Question

Much research in Positive Psychology demonstrates that excellence is learned rather than uniquely an innate genetic trait. Essential elements towards achieving excellence include: dedication and frequent practice, a strong intrinsic interest in developing one's expertise, and persistence over time. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, excellence requires a passion for one's area of interest.

For this discussion research an example of an individual you find to demonstrate true "excellence". Explain how they fit the definition of excellence in terms of the required factors described above. Do you agree with the research than indicates excellence is learned, or do you feel true excellence is an innate quality? Utilizing your example defend your stance on the innate or learned qualities of excellence.

Describe an interest, talent or skill you consider to be a demonstration of excellence in your own life. How are you developing that skill? Do you feel your motivation towards that behavior/activity is more innate or learned through modeling, encouragement and practice?

Answer 1

According to the theory of Carl Ransom Rogers, the skills develops by practice and the knowledge is useful by the applied methods, research in positive psychology define the term excellence in the light of practice and application.

Excellence is important factor in professionalism, for this purpose we practice frequently and develop skills.

In my opinion, the skill describes motor movement and its perfection but the excellence is better and more than this, excellence related to cognition as well as skill development, so that we manipulate ideas, think and work creative with perfection.

Let’s think about a person who is perfect in paintings, he can paint with good speed, cleanliness and skilfully, we can identify this person as skilled or a professional but it does not belong to the excellence, because painting skill came from practices.

Now, let’s think about Michel Angelo, did you get him as a skilled person? I think he was more than this, he was perfect, skilled but one characteristics and qualities made him excellent which was creativity and cognition. He could have think beyond the subject and use skill to make it possible. So that we can say that excellence is more than practice.

Skill come from environment and practice but excellence come from both innate ability and practices.

I think the research that say Excellence learned is not defining complete terms, the excellence is a combination of learning, skills, practice and innate instinct which make a person different from skilled person.

I am a teacher, its mean I can transfer information and knowledge to the pupils it can be called skill or professionalism but If I motivate students, take them beyond the normal ideas and make them logical, this thing define the excellence and it cannot be completely learned some time the innate power with skills combine the excellence.