ODoes Talent Come From Hard
Work or Genetics?
Abby Polzin
The 10,000 Hour Rule:
The Matthew Effect:
Every site I went on about the 10,000 hour rule recommended the book Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. It talked about all of the advantages to getting more practice in.
In Galdwell's book, he used violinists and pianists as examples for the 10,000 hour rule. The 10,000 hour rule states that no amateur who you are, if you put in 10,000 hours of good, deliberate practice, you will become elite at whatever it is you choose to do. Everyone who was at the professional level had reached and surpassed 10,000 hours of practice. More importantly, they did not find anyone who had practiced for 10,000 hours and not reached the professional level.
The Matthew Effect is based off of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament: "For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath shall not be taken away even that which he hath." Robert Merton, a sociologist, is the one that started calling it the Matthew Effect. It proves that the people that are able to get special opportunities are the ones that are more likely to become successful.
An example of the Matthew Effect can be seen in age group hockey in Canada. Boys who are born at the beginning of the year have a better chance at qualifying for the age group team because they are bigger and more mature. Therefore, these kids get more trainign time, games, better coaches, and better teammates to practice with. Which ultimately gives them a better chance at becoming pro.
