For music historian Craig Wright, “a genius is a person endowed with extraordinary mental powers whose original works or concepts significantly change society, for better or worse, from one culture to another and over time.”[1] In his book The Secret Habits of Genius, he reveals the 4 habits characteristic of gifted people (HPI)…

Habit 1: Showing relentless obsession

For the Yale professor, the most intelligent people have a pronounced obsessive streak, which shows up as intense, sustained effort. There’s no lightning-bolt inspiration; the result is often the product of a long, sustained mental gestation.

But this doesn’t mean locking themselves into a single activity. In his view, gifted people “see different things simultaneously, because they’ve had a certain number of experiences and, as a result, they can combine different elements that others couldn’t combine because they seem dissimilar.”1

Habit 2: Biting their nails

Often seen as a sign of anxiety or stress, nail-biting (or onychophagia) also hides a perfectionist streak. In fact, it’s one of the conditioning factors that contribute to excellence in gifted people. For them, it can be a form of self-stimulation and focus, capable of providing mental relief and creative stimulation.

Note that this habit can be associated with Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity (ADHD) or Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), but also with other mental health conditions.

Habit 3: Working alone

According to a study by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, there is a correlation between highly gifted individuals and heightened sensory sensitivity. Overwhelmed by loud noises, bright lights and crowds, they tend to choose quiet spaces and prefer working alone. This heightened sensitivity affects their social behaviour.

Habit 4: Talking to themselves

According to a study by the universities of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, talking to oneself reflects more advanced reasoning, memory and perceptual abilities. When we do this, when trying to remember and locate objects, “we activate the visual properties associated with those objects in our brain, which helps us find them more easily.”1

Talking to oneself therefore helps organise one’s thoughts and put a more intelligent answer into words. Not to mention that when this inner dialogue is positive, it also has an effect on self-esteem.

 

In any case, gifted individuals (HPI or HPE) are strongly encouraged to consult a psychologist to help them better come to terms with their difference and turn it into a genuine strength. Fully versed in these issues, the professionals on the Ora-Visio platform are available to support you.

 

[1] Source: https://www.purebreak.com/news/vous-nallez-pas-le-croire-les-genies-ont-souvent-ces-4-habitudes-etranges-qui-sont-le-reflet-de-leur-intelligence/252062