Self-Control vs. IQ: Which one is more beneficial to students?

There is no doubt that having a high IQ is an advantage in the classroom, but studies are showing that it is not the only variable that constitutes success. In fact, there is another variable that has been shown to predict more academic achievement than IQ. This variable is self-control.

Having self-control is our ability to dominate certain impulses. A simple example of self-control is resisting eating sweets when we are trying to eat healthier, or resisting the urge to play video games when we have homework or a test to study for. If students are taught about self-control and learn how to manage and improve their self-control, they are setting themselves up for success inside and outside the classroom.[p-

Researchers Angela Duckworth and Martin Seligman (2005) conducted a study with adolescent students which showed that “self-control was over twice as important as intelligence in predicting academic achievement”. Attaining a high GPA comes more from self-control, not from boosting their IQ.

It is important for students to understand that intelligence does not necessarily guarantee success. However, there are many ways to improve self-control, and having a good sense of self-control leads to an improvement in individual well-being, relationships and societies. Students with self-control understand time management, goal setting, motivation and perseverance in order to achieve their goals.

For more information on this topic, you can visit this website:

http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/ptn/2014/12/self-control.aspx