sometimes eccentric, sometimes not, but very very sane. Why wouldn't she know that?
The second thing-- the analysis praises the House system at Hogwarts. Which I think is rather missing the point, because it's becomming more and more obvious within the books that the House system is divisive, and hurts the strength of the student body as a whole. It's actually made into a point in the beginning of book 5.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Just to be difficult....
Date: 2003-12-11 01:16 pm (UTC)I sat an entire psychology degree, and in many cases, those people with great talents, be they music, art, writing or science are in fact often suffering from some psychological disorders. So yes sometimes maddness of some form and genius do concour.
I suspect this difference in approach between psychology in the US and the UK revoles around the classic "IQ" test problem and the differing defintion of Genius. I understand that in the US it is often said that if you pass a certain point on a IQ sacle, you are a Genius, where in the UK ('cos we don't think IQ test are any good!) something more is required.
Re: Just to be difficult....
Date: 2003-12-11 01:46 pm (UTC)What do you mean, you "sat" a degree?
and in many cases, those people with great talents, be they music, art, writing or science are in fact often suffering from some psychological disorders. So yes sometimes maddness of some form and genius do concour.
Our professor, while on the topic, mentioned this one study, I wish I could remember what it was called. But this one psychologist examined a group of 20 or 30 or so children that were tested at "genius" level, and evaluated them for psychological disorders. He turned the study into a prolonged one, and actually tracked these same group of people for decades, as they grew up, got careers had their own children, etc. The study eventually included their grandchildren before it was finished.
Apparently this study (sorry can't remember the name... I'll try looking it up later) dramatically changed some views on intelligence and spcyhological disorders, because the people studied, and their children, had less psychological problems, were more successful in their chosen careers, and were more satisfied overall in their lives. Anyway, there were a lot of other parts to the study too, and a lot of other separate information, but that's all I'm remembering at the moemnt without going back to look up stuff.
I suspect this difference in approach between psychology in the US and the UK revoles around the classic "IQ" test problem and the differing defintion of Genius. I understand that in the US it is often said that if you pass a certain point on a IQ sacle, you are a Genius, where in the UK ('cos we don't think IQ
Re: Just to be difficult....
Date: 2003-12-11 03:01 pm (UTC)The study shoulds fascinating, but then the long term ones always are (the "7 up" study in the uk was incredible!), so if you can find the name that would be great! But as I say, in england just having a IQ over a certain poitn does not make you a "genius". We are generally distrustful of IQ tests in general. So These children to a UK mind might not be Genius, just very smart.
Don't you find these subtle differences between different nations on areas enthralling. Or is it just me?