We do not deny the impact of talent or intelligence, as some people can learn more quickly than others; however, psychologist John Carroll points out that the difference lies in their learning speed, not their ability. In short, everyone can achieve their goals with the right support, even if some progress more slowly than others.
Everyone Can Learn
Strong evidence shows that talent affects the learning pace, not the final outcome. Here are some insights:
1. The Strong Influence of Prior Knowledge on Skills
Prior knowledge of a certain subject is one of the best indicators of educational attainment. This makes sense because when you already know a lot, you don’t need to learn as much, making it easier to understand new information and add it to your existing knowledge.
In a famous experiment, researchers asked students to read a text about a baseball game and test their recall. They revealed that reading ability paled in comparison to baseball knowledge. Surprisingly, poor readers with a deep understanding of the game surpassed skilled ones who were unfamiliar with it.
Some psychologists suggest that all acquired abilities are essentially hidden knowledge. This theory gains credibility when we broaden the definition of knowledge to include procedural skills and implicit beliefs, not just academic knowledge.
Suppose most of our cognitive abilities are based on acquired knowledge. In that case, the argument that certain skills or subjects are unattainable essentially implies that individuals cannot learn specific types of knowledge.
2. Working Memory Load Changes with Experience
Well-documented research shows that fluid intelligence, logic, and flexible reason are closely linked to working memory capacity. The exact relationship between the two is still debated. Still, one explanation is that a larger working memory capacity facilitates intelligence by allowing a person to hold more information in mind simultaneously.
Another finding is that experts can process more information at once than beginners. This is a specific skill related to training, not an improvement in general abilities; therefore, theories differ on how experts achieve this.
Chunking theories suggest that experts compress information into complex patterns, while retrieval cue theories propose using long-term memory space to track tasks. Both might be right, implying that you are smarter in subjects with sufficient expertise and training.
3. Culture and Time influence Skills Learned by Everyone
In the Middle Ages, literacy was a privilege reserved for a select few. It was widely believed that reading was unattainable for most people. Today, however, reading and writing are commonplace.
The skills and subjects that can be learned largely depend on their practical application in society. Most people learn to read because literacy is essential for functioning in our society; thus, we invest time and proper training in emerging readers. In contrast, skills like hunting or extensive botanical and animal knowledge were once vital but have declined in emphasis.
Naturally, within certain cultures, you’ll find people who master reading, hunting, or languages more than others. These skills might come more naturally and easily for some people, while others find them challenging.
The takeaway here is that universal skills vary more between different cultures than within a single culture. This aligns with the notion that most people can learn almost anything if they dedicate enough attention to it.
Why Do We Feel Some Things Are Impossible to Learn?
If almost anyone can learn almost anything, why doesn’t it seem that way? Here are some common reasons why learning can feel harder than it should:
1. We Judge Relative Proficiency, Not Absolute Potential
Talent and prior experience determine the learning pace more than our learning potential. However, we often measure learning speed instead of the final achievement, especially in schools. This leads to choosing talent rather than overall potential.
It makes sense since no one can learn everything. It’s important to identify areas where we have natural talent. Learning resources are also limited, so allocating certain skills to the most talented individuals makes sense.
However, it’s better to identify students struggling with a skill early on and provide additional explanations and practice. Often, we punish early learning struggles instead of helping them succeed.
2. We Fail to Explain and Break Down Complex Skills and Subjects
Another reason some subjects are hard to learn is inadequate teaching. Essential information needed to understand a problem might not be explained thoroughly due to time constraints. As a result, some students can catch up on their own while others cannot, making some subjects practically unlearnable for many, even if they could theoretically learn them.
When faced with a challenging subject, it's often a sign of missing foundational knowledge and skills necessary to make it easier. Building these skills might take time, but you’ll succeed if you dedicate enough time to it. Learning anything can become easier if we explain it thoroughly and break it down into smaller parts.
3. Our Beliefs Encourage Us to Choose the Right Specialisation
Often, we focus on relative strengths rather than absolute ability. Research suggests that part of the gender gap in STEM participation is not because men are better at math but possibly because women are better at languages. People tend to specialise in their strongest areas, inadvertently steering women away from higher-paying STEM opportunities.
Sometimes, we focus on our strengths and avoid our weaknesses. This can be misleading, as we might think we can’t learn arts or math, while we actually have sufficient skills but they aren't as strong as our other skills.
This way, we reinforce the belief that we’re only good at certain things, even though we can learn almost anything at different rates.
In Closing
This all points to making the learning process easier. When you struggle to learn a subject, focus on the foundational knowledge. Bridging gaps in this basic knowledge expands your ability to reconcile old and new information, making you smarter in your chosen field. It may take some time, but it’s not insurmountably difficul
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