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This article introduces the construct of personal talent curation. Personal talent curation is one’s assessment of one’s talents—of one’s strengths and weaknesses—but also the building of an adaptive match in life between those talents and both one’s career pursuits and one’s personal lifestyle. Sometimes, this match means pursuing a lifelong passion, but other times, it means giving up that passion or transforming it into a passion that works in the broader context of the life one seeks for oneself. For example, one may be an exceptionally talented musician, scientist, or artist, but the concomitants of a life building relentlessly on those talents—competition, professional jealousy, and continual critiques—just do not fit the kind of life one wishes to lead. In such cases, it may turn out that what in a profession or in society is viewed as a “failure” or a “derailment” may represent a personal adaptive success. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Comments on an article by Scott J. Peters (see record 2022-20183-002). Peters has made excellent suggestions for how to increase diversity and equitable representation in identification of gifted children. His approach, however, is based on current models of what constitutes “giftedness.” This approach is incomplete and, taken on its own, perhaps suboptimal. I would suggest a complementary approach. We need to start taking seriously the need to identify and nurture the fully transformationally gifted. Nurturing them means presenting gifted children not just with academic problems that have little relevance to the life problems they will need to solve later, but also presenting them with problems that are ecologically valid, such as problems of how to deal with the challenges the world is facing today. It’s nice to excel transactionally; it’s better to excel by making a positive, meaningful, and potentially enduring difference to the world—to make the world a better place. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Comments on an article by Scott J. Peters (see record 2022-20183-002). Peters’ correctly argues that while racism negatively affects students of color, psychometric bias is not the primary cause for racial disparities in gifted identification. However, the conclusion that “the existence of disproportionality does not make gifted services inherently racist,” does not follow. Any system that predictably results in racial disparity is contributing to systemic racism even without test bias. Given the history of racism in gifted education, radical change is needed. Hoping small shifts in identification strategy will lead to any meaningful real change is wishful thinking that is not supported by past efforts. Racism has proven to be so pernicious because it is able to continue despite the good intentions of kind people. The question cannot be, how do we mitigate bias in identification. The burden of proof is on advocates of gifted education to demonstrate how identification supports racial equity. In absence of this demonstration, we need to let go of identification. Instead, gifted education can embrace strategies that address the problems gifted students face, such as appropriate challenge, but address those problems in ways that truly prioritizes centering racial equity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Spirituality is an important domain in the holistic education of gifted students. The definition of transformational giftedness makes it possible to emphasize spiritual domain in student development. Spirituality provides possibilities to reflect on the values and meanings of life that could provide purpose for gifted students in their studies and for their future lives. The concepts of religion and spirituality are defined, and their different roles clarified in the context of education. Spiritual sensitivity is introduced as a human capacity that can be measured scientifically with the spiritual sensitivity questionnaire instrument. Research findings among young generation and gifted students indicate that mystery-sensing, contemplation, and search for meaning in life are important aspects in spirituality of our generation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

This study described exceptional items in human figure drawings (HFDs) which have been discussed as possible expressions of intellectual giftedness. The aim was to serve as a first step in the development of a screener for HFDs that can be used as part of the identification process of gifted children. We examined the frequency of occurrence of 158 items in HFDs of 206 children aged 4 to 6 years (17 potentially gifted). Fine details and additions to the human figure turned out to be exceptional, especially in drawings of 4-year-olds. Several exceptional items were drawn more frequently or exclusively by potentially gifted children. Descriptively, exceptionality in drawings of potentially gifted children was most visible in HFDs of 4-year-olds, and tended to become less visible with age. Further research with larger samples is required to draw solid conclusions about HFDs of gifted children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Theoretical and practical work in gifted education has been dominated by mechanistic precision in measurements designed to select students for gifted programs and guide them through their development. Too much faith in mechanistic precision can become a form of dogmatism that obscures very important, less-measurable dimensions of human ability. This interdisciplinary analysis explores this form of dogmatism while illustrating some ways in which it misaligns gifted education with turbulent, complex 21 st-century trends and issues. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

As societies move toward a deeper engagement with humanitarianism and egalitarianism, education systems have increasingly embodied a commitment to principles of inclusion. The field of gifted and talented education (GATE) has reflected these changes in recent discussions around equity, diversity, and inclusive practices. This article aims to re-examine the practices of gifted education and rethink the possibility of generating an egalitarianism-based, GATE-derived inclusive education discourse that can serve as a parallel to the predominant humanitarianism-drive inclusive education movement. Within a discourse of self-actualization, we propose framing “gifted” as a process-based, rather than person-based, construct that applies to all students as they are enabled to transact their gifts and talents through engaging in a “gift-ed” process through honing self-knowledge and learning gifted behaviors. We advocate the use of person-first language, (i.e., students with advanced learning needs/advanced and special learning needs (ALN/ASLN)) that will encourage specific interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Gifts can be individually, dyadically, or collectively chosen and oriented. Society, in its identification of the gifted, has chosen to focus on individual and sometimes dyadic goods. This practice represents a culture of individualism, but it has become solipsistic. We argue that identification instead should focus on those most likely to help to achieve a collective common good—who will bestow on others, gifts that are broadly beneficial especially to those most in need of help. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

The purpose of this study was to explore the primary school teachers’ experiences about teaching gifted students and students with disabilities in the resource room. Thirteen teachers who work with students with disabilities and 11 teachers who work with gifted students participated in this qualitative study. The data were collected using structured interviews and semi-structured focus group interviews and analysed using content analysis. The findings indicated that the advantages and disadvantages of the resource room programmes differed for both groups of students. The teachers of both groups also expressed different advantages and disadvantages of working in the resource rooms for themselves. Some of the problems of the resource room programme were insufficient materials, inadequate facility, and unqualified personnel. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Although it has been hypothesized that gifted students are at risk for adopting a fixed mind-set, research revealed inconsistent results. We aimed to clarify this by differentiating between two operationalizations of giftedness (high cognitive ability and formal identification as gifted) and how these relate to students’ beliefs about intelligence and effort. Also, we examined the role of parental antecedents on students’ beliefs. Participants were 3,329 seventh-grade students and their parents. Only being labeled as gifted was related to adopting a fixed mind-set. Regarding parental antecedents, parents’ intelligence and effort beliefs were related to students’ corresponding beliefs. Furthermore, parental feedback was associated with students’ beliefs, which was most pronounced when student-reports of feedback were used. In particular, person-oriented feedback related positively to a fixed mind-set and negatively to students’ appreciation of the role of effort in academic performance, while process-oriented feedback showed the opposite pattern. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

In a recent position statement, the National Association of Gifted Children argued the importance of providing equitable treatment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other sexual and gender minority individuals (LGBTQ +) gifted youth to help them maximize their potential. However, there are very few empirical studies focusing on the intersection of giftedness and gender identities. Little is known regarding these students’ experience at, and outside of, school. Focusing on the individual process of gender identity development and self-acceptance, we interviewed nine LGBTQ + postsecondary students in North America (aged between 19 and 29 years) who are graduates of an academically focused high school in Turkey. In particular, we studied their ways of thinking, stress coping strategies, and environmental factors that may have enabled their self-acceptance of LGBTQ + identities. Findings of the study show that the mental health of LGBTQ + is a function of individual factors (e.g., coping strategies), structural factors (e.g., a homophobic sociocultural environment), and the context. The findings also indicate the benefits of complexity and reflectiveness in thinking, metacognition and the ability to separate identity labels from identities, enabled by high school peer support, liberal curriculum and classroom discussions, and access to information during adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

The present study reports the construction process of a screening-type scale for evidence indicating academic giftedness (Scale for Nominating Intellectual Giftedness: teacher version [ENDI-p]), as well as presenting evidence of content validity. The construction of the items was based on the ten broad domains of the theoretical model of intelligence known as Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC): fluid intelligence, quantitative knowledge, short- term memory, long-term memory storage and retrieval, visual processing, auditory processing, processing and execution speed, reaction, and decision speed, reading and writing; initially containing 80 items. Such items were evaluated by five reviewers. The results showed that 21 items (26.2 %) were excluded once they did not reach an agreement value equal to or greater than 80 %. The kappa coefficient between judges was adequate. Version 2 of the scale is ready to be used in future studies which aim at investigating its psychometric qualities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract) Resumen en idioma originalO presente estudo relata o processo de construção de uma escala do tipo rastreio para sinais indicativos de dotação acadêmica (Escala para Nomeação de Dotação Intelectual: versão professor [ENDI-p]), bem como apresentar evidências de validade de conteúdo. A construção dos itens foi baseada nos dez domínios amplos do modelo teórico sobre inteligência conhecido como Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC): inteligência fluida, raciocínio matemático quantitativo, memória de curto prazo, armazenamento e recuperação em longo prazo, processamento visual, processamento auditivo, rapidez de processamento e execução, velocidade de reação e decisão, leitura e escrita; contendo, inicialmente, 80 itens. Tais itens foram avaliados por cinco juízes. Os resultados demonstraram que 21 itens (26,2 %) foram excluídos por não alcançarem valor de concordância igual ou maior do que 80 %. O coeficiente kappa entre os juízes foi adequado. A versão 2 da escala está pronta para ser utilizada em estudos futuros voltados à investigação das suas qualidades psicométricas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract) Resumen en idioma originalEl presente estudio reporta el proceso de construcción de una escala tipo cribado para signos indicativos de dotación académica (Escala para Nomeação de Dotação Intelectual: versão professor [ENDI-p]), además de presentar evidencia de validez de contenido. La construcción de los ítems se basó en los diez amplios dominios del modelo teórico sobre inteligencia, conocido como Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC): inteligencia fluida, razonamiento matemático cuantitativo, memoria a corto plazo, almacenamiento y recuperación a largo plazo, procesamiento visual, procesamiento auditivo, velocidad de procesamiento y ejecución, velocidad de reacción y decisión, lectura y escritura; inicialmente con 80 ítems. Estos elementos fueron evaluados por cinco jueces. Los resultados mostraron que se excluyeron 21 ítems (26.2 %) por no alcanzar un valor de concordancia igual o superior al 80 %. El coeficiente kappa entre jueces fue adecuado. La versión 2 de la escala está lista para ser utilizada en futuros estudios destinados a investigar sus cualidades psicométricas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

In this article, we introduce a systemic framework for the development of learning potential to professional excellence inspired by the Actiotope model of giftedness. First, we critically reflect on three theoretical approaches representing different psychological constructions of learning potential. We label these approaches theories of giftedness, theories of practice, and theories of motivation. We explore contradictory ways in which these theories construct key factors that determine the successful development of human potential. Based on this comparison, we discuss the limitations of these theories stemming from their philosophical, methodological, and ideological backgrounds, including disproportionate emphasis on selected developmental factors, implicit one-way causality, and the dominant role of an individual over social influences. We further argue that the contradictory conclusions of these approaches may be reconciled within a systemic framework that acknowledges the reciprocal interactions between the key developmental factors proposed by these approaches, including learning outcomes, achievement motivation, practice and the social environment (including developmental resources and demands). We apply our systemic model in the context of the development of academic careers, in which we document the importance of the proposed components and how their interactions result in the processes of “cumulative advantage”, as well as the context-dependency of the model. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

There are different views on whether perfectionism is a characteristic of intellectually gifted students. Over the last decades, comparative studies of intellectually gifted and non-gifted students have produced inconsistent results. This heterogeneity in findings might be explained by underpowered studies and the multidimensional nature of perfectionism, comprising two broader dimensions: perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings. Whereas perfectionistic concerns are clearly maladaptive, perfectionistic strivings frequently positively relate to academic and psychological adjustment. We meta-analytically aggregated 32 effect sizes from 10 comparative studies ( N = 4340) to investigate to what extent intellectually gifted and non-gifted students differ in perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings. Intellectually gifted students displayed equal levels of perfectionistic concerns compared to non-gifted students ( g = −0.117, 95% CI [−0.337, 0.103], p = .252) but displayed elevated levels of perfectionistic strivings ( g = 0.332, 95% CI [0.092, 0.572], p = .012). The magnitude of the effect sizes indicates that perfectionism is not a core characteristic of giftedness. In particular, giftedness is not related to inherently maladaptive forms of perfectionism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Few studies have examined the self-perceptions of autistic adults. This study aimed firstly to investigate domain-specific self-concepts and global self-esteem in autistic adults. The second aim was to examine associations between autism self-appraisals, perceived social support and global self-concept and self-esteem. The third was to determine which domains of self-concept were most closely associated with self-esteem. Participants included 71 autistic adults aged 18–70 years and 65 age, sex and education matched typically developing individuals. Participants completed an online survey of autism characteristics, global self-esteem and domain-specific self-concepts (i.e. likeability, task accomplishment, power, giftedness, invulnerability, and morality), self-appraisals about autism, and perceived social support. Autistic participants reported significantly lower power and global self-esteem than typically developing individuals after controlling for autism characteristics. More positive self-appraisals about autism (i.e. greater perceived benefits and lower helplessness) were significantly related to better global self-concept and self-esteem. Global self-esteem was significantly and positively associated with perceptions of giftedness, emotional resilience and power. These findings suggest that autistic adults may perceive themselves as having a low sense of power in their relationships and have negative global perceptions of their self-worth. However, those able to find positive meaning or benefits associated with autism are likely to have more positive global self-perceptions. This study provides new insights into how autistic adults perceive themselves which may guide the focus of psychosocial interventions that seek to recognize and promote unique talents and emotional resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

The term »giftedness« triggers a variety of stereotyped ideas (for example, the little Mozart) in each of us. Depictions of the highly gifted take rarely socio-emotional aspects associated with this integral personality trait into account. The peculiarities in the processes of perception, thinking and feeling of a highly gifted person often lead to everyday difficulties or abnormalities. This happens primarily when the person in question or their parents are unaware of the particular predisposition and any impending adjustment difficulties may begin to manifest in the context of psychiatric diagnoses. The present article is based on a concept of talent, which is to be understood in high accordance with the concept of »high sensitivity«. In addition, the author conceptualizes concrete aspects of intervention that are used in her music therapy work with giftedness and high sensitivity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract) Resumen en idioma originalDer Begriff »Hochbegabung« (HB) löst in jedem von uns eine Vielzahl klischeebesetzter Vor-stellungen aus (z.B. der kleine Mozart). Nur selten berücksichtigen Darstellungen über Hoch-begabte sozio-emotionale Aspekte, welche mit diesem integralen Persönlichkeitsmerkmal einhergehen. Die Besonderheiten in den Wahrnehmungs-, Denk- und Empfindungsprozes-sen einer hochbegabten Person führen nämlich nicht selten zu Alltagsschwierigkeiten oder-auffälligkeiten. Dies geschieht in erster Linie, wenn die betreffende Person oder deren Eltern nichts von der besonderen Veranlagung wissen und sich anbahnende Anpassungsschwie-rigkeiten ggf. bereits im Kontext psychiatrischer Diagnosen beginnen zu manifestieren. Der vorliegende Beitrag legt einen Begabungsbegriff zugrunde, der in hoher Übereinstimmung mit dem Konzept der »Hochsensitivität« (HS) zu verstehen ist. Zudem konzeptualisiert die Autorin konkrete Interventionsaspekte, die in ihrer musiktherapeutischen Arbeit mit HS und HB zur Anwendung kommen. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

The aim the current research was to investigate the evidence of validity based on relationship with other variables—concurrent criterion validity of the Scale to Identify Giftedness Characteristics (SIGC). The sample was composed by two groups. 405 students from a city of São Paulo State composed the control group and 80 children from Santa Catarina and Distrito Federal States, which attended the NAAH/S and a resource classroom to gifted children constituted the criterion group. The participants answered the SIGC and the results indicated higher averages obtained by the criterion group. The results showed that the scale discriminates the groups with or without giftedness indicators. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract) Resumen en idioma originalO objetivo desse estudo foi investigar evidências de validade baseadas nas relações com outras variáveis – validade de critério concorrente para a Escala de Identificação de Características associadas às Altas Habilidades/Superdotação (EICAH/S). A amostra foi composta por dois grupos, sendo que 405 estudantes de uma cidade do interior do Estado de São Paulo compuseram o grupo controle e 80 crianças provenientes dos Estados de Santa Catarina e Distrito Federal que frequentavam o NAAH/S e as salas de recursos de atendimento às altas habilidades/superdotação (AH/S) constituíram o grupo critério. Os participantes responderam à EICAH/S, cujos resultados apontaram para médias significativamente superiores a favor do grupo critério nos dois fatores (cognitivo e socioemocional) e na pontuação total da escala, demostrando a eficácia da escala em discriminar os indivíduos com e sem indicadores de AH/S. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Previous studies on intelligence have demonstrated that higher abilities are associated with lower brain activation, indicating a higher neural efficiency. In other words, more able individuals use fewer brain resources. However, it is unclear whether the neural efficiency phenomenon also appears for mathematical performance, which is influenced by both domain-general giftedness and domain-specific competencies. Therefore, this study examined the effects of general giftedness (G) and excellence in mathematics (EM) on performance and brain activation while solving learning-based mathematical tasks that required translation from graphical to symbolic representations of functions. Overall, 118 high school students (aged 16–18) participated in the present study and were divided according to G and EM using a 2 × 2 study design. Participants worked on a function task requiring translation between symbolic and graphical representations of functions. Analyses of the behavioral data revealed positive effects of both G and EM on the accuracy of solutions and an interaction effect of both factors on reaction times, reflecting a positive effect of EM only among the gifted individuals. EEG analyses focused on oscillatory activity in the theta and alpha frequency bands and showed a significant effect of EM in the upper alpha band (10–12 Hz) event-related desynchronization (ERD) for both graphical and symbolic representations. Specifically, higher (compared to lower) EM was associated with a larger alpha ERD, indicating a higher level of brain activity. This stands in contrast with the neural efficiency phenomenon. These findings suggest that the neural efficiency phenomenon cannot be generalized to higher-order mathematical demands in high-performing individuals. Several explanations for this limitation are offered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Teachers play important roles in identifying and promoting gifted students. An open question is: Which student characteristics do teachers use to evaluate whether a student is gifted or not? We used data from a representative sample of Dutch primary school teachers ( N = 1,304) who were asked whether or not they thought the students ( N = 26,720) in their class were gifted. We investigated students’ cognitive and noncognitive attributes as well as demographic factors that might be relevant for this judgment. In sum, the findings revealed that teachers considered students to be gifted when, in comparison with their peers, students were superior in cognitive domains, especially with respect to academic achievement, scored higher on openness to experience and lower on agreeableness, were male, were younger, and came from families with higher parental education. These findings are discussed in relation to research on teacher nominations, teachers’ representations of giftedness and gifted students, and theoretical conceptions of giftedness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

It is common practice in the educational system to foster high mathematical abilities in schools as well as in specific promotional programs. Still, little is known about the construct of mathematical giftedness itself. In line with intellectual investment theories, our study investigates the relationship between fluid intelligence (figural and numerical), openness, and the need for cognition with mathematical abilities. The current study is based on a sample (N = 115) of seventh graders participating in the application process for a promotion program. The results of our regression analyses show a positive link between fluid intelligence and mathematical abilities. However, neither the association with openness nor the need for cognition reached significance, emphasizing the importance of cognitive abilities for mathematical giftedness. Limitations and further directions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)