Intelligence and Personality Can Overcome Family Difficulties in Life Success

We have heard a lot about parental influence and success of students not only through college but also in life. What they found was that intelligence and personality are a big factor in a person's success and can overcome much, but not all, of parental influence. Review of 81,000 students found that personality and intelligence predicted educational attainment, annual income and occupational prestige 11 years later beyond parental influence (Damian, et. al. 2015).

Those with high intelligence and the right kind of personality find themselves making more money and in more prestigious occupations 11 years later.

While personality is a big factor, intelligence played a much larger role in success.

What what does this tell us?

If someone is highly intelligent, has the right personality and has a solid background from their parents they are much more likely to succeed than those that don't. However, on the flip side if one has high intelligence they can overcome a negative parental legacy.

Damian, R. et. al. (2015). Can personality traits and intelligence compensate for background disadvantage?: Predicting status attainment in... Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109 (3).