Cosmic Variance has a wonderful post called The Cult of Genius. It struck me that many diarists here, are so well-informed and articulate that it can be intimidating for those of us less gifted or informed (or both). While reading the article, just replace "physicist" with "political thinker." It applies equally well to physicists and political pundits (on DKos or elsewhere)>
Julianne, the poster, discusses the role of "genius" on physicists. Feynman, Einstein and Hawkins long shadows can have negative effects on less lofty intellects.
There are some worthwhile pointers for how to guide the egos of "smart" children and insights into our personal reactions to our own, sometimes, mundane performance.
Julianne, discusses an enlightening experiment.
In a science magnet school with low acheiving students, Blackwell studied 700 students, all of whom were taught a multi-session unit on study skills. One half of the group, however, also received a "special module on how intelligence is not inate":
The teachers—who hadn’t known which students had been assigned to which workshop—could pick out the students who had been taught that intelligence can be developed. They improved their study habits and grades. In a single semester, Blackwell reversed the students’ longtime trend of decreasing math grades.
The only difference between the control group and the test group were two lessons, a total of 50 minutes spent teaching not math but a single idea: that the brain is a muscle. Giving it a harder workout makes you smarter. That alone improved their math scores.
She goes on to say "These studies have lots of implications for higher ed in the sciences. Physics, with its strong cult of genius, is probably the canary in the coal mine."