Su búsqueda

What is it that leads children to be similar in some ways but different in others, whether they are identical twins, fraternal twins, ordinary siblings, or simply two children of the same age? This chapter will deal with this question. The focus of the chapter will be on cognitive skills, although, of course, children can be similar and different with respect to many other kinds of skills as well. The chapter is divided into five parts. In the first part of the chapter, I will briefly describe seven main paradigms that have been used for understanding individual differences in cognitive development. In the second part of the chapter, I will discuss at some length three of these paradigms for understanding individual differences in cognition. In the third part of the chapter, I will discuss origins and stability of individual differences, in particular, issues of heritability and modifiability of cognitive skills. In the fourth part of the chapter, I will discuss extremes in individual differences: giftedness and retardation in cognitive skills. In the fifth part of the chapter, I will discuss group differences and their relationship to individual differences in cognitive skills. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

The study of gifts and talents and how innate abilities interact with one's environment, personality, educational opportunities, family support, and life experiences has fascinated psychologists, educators, and parents for decades. Why is it that one child with remarkably high potential born into a particular family in a particular environment grows up to become a neurosurgeon while a child of similar intellectual potential who lives in the same community and attends the same schools, decides to drop out of high school? What have researchers and scholars learned in the last few decades about the nature of talent development and intellectual giftedness? In this chapter, these questions, none of which can be answered simply, are discussed and current research about intellectual giftedness is summarized. As the research points out, one of the core concepts that has emerged about intellectual giftedness in the last few decades relates to its diversity, for there is no more varied group of people than those labeled intellectually gifted. Despite this broad diversity, however, several common themes about intellectual giftedness and the conditions for its development exist. We begin our review of the research related to intellectual giftedness with a discussion of these themes, summarizing highlights about research on intellectual giftedness in the United States, including the seminal work of Lewis Terman, and presenting an overview of what we believe to be some interesting and potentially important American theories to date. We conclude the chapter with some interesting research-based trends related to new ideas in defining and developing academic gifts and talents. It is important to understand, however, that there is no agreed-upon consensus about who is gifted and no final answers about our evolving understandings of how intellectual giftedness develops and the characteristics that help us to identify and nurture intellectual gifts and talents. To introduce the challenge associated with both defining and identifying giftedness in students, four brief case studies are introduced in the first section of the chapter. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

This chapter presents a definition of the gifted/talented individual, a model of giftedness, and provides examples of student characteristics in specific areas of giftedness to help in identification of gifted children. Many authors have described characteristics of gifted and talented students, some in general terms across several domains, whereas others have described them for specific areas cited in the federal and state definitions. Because most school districts identify children for programs that are related to the definition, this chapter organizes the characteristics according to these specific areas. The term "gifted and talented," when used in respect to students, children or youth, means students, children or youth who give evidence of high performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop such capabilities. This concept of capability or potential is addressed in Gagne's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent, Gagne has proposed that "gifts," which are natural abilities, must be developed to become "talents," which emerge through the systematic learning, training, and practicing "of skills characteristic of a particular field of human activity or performance". The development of gifts into talents may be facilitated or hindered by two types of catalysts: intrapersonal and environmental. Many authors have described characteristics of gifted and talented students, some in general terms across several domains, whereas others have described them for specific areas cited in the federal and state definitions. Because most school districts identify children for programs that are related to the definition, this chapter organizes the characteristics according to these specific areas. Professionals who are primarily responsible for the identification process must remember that gifted and talented students must have an opportunity to perform. Students who are in classrooms where no differentiation is present are less likely to exhibit these characteristics. In addition, gifted and talented students will demonstrate many, but not all, of the characteristics that are listed in each area or may show potential or performance in only one area. It is important that professionals, parents, and others involved in the identification process look for these characteristics over a period of time and in a variety of situations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

In the present research, we examine the relationship between giftedness in the area of academic intrinsic motivation and leadership roles undertaken by such highly motivated adolescents within a longitudinal study of development. This chapter presents (1) theory and research on gifted motivation; (2) empirical validation of the gifted motivation construct; (3) linking motivational giftedness to leadership; and (4) research results in the Fullerton Longitudinal Study (FLS) on motivational giftedness and leadership. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

Offers an overview of Response to Intervention (RtI) models and principles, a tiered approach to supports and services, and how gifted students and students with high potential who have not yet been formally identified might fit within different tiers of instruction. Tier 1 instruction generally includes a validated, evidence-based program that is used with all students. Students who show advanced progress with Tier 1 instruction receive collaborative interventions—Tier 2. Tier 3 instruction is for those students who need comprehensive interventions and most often involves referral to specialized services. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of early intervention to ensure that problems are prevented and strengths are not diminished. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: preface)

This chapter discusses the neuropsychology of gifted children including history and assessment, neurobiology, the existing literature, specific hypothetical substrates: neurohormones; localization models, and the pathology of superiority, pathology of superiority, and finally, special considerations for assessment. Much of our knowledge about neurocognition has been derived from the study of pathology. This is logical, as exploring the exceptional is clarifying. The exceptional exaggerates normal traits or processes and renders them more visible, or it exposes aberrance and disease process. Most of our research focuses on the left tail of the normal curve, paying little attention to the able. The right tail is just as statistically unusual, albeit neglected. This is because the study of talent and intellectual ability is a suspect preoccupation. Finding research funds to study giftedness has been likened to "begging for the rich." Much of the data gathered on the neurobiology of intellectually exceptional individuals is gleaned from control group data, unfunded research, or as a serendipitous finding. Despite this, a literature on the exceptionally capable exists, scattered broadly through the neurobiology literature. Before exploring the topic in detail, it is helpful to define terms. The first premise of this chapter is that giftedness exists and is measurable through a number of methods. Gifted refers to individuals functioning in the top 3-5% in the nation, on objective, standardized measures or to individuals performing at an elite level in specific, recognized domains such as music. Giftedness refers to a series of particular talents and abilities that are not evenly distributed. As such, it is a loaded concept. Much of the educational literature on giftedness is a study of cultural anxiety. Intellectual ability is not character or moral value. The most common attempts to cope with this moral anxiety is by negating the existence of individual difference, which often leads to surreal arguments (e.g., "every child is gifted" is of equivalent value to "every child is retarded"). Premise number two of this chapter is that there are biological underpinnings or qualitative differences in thought processes that require qualitative differences in the neural substrates. Third, talents can coexist with impairment and this impairment can be environmentally driven. The full expression of an emergent talent or deficit is a product of both internal and external factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

In the discourse on the intellectual styles of exceptional learners, three specific issues readily present themselves. The first issue is the diversity of exceptional learners. By exceptional learners, one refers to a heterogeneous group of learners that includes, among others, learners with dyslexia, learners with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learners with autism spectrum disorder, and highly able or gifted learners. The question is whether there are distinct intellectual styles or profiles of styles for distinct groups of exceptional learners. The second issue has to do with the connection between abilities and styles. Perhaps what set exceptional learners apart from normal nonexceptional learners are their profiles of marked strengths and weaknesses, which are likely to correspond to their areas of giftedness and deficits. It is likely that there is a possibly stronger ability-style connection among exceptional learners, given that exceptionality is often defined in terms of abilities (talents) or disabilities (deficits). The question is whether or not exceptional learners are predisposed to prefer specific intellectual styles in line with their abilities and disabilities. The third issue is the role of intellectual styles in the teaching and learning of exceptional learners. Given the possibly stronger ability-style connection, the question is whether or not instruction matching intellectual styles of exceptional learners should assume greater importance in the effective teaching and learning of these more able and more vulnerable learners. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

Creativity is one of the most important and permanent human behaviors for all individuals (Simonton, 2000). The individuals' creativity are in different phases, degrees, magnitudes, and means, which makes creativity "a multifaceted phenomenon rather than a single unitary construct capable of a precise definition" (Isaksen, 1987, p. 8). Creativity has qualitative and distinct characteristics that are part of the individuals' intelligence, which includes (a) divergent-convergent and primary-secondary thinking systems; (b) critical-analytical thinking processes, intuition, imagination, elaboration, creative results, novelty, and meaning; and (c) specific personal and environmental facets (Torrance, 1981). Teachers contend that the importance of their profession goes beyond merely preparing young children for future work. Recently teachers seem to promote the development of the children's creativity. According to Esquivel (1995), the progress of this concept has developed slowly due to "(1) an increased understanding of the nature of creativity as a distinct process, amendable to training; (2) historical developments that led to educational reform and innovative practices, emphasizing giftedness and creative abilities; (3) research findings on teacher variables, instructional behaviors, and learning environments effective in fostering creativity; and (4) the development and evaluation of creative curriculum methods and programs to be implemented by the teacher in the classroom" (p. 185). Esquivel (1995) shows that interest has emerged in creative teaching within the framework of the aforementioned educational improvements, concentrating on the teachers' roles. Teachers seem to have become more receptive to creativity, which they have perceived as indicating "open- mindedness, exploration, the celebration of difference and originality ... an automatic opposition to the language of targets, to instrumental skills, the measurement of outcomes and the dogmas of accountability" (Cullingford, 2007, p. 133). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

Considers intelligence in its cultural context, discussing the definition of culture and what intelligence is across cultures and looking further at the special case of giftedness across cultures. After describing alternative models of the relationship of culture to intelligence, the author presents some studies of intelligence in its cultural context, and then discusses the concepts of culture-fair and culture-relevant testing, arguing that there is no such thing as a fully "culture-fair" test. Finally, the author argues for the importance of wisdom in all conceptions of intelligence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

School leaders are faced with many indicators of an achievement gap, including the underrepresentation of certain groups in advanced course-work and gifted programs. At the same time, multiple definitions and conceptions of giftedness have led to a lack of coherence in the field of gifted education, further contributing to this underrepresentation. Despite what has emerged as a broadened conception of giftedness, gifted identification lags behind. This study employed secondary data analysis of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988/2000 to operationalize and determine the empirical consequences of a broadened conception of giftedness. Using Black students as a case example, findings revealed how school leaders can address underrepresentation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

This chapter begins by providing a brief historical overview of giftedness, with an emphasis on identifying the major figures in the field. The theoretical formulation of intelligence and the conceptual links between intelligence and giftedness ate also discussed from a historical perspective. The evolution of multi trait theories of intelligence, the impact of advances in psychometrics on gifted assessment, and the increase in the number of theory-based cognitive measures are examined. The refinement of theory of intelligence centering on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model is discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

The current chapter aims to focus on the learning disorders among boys. Boys are much more frequently diagnosed with learning disorders compared with girls, and this chapter addresses the basic learning disorders: reading disorder (RD), disorder of written expression, and mathematics learning disorder (MLD). Summaries of the typical presenting symptoms of learning disorders as well as information relating to the most effective treatments will be presented. Also addressed will be the ways in which learning disorders negatively influence the social development and acceptance of young males. We also touch on giftedness as a learning difference, as this can present barriers as well. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

In this chapter, the reader is introduced to the problem of underachievement in gifted adolescents. Issues relevant to psychological therapy with underachieving gifted students will be described and links will be made between the presenting problems and specific therapeutic activities of experiential dynamic therapies (EDT). Transcripts from a psychological therapy with a young gifted adolescent will be presented to illustrate how an Intensive Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapy (IE-DP) perspective informed the clinical work undertaken, in particular, anxiety work, and separating healthy Ego from harshly critical Superego. Patient- and therapist-reported changes at termination of therapy will be outlined. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

In this chapter, we review research related to the practices within the field of gifted education. Talent and giftedness is a phenomenon that greatly interests our society. However, educators have a somewhat ambivalent attitude toward giftedness and gifted children. There is no agreed-on definition of giftedness to guide practice and programs, as there is with other special categories of children; and there is no federal mandate to serve gifted children. As a result, the kinds of services available to gifted children in schools vary widely. We try to capture that variability and the issues that frame practice and theory within this emerging field of psychology and education. We also provide some perspectives on how this developing area of research and practice fits more broadly into the field of educational psychology and identify critical areas of future research and educational policy reform. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

The accusations in Gagné's (this volume) chapter are addressed and discussed. More importantly, this chapter describes the detailed differences between our two theoretical frameworks. Our theoretical framework is based on deliberate practice and focus on evidence that practice can dramatically influence the development of children, adolescents, and adults when the individuals engage in the designed practice for hours on a daily basis for months, years, and decades. In contrast, Gagné emphasizes the role of innate genetic differences and informal exercise. Once we accept the overwhelming evidence for genetic control of individual differences in height and body size, our empirical review has not uncovered rigorous scientific evidence that meets our standards and demonstrates conclusively that innate talent (gifts) are necessary for attaining expert performance. Based on the same standards, Gagné's anecdotal evidence from laypersons is rejected. The chapter concludes with an outline for how giftedness can be studied with the same rigorous scientific methods used for studying expert performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

This chapter pursues two main goals: (a) demonstrate that natural abilities—and their outstanding expression as gifts—really exist (the mainstream Pronat position), and that recent attacks by a few researchers who deny their existence (the Antinat position) can be easily parried empirically; (b) expose improper scholarly behavior by some Antinat researchers. Part I surveys the author's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT) and analyzes the concept of natural ability, pointing out its main defining characteristics. Then, it demonstrates with extensive empirical evidence that general intelligence meets all defining criteria of a natural ability. Part II illustrates how some influent Antinat researchers systematically exclude relevant evidence, accumulate irrelevant information, ignore crucial objections, and select from published studies only the results that support their position. These repeated instances of ethically improper scientific behavior show their lack of openness to an objective examination of all the available evidence and reassessment of their entrenched beliefs (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

Giftedness models published in the last two decades are characterized, almost without exception, by multidimensional and/or typological ability constructs. Two such examples are presented below: the Munich Model of Giftedness (MMG) and the Munich Dynamic Ability-Achievement Model (MDAAM). In the MMG, Heller and Hany (1986) and Heller (1992/2001) conceptualized giftedness or talent as a multifactorized ability construct within a network of noncognitive personality (motivations, learning emotions, control expectations, self-concepts, etc.) and social moderators as well as performance-related (criterion) variables. Diagnosis and intervention examine the difference among predictor, criterion, and moderator variables. In an attempt to forge a bridge between the psychometrically based research into giftedness and the process-oriented expertise research, Perieth (2001) extended the MMG to the MDAAM. An increase degree of expertise influences active learning processes, which in turn influence expansions of knowledge and the acquisition of domain specific competencies. This implies that noncognitive personality characteristics such as interest and task commitment or achievement motivation are to be accorded increased significance regarding talent potential. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

In this chapter of epilogue, authors shall reflect upon the intent of a book on creativity, talent, and excellence. Do the contents of the book chapters represent the contemporary understanding of creativity, talent, and excellence? Does it represent a new direction of knowledge innovation in the fields of creativity, talent, and excellence? Leading researchers in psychology of creativity (Beth Hennessey) and in talent development and excellence (Jiannong Shi) write two forewords with a converging view that emphasizes intercultural exchanges and systemic approaches to conceptualization and the study of creativity. This book collects 18 chapters contributed by colleagues of the fields of psychology and education specialized in the constructs of creativity, talent, and excellence. In the first part, authors present broadening views of conceptions of creativity in the mainstream, gifted, and organization settings (Chaps. 1, 2, 3,4, and 5). Eleven chapters report empirical studies conducted in schools, higher educational institutions, and organizations. Three chapters are devoted to practices such as strategies to facilitate divergent thinking, future directions of gifted education, and constraints faced in creativity studies in giftedness. The main contents of this chapter are related to the constructs creativity (ten chapters), talent (two chapters), and excellence (six chapters). The target audience of die chapters includes students in the mainstream educational institutes (school, vocational college, and university), gifted students, and working adults. This book has a broad content coverage and target audience. Some chapters reflect upon new conceptions of creativity by broadening its conceptions (e.g., self regulation. Chap. 2), synthesizing main processes of creativity (e.g.. Chap. 4), and refining frameworks of creativity for teaching and learning (e.g., for the use of classroom, Chap. 1, and problem-based learning, Chap. 5). Some chapters on organizational excellence and educational excellence address socially critical issues such as goal setting at work (Chap. 14) or in learning (Chap. 12), developing strategies to manage social emotions (Chap. 15), regulating curricular and learning difficulties (Chap. 17), and designing enrichment programs for the gifted students (Chap. 14) and team diversity (Chap. 11). The construct of creativity self-efficacy was developed with reference to components of creative processes and domain-relevant processes and self-efficacy theory (Chap. 8). The construct of entrepreneur creativity (Chap. 10) was developed. The relationship between creativity and personal epistemology (Chap. 9) was established. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

When it comes to theories for educating gifted and talented students two additional and related caveats must be taken into account. The first caveat is that there should be a logical relationship between the theory-guided services provided to students and the conception of giftedness that serves as a rationale for the development of that theory. An acceleration-based theory that recommends the use of advanced mathematics courses, for example, should obviously be related to a conception of gifted that targets students with high aptitudes in math. The second caveat is derivative of the first and pertains to the enrichment-based theory presented in this chapter. This theory argues that services should be provided for both advanced cognitive development and what are referred to below to as "intelligences outside the normal curve." A rationale for this conception of giftedness is provided in the various subsections that follow. This chapter is an overview of a theory that has been developed over the past 3 decades to guide the implementation of school programs designed to develop giftedness and talents in young people. The overall theory is composed of four interrelated subtheories and is based on the belief that when one is reexamining the role of theory in gifted education we should always begin the why question—why should a society devote special resources to the development of giftedness in young people? (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)

Intelligence has been conceptualized as both a general ability ( g) and as multiple abilities. These two views have been the basis for several theories of cognitive abilities. Derived from those theories, models of cognitive functioning have formed the basis of recent tests of Intelligence and component abilities. This chapter maps the CHC theory, Luria theory and Cross-Battery approaches and models of cognitive abilities onto the most recent tests of cognitive ability. By understanding the abilities measured by cognitive tests, practitioners can better appraise the strengths and needs of the clients' they assess. Reviews of recent tests guide practitioners In choosing the most appropriate tests and subtests to measure their client's abilities as they relate to learning disabilities, giftedness, and intellectual disability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)