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According to French neuroscientist Fanny Nusbaum, intelligence is not related to our IQs, but to a state that allows us to become high performers. It is therefore a process, more than an ability. And the good news is that it’s within everyone’s reach.
It’s an idea that is making waves when it comes to notions of intelligence. Doctor in psychology and researcher in neurosciences at France’s University of Lyon 1, Nusbaum, has just published a book with Editions Odile Jacob entitled “Le secret des performants” (“The secret of high performers”). The author, who had great success with her 2019 book “Philo-cognitifs” (philo-cognitive), a term she prefers to “gifted,” states that intelligence is not a static capability, but a state that allows us to achieve high levels of performance. Contrary to the collective imagination’s portrayal of a world where there are “geniuses” and others, we can therefore all be in a good position to achieve what we want in the areas of our choice.
In your book, you state that intelligence is not an intrinsic capacity. Why is that?
Contrary to what we hear, intelligence is a state, in which we may or may not be, and which allows us to perform. In other words, intelligence is a form of action, and not an ability to use one’s thoughts and sometimes get lost in them or to “rationalize effectively.”
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
There is a tendency to think that a high IQ is indicative of superior intelligence. Why would the idea of performance be more revealing?
It’s true that this is a rather subversive point of view. In my book, I approach the intelligence of the top athlete, the intellectual, the entrepreneur and the artist in the same way. We tend to privilege intellectual capacities based on cognitive reasoning, measured by IQ, in short. But there are others: the abilities of great sportsmen like Maradona, of great creative people, of business leaders… And even of Nabilla (note: a French model and reality TV star)!
