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I'm curious how this 'born programmer' thing works. So you are basically saying there is a gene (or sequence of genes) that predisposes you to programming. Co

by Volpe 15y ago

I'm curious how this 'born programmer' thing works. So you are basically saying there is a gene (or sequence of genes) that predisposes you to programming. Could you elaborate on how that might work? Twin studies have shown a lot about personality being more genetic that was thought before. But I don't know of any brain studies that have linked knowledge/intellectual capacity to genetics... Do you have a reference? Or is it literally as you say, just a belief? like "I firmly believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster"

AndrewDucker 15y ago
Abstract thought. Many people have real problems going from "A is X" to "A is a reference pointing to X" or "A is of class X". Whether that is genetic is unknown to me, but it strikes me as something that coders have to be good at.
steve8918 15y ago
There are many components to cognitive ability. For example, there's the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory that has several different abilities: Crystallized Intelligence Fluid Intelligence Quantitative Reasoning Reading & Writing Ability Short-Term Memory Long-Term Storage and Retrieval Visual Processing Auditory Processing Processing Speed This was cut and pasted from wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattell-Horn-Carroll_theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattell-Horn-Carroll_theory). If you've taken an IQ test, you'll see that they test various types of cognitive abilities, not just math or logic, but also the ability to rotate objects in your head and visualize them. I know plenty of people who are "smart" who have a very hard time with that. In addition, I know plenty of people who aren't academically smart, but who are great visualizers. There are many different components to cognitive ability. I have a friend and both he and his father are exceedingly intelligent. My friend's son also is also a gifted child. However, when the son took some cognitive tests, his spacial/visualization scores were average, whereas the verbal and math were off the charts. I don't think that affects whether or not the kid is smart, it's just interesting how cognitive ability is broken up into different measurable areas. Is it so hard to imagine that computer programming takes a certain subset of cognitive ability that some people, who are considered smart, just don't have? I know a lot of very intelligent people who wouldn't be able to program at all. It's not because they're "dumb", but as I've said, but the way they process information is completely different. You most definitely could develop the skills, however, if their brains are wired a certain way that causes them to be predisposed AGAINST programming, then they won't enjoy it very much at all.
- Volpe 15y ago
  So there is a logical jump in your reasoning. - Some brain visualisation skills are innate - Programming (probably?) requires some of those traits. - JUMP - "either you are born with the ability to be a programmer or you're not." What you haven't demonstrated (beyond some weak anecdotes), is that those innate skills can't be taught. Even if you proved that, you'd then have to prove that developing software, will always involve those skills. E.G. programming in the 60s required a different set of skills to programming now (with some overlap).

by Volpe 15y ago

AndrewDucker 15y ago

Abstract thought. Many people have real problems going from "A is X" to "A is a reference pointing to X" or "A is of class X". Whether that is genetic is unknown to me, but it strikes me as something that coders have to be good at.

steve8918 15y ago

There are many components to cognitive ability. For example, there's the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory that has several different abilities: Crystallized Intelligence Fluid Intelligence Quantitative Reasoning Reading & Writing Ability Short-Term Memory Long-Term Storage and Retrieval Visual Processing Auditory Processing Processing Speed This was cut and pasted from wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattell-Horn-Carroll_theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattell-Horn-Carroll_theory). If you've taken an IQ test, you'll see that they test various types of cognitive abilities, not just math or logic, but also the ability to rotate objects in your head and visualize them. I know plenty of people who are "smart" who have a very hard time with that. In addition, I know plenty of people who aren't academically smart, but who are great visualizers. There are many different components to cognitive ability. I have a friend and both he and his father are exceedingly intelligent. My friend's son also is also a gifted child. However, when the son took some cognitive tests, his spacial/visualization scores were average, whereas the verbal and math were off the charts. I don't think that affects whether or not the kid is smart, it's just interesting how cognitive ability is broken up into different measurable areas. Is it so hard to imagine that computer programming takes a certain subset of cognitive ability that some people, who are considered smart, just don't have? I know a lot of very intelligent people who wouldn't be able to program at all. It's not because they're "dumb", but as I've said, but the way they process information is completely different. You most definitely could develop the skills, however, if their brains are wired a certain way that causes them to be predisposed AGAINST programming, then they won't enjoy it very much at all.

Volpe 15y ago
So there is a logical jump in your reasoning. - Some brain visualisation skills are innate - Programming (probably?) requires some of those traits. - JUMP - "either you are born with the ability to be a programmer or you're not." What you haven't demonstrated (beyond some weak anecdotes), is that those innate skills can't be taught. Even if you proved that, you'd then have to prove that developing software, will always involve those skills. E.G. programming in the 60s required a different set of skills to programming now (with some overlap).