Life Paths and Accomplishments of Mathematically Precocious Males and Females Four Decades Later

Two cohorts of intellectually talented 13-year-olds were identified in the 1970s (1972–1974 and 1976–1978) as being in the top 1% of mathematical reasoning ability (1,037 males, 613 females). About four decades later, data on their careers, accomplishments, psychological well-being, families, and li...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological science 2014-12, Vol.25 (12), p.2217-2232
Main Authors: Lubinski, David, Benbow, Camilla P., Kell, Harrison J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Achievement
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Aptitude
Biological and medical sciences
Brands
Career Choice
Cognition. Intelligence
Cohort Studies
Cohorts
Creativity
Family - psychology
Female
Females
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gender
Gender differences
Grants
Humans
Income - statistics & numerical data
Intellectual and cognitive abilities
Intelligence
Leadership
Life Style
Life styles
Male
Males
Mathematics
Median income
Men
Middle Aged
Occupational roles
Occupations
Occupations - statistics & numerical data
Personal Satisfaction
Precocious
Preferences
Psychological well being
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Public administration education
Sex differences
Sex differentiation
Sex Distribution
Sex linked differences
Single status
Spouses
STEM education
Tenure
Time use
Women
Womens education
Working women
Youth
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Summary:Two cohorts of intellectually talented 13-year-olds were identified in the 1970s (1972–1974 and 1976–1978) as being in the top 1% of mathematical reasoning ability (1,037 males, 613 females). About four decades later, data on their careers, accomplishments, psychological well-being, families, and life preferences and priorities were collected. Their accomplishments far exceeded base-rate expectations: Across the two cohorts, 4.1% had earned tenure at a major research university, 2.3% were top executives at "name brand" or Fortune 500 companies, and 2.4% were attorneys at major firms or organizations; participants had published 85 books and 7,572 refereed articles, secured 681 patents, and amassed $358 million in grants. For both males and females, mathematical precocity early in life predicts later creative contributions and leadership in critical occupational roles. On average, males had incomes much greater than their spouses', whereas females had incomes slightly lower than their spouses'. Salient sex differences that paralleled the differential career outcomes of the male and female participants were found in lifestyle preferences and priorities and in time allocation.
ISSN:0956-7976
1467-9280
DOI:10.1177/0956797614551371