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How much is a child's future success determined by innate intelligence? Economist James Heckman says it's not what people think. He likes to ask educated non-scientists -- especially politicians and policy makers -- how much of the difference between people's incomes can be tied to IQ. Most guess around 25 percent, even 50 percent, he says. But the data suggest a much smaller influence: about 1 or 2 percent.
So if IQ is only a minor factor in success, what is it that separates the low earners from the high ones? Or, as the saying goes: If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?
Science doesn't have a definitive answer, although luck certainly plays a role. But another key factor is personality, according to a paper Heckman co-authored in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last month. He found financial success was correlated with conscientiousness, a personality trait marked by diligence, perseverance and self-discipline.
Why aren't you rich? You obviously slept with the wrong people!
(Score: 4, Insightful) by VLM on Wednesday December 28 2016, @09:49PM
Looking at some of the comments I think I can more clearly explain my first paragraph as lower and middle class folk think rich is all about becoming rich, getting a large enough wage-slave income to become rich and in DnD stats its all about your INT and to a lesser extent to survive the extensive hazing, your CON and STR values.
Upper class mostly rich people see rich as being all about keeping that wealth and not squandering it or getting greedy and losing it all like an idiot. Not losing your wealth is all about DnD stats its almost entirely WIS expressed as sensible non-greedy time preference, DEX in a mostly mental sense, and especially CHA/CHR to not get bluffed by the roiling cloud of ripoff artists surrounding every hex you're stand in.
So what the sociologists found was the main DND stat for being rich is the ones that help rich not become poor, not the stats resulting in the best wage-slave pay rates.
In DND speak if you wanna get rich you work the skirmish line or tank or whatever it takes to slay that dragon or Balrog so its STR and INT to the max, but to be rich or more specifically to remain rich, its mostly about being a bard or REMF, basically. I mean, maxed out CHA with lots of WIS and some DEX, that's basically a bard class, isn't it?
Its easy to become a millionaire with maxed out INT and a magic wand, but good luck keeping that million after the adventure unless you maxed out your CHA, or someone who did is going to end up with it all. The girl at the gaming table in the chainmail bikini becomes the trophy wife becomes the alimony collector and next thing you know you're helping the cityguard kill rats in the sewer just to get something to eat.
When I was young and met a lot of rich upperclass people sailing or at the club or whatever with my grandparents there is some variation of course but most were only average-ish intelligence and generally somewhat lazy but very shrewd long term charismatic thinkers.
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Wednesday December 28 2016, @10:54PM
The girl at the gaming table in the chainmail bikini becomes the trophy wife becomes the alimony collector and next thing you know you're helping the cityguard kill rats in the sewer just to get something to eat.
So, in decreasing order of financial success:
Maybe you could just skip the first two and go straight to the rats. Who knows? If they're giant, maybe they'd be smart enough to be a blast to hang out with.