As part of the 92Y’s upcoming 7 Days of Genius Festival, Mike Berland and Edelman Berland surveyed 2,043 general population Americans. The goal is to explore what Americans think it means to be a genius, what they think of geniuses now and in the past, and how well the USA fosters and encourages geniuses within our society.

2. As part of the 92Y’s upcoming
7 Days of Genius Festival, Mike Berland
and Edelman Berland surveyed 2,043
general population Americans.
The goal is to explore what Americans
think it means to be a genius, what they
think of geniuses now and in the past,
and how well the USA fosters and
encourages geniuses within our society.

3. WHO
HOW
MANY
WHAT WHEN
American
Public
n=2,043 Online Survey
February 6 -
9, 2015
General population,
census representative
MOE ± 2.17%

5. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q11. Do you consider yourself a genius? (n=2043)
[IF NO] Q12. Would you want to be a genius? (All n=1733; Men n=796; Women n=937)
Women are less likely to be
interested in being a genius
than men are.
Only 15% of people consider themselves to be geniuses, and
36%of Americans wouldn‘t
even want to be a genius.

6. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q11. Do you consider yourself a genius? (n=2043)
[IF NO] Q12. Would you want to be a genius? (Aged 18-34 n=465; Aged 35-54 n=632; Aged 55+ n=636)
Millennials aspire to be geniuses.
57%of Americans
18-34;
54%of Americans
35-54;
37%
of Americans
55+;
would like to be a genius.

7. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
91%
Q10. Are there geniuses living among us? (n=2043)
Q17. Do you think the label “genius” is overused? (All n=2043; Aged 18-34 n=613; Aged 55+ n=674)
of Americans think
there are geniuses
among us, but
think the
label is overused.
53% Older Americans (aged 55+) are
more likely than younger
Americans (aged 18-34) to
think the label is overused.

8. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
65%
Q18. Which of the following statements do you most closely agree with? As a society, we need… (All n=2043; Aged 18-34
n=613; Aged 35-54 n=755; Aged 55+ n=674)
of Americans
think we need
more geniuses.
76%
65%
55%
8% 7% 4%
16%
28%
41%
18-34 35-54 55+
As Americans age, they become less likely to
think we need more geniuses – and more likely
to think we have enough of them.
As a society,
we need…
 More geniuses
 Fewer geniuses
 Neither – we have just the right amount of geniuses

9. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
What kind of genius would you MOST like to be?
(if you aren’t a genius – and would like to be one)
Q11. Do you consider yourself a genius? (n=2043) [IF NO] Q12. Would you want to be a genius? (n=1733) [IF YES] Q13. In what
area would you MOST like to be a genius? (All n=1004; Men n=518; Women n=486; Aged 18-34 n=350; Aged 55+ n=250)
Tech genius is most sought after
21%
17%
13% 13%
8% 7% 7%
5% 3%
2% 1%
Tech Business
&
Finance
Science Medicine Math Music Literature Food Philosophy
& Religion
Athletics
& Sports
Politics
men are more interested in being a
tech genius than women are
women are twice as likely than men
to want to be medical geniuses
younger Americans (18-34) are more interested than
older Americans (55+) in being a literary genius

10. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
of Americans
say they
personally
know a genius.
7%
cousin
12%
parent
5%
aunt/uncle
50%
friend
12%
colleague
10%
teacher
14%
sibling
4%
grandparent
Q7. Do you personally know a genius? (n=2043)
[IF YES] Q8. How do you know that genius? (n=886)
[IF FAMILY] Q9. What is your relationship to the
genius(es) in your family? (n=376)
43% of those who know
a genius, 50% say
that they are
friends with
him/her

11. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ21. In order for you to consider someone a genius, do they have to achieve recognition? (n=2043)
of Americans
don’t think someone has
to achieve recognition to
be considered a genius.
Really???
75%

12. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ16. Do geniuses tend to impact societal causes, or personal causes? (n=2043)
Geniuses impact society at
large, not just themselves.
societal
causes
personal
causes
30%
70%

13. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ23. Geniuses are most likely to… (n=2043)
Find a solution to an
unsolved problem
74% Discover something
brand new
58%
Innovate a category
45%
Stay behind closed
doors
27%
Disrupt an industry
12%
3 out of 4 Americans believe that geniuses
find solutions to unsolved problems.
Geniuses are most likely to…

14. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
Q24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (n=2043)
Genius can excel in either creativity (making something completely
new) or skill (perfecting something using methods that already exist).
43%
51%
2%5%
93%
Americans agree...

15. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
44%
39%
4%
14%
83%
They are skeptical when someone refers to him or herself as a genius.
Americans agree...
Q24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? [I’m skeptical when someone refers to him or
herself as a genius] (n=2043)

16. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (n=2043)
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
48%
32%
4%
16%
80%
It’s up to parents to encourage their children’s potential genius.
Americans agree...

17. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (n=2043)
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
51%
26%
4%
19%
77%
Genius becomes apparent at a young age.
Americans agree...

18. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
45%
24%
8%
23%
69%
We’re better at recognizing geniuses after they’re gone.
Americans agree...
younger Americans (18-34) are more likely
to strongly agree with this statement than
older Americans (55+)
Q24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (All n=2043; Aged 18-34 n=613; Aged 55+ n=674)

19. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (n=2043)
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
35%
20%
33%
54%
46%
13%
One has to be able to explain their ideas to anyone to truly be a
genius.
Americans are torn...

20. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (n=2043)
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
36%
16%
36%
51%
49%
13%
It only takes one groundbreaking idea to make someone a genius.
Americans are torn...

21. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (n=2043)
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
33%
18%
34%
51%
49%
14%
Geniuses can be “jacks of all trade – but a master of none.”
Americans are torn...

22. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
26%
19%
36%
45%
55%
19%
One has to excel at more than one subject to be a genius.
Americans are torn...
younger Americans (18-34) are significantly
more likely to agree with this statement
Q24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (All n=2043; Aged 18-34 n=613)

23. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Somewhat Agree 
Strongly Agree 
Strongly Disagree 
Somewhat Disagree 
17%
11%
46%
73%
27%
Genius can only be achieved after a lifetime of work.
Americans disagree...
older Americans (55+) are significantly
more likely to disagree with this statement
Q24. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (All n=2043; Aged 55+ n=674)

25. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ33. Do geniuses tend to be street smart, or book smart? Q44. To be a genius, do you have to have a high IQ? (n=2043)
Street
smart
Book
smart
Yes No
To be a genius, do you have to have a high IQ?
Geniuses tend to be…
Geniuses are book
smart…
…and tend to have a
high IQ
11% 89%
71% 29%

26. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ36. Do geniuses tend to be typically more male, or female? (All n=2043; Men n=1001; Women n=1042)
90%of Americans think that geniuses
tend to be male.
93% of men and 87% of women think so.
What’s up with that?
90% 10%male female

27. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q15. A genius is most likely to: (WORK ALONE or COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS) Q31. Do geniuses tend to be open-
minded, or closed-minded? (All n=2043; Aged 18-34 n=613)
Work
alone
Collaborate
with others
Open-
minded
Closed-
minded
Geniuses tend to be…
A genius is most likely to…
People think geniuses
tend to work alone..
…but that they are
also open-minded.
74% 26%
74% 26%
Americans aged 18-34 are more likely to
describe geniuses as open-minded

28. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q34. Do geniuses tend to be born, or trained? Q42. Do geniuses typically get it right the first time, or have to try and try
again? (n=2043)
Born Trained
Get it right
the first time
Have to try
and try again
Do geniuses typically…
Geniuses tend to be…
Americans think
geniuses are born…
…but geniuses don’t
always get it right the
first time.
79% 21%
34% 66%

29. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q35. Do geniuses tend to be nearly perfect, or deeply flawed? Q43. Would you rather be a persecuted genius, or a content
non-genius? (n=2043)
Nearly
perfect
Deeply
flawed
Persecuted
genius
Content non-
genius
Geniuses tend to be…
People are divided on
whether geniuses are
perfect or flawed…
32% 68%
47% 53%
…and over two thirds
of Americans would
rather be a content
non-genius than a
persecuted genius.
Would you rather be…

30. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q40. Do geniuses tend to be from a comfortable background, or a disadvantaged one? Q30. Do geniuses tend to be rich, or
poor? (n=2043)
65% 35%
From a
comfortable
background
From a
disadvantaged
background
Rich Poor
Geniuses tend to be…
Geniuses tend to be…
Most Americans think
geniuses grew up
comfortably…
…but don’t necessarily
end up rich.
51% 49%

31. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q37. Do geniuses tend to be easily recognized, or quickly ignored? Q41. Do geniuses tend to be accepted, or shunned? (All
n=2043; Aged 55+ n=674)
Easily
recognized
Quickly ignored
Accepted Shunned
Geniuses tend to be…
Geniuses tend to be…
It’s hard to spot a
genius…
…which may be
why more than half
of people think
they’re shunned.
41% 59%
47% 53%
Americans 55+ are more likely to
think geniuses are quickly ignored

32. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ32. Do geniuses tend to be good, or evil? Q39. Do geniuses tend to be trustworthy, or manipulative? (n=2043)
Good Evil
Trustworthy Manipulative
Geniuses tend to be…
Geniuses tend to be…
Geniuses are
overwhelmingly
considered ‘good’…
…and trustworthy.
96%
82% 18%
(4%)

33. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ38. Do geniuses tend to be strange, or social? Q29. Do geniuses tend to be presentable, or messy? (n=2043)
84% 16%Strange Social
49% 51%Presentable Messy
Geniuses tend to be…
Geniuses tend to be…
Geniuses are socially
challenged…
…but not in every way.

35. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ19. Have there been more geniuses in the past, or will we see more geniuses in the future? (n=2043)
64%of Americans think that we’ll
see more geniuses in the
future than in the past.

36. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ45. Do you think the geniuses of today are fundamentally different from the geniuses of 50 years ago? (n=2043)
61%
of Americans think
that geniuses today
are fundamentally
different from those
fifty years ago.

37. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q45. Do you think the geniuses of today are fundamentally different from the geniuses of 50 years ago? (n=2043)
[IF YES] Q46. How are today’s geniuses different from those of 50 years ago? Are they more or less… (n=1251)
71% 69% 67% 66%
54%
46%
29% 31% 33% 34%
46%
54%
According to those who think geniuses today are different,
compared to 50 years ago, geniuses today are more…
…but they are less compassionate.
creative intelligent articulate focused shrewd

38. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ49. Does [the American] current education system... (FOSTER GENIUSES or REJECT GENIUSES) (n=2043)
53%of Americans think that
our current education
system rejects geniuses.

39. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ51. Does the US do a better or worse job of fostering geniuses than the rest of the world? (n=2043)
57%of Americans think that
the rest of the world
does a better job of
fostering geniuses than
the USA does.

40. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q52. Do you think America is lacking geniuses in any specific area(s)? Please select all that apply.
(ANCHOR/SINGLE PUNCH - America isn't lacking geniuses in any specific area.) (n=2043)
74% of Americans think the
USA lacks geniuses
in specific areas.
We need more geniuses!
26%
think we aren’t
lacking geniuses in
any specific area

41. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ52. Do you think America is lacking geniuses in any specific area(s)? Please select all that apply. (n=2043)
38%
34% 34% 33%
27% 27%
23%
20% 20% 20%
18%
12%
Politics Science Medicine Math Philosophy
/ Religion
Tech Literature Business /
Finance
Music Art Food Athleticism
/Sports
We need more geniuses!
Americans think we’re lacking geniuses in…

42. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENTQ53. Do you think a society can actively increase the number of geniuses it produces? (n=2043)
58%of Americans think that a
society can increase the
number of geniuses it
produces.

43. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q54. What is the best way to foster geniuses? Should we… (n=2043)
64%
think that the best
method to do so is to
ensure everyone
has opportunity to
thrive.
36% 64%
Focus on
individuals who
show potential
Ensure that everyone
has opportunity to
thrive
What is the best way to foster geniuses? Should we…

45. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q20. Below is a list of different characteristics a person may possess. For each characteristic, do you think that geniuses are
MORE or LESS likely to possess that characteristic than a non-genius (“normal person”)? (n=2043)
more likely to be
interesting 85%
trustworthy 79%
reliable 75%
savvy 64%
less likely to be
82% fun to party with
74% sociable
70% easy to get along with
69% relatable
69% accessible
61% friendly
Compared to non-geniuses,
Americans think that geniuses are….

46. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Q14. Which of the following qualities does a person need to possess to be a genius? Please
select all that apply. (n=2043)
INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Intelligence 93%
Overwhelmingly, Americans
agree that geniuses need to
possess intelligence, creativity,
and focus – but people skills like
articulation, compassion, and
shrewdness are less important.

47. © COPYRIGHT 2014 DANIEL J EDELMAN INC. INTELLIGENT ENGAGEMENT
Donald Trump considered
by more to be a genius
than either Clinton!
Q28. Below is a list of modern influencers and leaders. For each, please
indicate whether you think they are a genius. Q55. Below are a list of
various individuals who some may consider to be a genius. For each,
please indicate whether you think they are a genius. (n=2043)
8%
11%
11%
11%
11%
12%
14%
16%
16%
16%
17%
18%
22%
22%
26%
29%
32%
33%
37%
44%
44%
45%
69%
72%
75%
93%
Louis CK
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Daniel Day-Lewis
Beyoncé
Christopher Nolan
George R. R. Martin
Meryl Streep
Bono
Bill Clinton
Hillary Clinton
Michael Jordan
JK Rowling
James Cameron
The Mythbusters
Donald Trump
Jeff Bezos
Malala Yousafzai
Bill Nye
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Mark Zuckerberg
Warren Buffett
Steve Jobs
Stephen Hawking
Bill Gates
Albert Einstein