Intelligence Has a Propensity For Continual Growth

• As a child engages in thinking their brain develops neural networks and pathways. Each time they successfully push the boundaries of their challenges they develop new pathways or strengthen existing ones.

• So one of the key characteristics of the thinking ability of our brains is it has a propensity for grow, expand and continuously develop, and given the right conditions this process continues on in older people as well.

When a child focuses on a growth mindset they have unlimited capacity to grow, innovate and expand their thinking.

Intelligence is not a potential but has a propensity for growth.

POTENTIAL?

Brain development is not a fixed inner potential to be realised or reached as our full potential. When intelligence is perceived as POTENTIAL then it describes skills that are dormant and yet to be ignited. It means a learner has potential but is yet to apply these skills to maximum advantage.

However, potential also signals a limiting quality. For example, reaching one's full potential means the end of any further development.

PROPENSITY?

Propensity, on the other hand, suggests a continual growth, an expansion beyond limitations. When intelligence development is seen as a propensity then it describes the ability of the brain to form super highway networks for learning, development, awareness etc. It signals unlimited growth. Brain research and our current understanding of the brain is pointing to this nature of the brain.