Personality outsmarts intelligence at school

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-12/gu-poi121614.php

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
16-Dec-2014

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Contact: Helen Wright
helen.wright@griffith.edu.au
047-840-6565
Griffith University
@Griffith_Uni
Personality outsmarts intelligence at school
How certain personality traits are more important than intelligence when it comes to success in education

Recent research at Griffith University has found that personality is more important than intelligence when it comes to success in education.

Dr Arthur Poropat from Griffith's School of Applied Psychology has conducted the largest ever reviews of personality and academic performance. He based these reviews on the fundamental personality factors (Conscientiousness, Openness, Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Extraversion) and found Conscientiousness and Openness have the biggest influence on academic success.

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"With respect to learning, personality is more useful than intelligence for guiding both students and teachers," Dr Poropat said.

"In practical terms, the amount of effort students are prepared to put in, and where that effort is focused, is at least as important as whether the students are smart.

"And a student with the most helpful personality will score a full grade higher than an average student in this regard."

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Previous studies have shown that students who think they are smart often stop trying and their performance declines over time, while those who consider themselves hard workers get progressively better.

Dr Poropat said the best news for students is that it's possible to develop the most important personality traits linked with academic success.

"Personality does change, and some educators have trained aspects of students' Conscientiousness and Openness, leading to greater learning capacity.

"By contrast, there is little evidence that intelligence can be 'taught', despite the popularity of brain-training apps."