Psychology of Learning and Motivation (Volume 64) { Nymeria Star }

Why are some people so much more successful than other people in music, sports, games, business, and other complex domains? This question is the subject of one of psychology’s oldest debates.

One particularly influential theoretical account attempts to explain individual differences in expertise in terms of deliberate practice.

Here, we describe the mounting evidence that challenges this view. This evidence converges on the conclusion that deliberate practice is an important piece of the expertise puzzle, but not the only piece, or even necessarily the largest piece.

In light of this evidence, we offer a “new look” at expertise that takes into account a wide range of factors, including those known to be substantially heritable.