The quality of one’s intellectual productions is a function of the product of talent (e.g., intelligence) times mental energy. Although there are many and varied tests for assessing intelligence, psychologists have not as yet even attempted to construct a measure of individual differences in mental energy.
David Lykken proposes in this editorial (gated) that psychologists should take up the study of mental energy. In particular he makes the falsifiable claim:
Mental energy (e)–the ability to persist for long periods thinking productively about a problem, the ability to focus attention, to shut out distractions, to persist in search of a solution–is perhaps as important as general intelligence (g) in determining both successful performance and constructive achievement and the product of these two variables, g*e, provides the most valid predictor of success and achievement.
I haven’t been able to find any study done on this though. Please share references if you find any.
This reminds me of Lykken’s First Law:
David Lykken proposes in this editorial (gated) that psychologists should take up the study of mental energy. In particular he makes the falsifiable claim:
I haven’t been able to find any study done on this though. Please share references if you find any.
Check out Ishaan’s links.