Chapter Overview
The background of Chris Langan is revealed and shows that his life may not what you expected of a person with an IQ of 195. He grew up poor moving from town to town. He went to college and then dropped out. He is then compared to Robert Oppenheimer, who was also very smart, but he came from a wealthy family. He also had a degree from Harvard and was successful. Gladwell says that it took real-world skills which Langan lacked compared to Oppenheimer.
A study by sociologist Annette Lareau analyzed the lifestyles of third graders, and the parenting styles used. She concluded that there were only two parenting styles. "concerted cultivation" which mostly affects upper class families and is when the parents feel like they are needed to help aid their child's talents, and embraces the independence and real-world situations. "accomplishment of natural growth" this happens in lower class families, when the child is left to grow and develop naturally; the child is not taught to take matters in their own hands. These two styles are related to Langan and Oppenheimers backgrounds, Langan grew up with a family that did not support his activities, unlike Oppenheimer.
Gladwell brings up Lewis Terman's study and concluded that there is one determining factor that intelligence can be equivalent to real-world success; which is the social upbringing. He believes that leaving out the background of a person wouldn't show the full story.
A study by sociologist Annette Lareau analyzed the lifestyles of third graders, and the parenting styles used. She concluded that there were only two parenting styles. "concerted cultivation" which mostly affects upper class families and is when the parents feel like they are needed to help aid their child's talents, and embraces the independence and real-world situations. "accomplishment of natural growth" this happens in lower class families, when the child is left to grow and develop naturally; the child is not taught to take matters in their own hands. These two styles are related to Langan and Oppenheimers backgrounds, Langan grew up with a family that did not support his activities, unlike Oppenheimer.
Gladwell brings up Lewis Terman's study and concluded that there is one determining factor that intelligence can be equivalent to real-world success; which is the social upbringing. He believes that leaving out the background of a person wouldn't show the full story.
Laura Schwemin