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This report is a contribution to Ellen Winner’s Festschrift from a very fond former student and collaborator. Ellen’s work has had a major impact on the fields of Psychology and Education by enhancing our understanding of giftedness, visual spatial abilities, the Arts, and metaphoric thought. I focus on the intersections of her work with mine specifically in the areas of giftedness and visual spatial talent in dyslexia. I also touch on some themes underlying her contributions to the field (i.e., myth busting) and her invaluable academic mentorship. One of the most important contributions Ellen has made to the field of giftedness is her synthesis and distillation of the research on the characteristics of gifted children. Ellen is a credit to the field of psychology. She is highly productive and her contributions, impressive. Her work not only advances the fields of Psychology and Education, but it also benefits her students and their students (her academic grandchildren). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Procedures used for identifying giftedness have been widely discussed in the literature. The present study aimed to investigate the evidence of validity based on the internal structure of a self-report scale to identify characteristics of giftedness. The sample consisted of 276 Elementary and Middle School students, aged between 9 and 12 years, and was 60.0% female. The instrument used was the first version of this scale, which was composed of 44 items related to the topic. Exploratory Factor Analysis was carried out, and the results revealed a two-factor solution, explaining 40.4% of the total variance. The first factor was denominated Socio-emotional Characteristics, and the second factor was denominated Cognitive Characteristics. The results corroborate the data in the scientific literature, which suggest that giftedness is a multidimensional construct that encompasses attributes that go beyond the intellectual scope. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract) Resumen en idioma originalAs diversas formas de identificação das Altas Habilidades/Superdotação têm sido amplamente discutidas na literatura. O presente estudo objetivou investigar as evidências de validade da estrutura interna de uma escala de autorrelato para identificação de características associadas ao tema. A amostra constituiu-se de 276 estudantes de ensino fundamental, com idades entre 9 e 12 anos, sendo 60,0% do sexo feminino. O instrumento respondido foi a primeira versão desta escala composta por 44 afirmações relacionadas ao tema. O procedimento de Análise Fatorial Exploratória apresentou uma solução de dois fatores, os quais explicariam 40,4% da variância total. O primeiro fator foi chamado de Características Socioemocionais e o segundo, Características Cognitivas. Os resultados corroboram a literatura científica, a qual compreende o construto como multidimensional, incluindo atributos que vão além do âmbito intelectual. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

This article provides a brief review of some of the salient factors affecting giftedness, such as the origins of giftedness and creativity, nature vs. nurture as responsible for giftedness, characteristics of the gifted and possible emotional and social difficulties that may be correlated, or even caused, by high intelligence and talent, and the role of their family of origin and the educational system in enhancing their talents and assisting them to address disorders that they may develop. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

We compared the Wechsler scores of individuals with twice-exceptionality (2e) and giftedness using a three-level Bayesian meta-analysis. Ninety-five effect sizes were calculated from 15 studies ( n = 2,106). Results show that individuals with 2e who have learning disabilities perform lower than individuals with giftedness in Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ; g = −0.62), working memory ( g = −0.79), and processing speed ( g = −0.75). Individuals with 2e who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have a distinct profile in which only processing speed differs from individuals with giftedness ( g = −0.55). Results suggest that using a single Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score in the identification process will be misleading. Moreover, IQ may mask the strengths or weaknesses of individuals with 2e. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Most conceptions of giftedness overly focus on the gifted “individual” and leave out the social and global context in which the individual grows. However, human lives are intricately interconnected. An individual’s actions can have large effects on other individuals, societies, and nature. In this article, I argue a paradigm shift is needed in the way giftedness is construed today. I draw on the three C’s conception of giftedness in which gifted behaviors are seen as an interplay of competence in action, commitment to task, and concern for others. I discuss seven profiles of gifted behaviors: Profile 1—competent (high competence); Profile 2—committed (high commitment); Profile 3—concerned (high concern); Profile 4—indifferent expert (high competence and commitment); Profile 5—amateur altruist (high commitment and concern); Profile 6—uncommitted thinker (high competence and concern); and Profile 7—fully developing talent (high competence, commitment, and concern). Further, I discuss how this taxonomy can inform education and identification practices in gifted education. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

This paper is framed as an email conversation between the authors, a lifespan developmental psychologist with expertise in the field of wisdom and an educational scientist with expertise in the field of giftedness. We discuss how giftedness is defined and whether the definition, and the concept in general, is still useful in today’s world. We draw three conclusions. First, “giftedness” has taken on a particularly literal meaning as it tends to favor students that are already privileged. Second, educational systems should aim to identify and promote all students’ individual profiles of strengths and interests instead of focusing on promoting the “gifted” ones. Third, given the current state of the world, educational systems should aim to empower “gifting” students who engage themselves for a greater good, instead of “gifted” students competing for grades and achievements. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

The purpose of this article was to investigate the conditions for identifying gifted children in their first encounter with the Swedish school system, the preschool. Interviews were conducted with 10 preschool teachers and 5 principals about their conceptions of giftedness and challenges in meeting the needs of gifted preschoolers in practice. The results explored a lack of knowledge on giftedness among the respondents. Thus, their conceptions of giftedness revealed several dilemmas they face when balancing preschool education between focusing on both the group and individual children, and naming someone as gifted in the strong discourse of egalitarian education in Sweden. The findings identified principals to have a key role in terms of if and how gifted children are supported in preschool settings and suggestions for future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

The essays in this special issue of Gifted Education International focus on issues in the terminology of the gifted field, especially the terms “gifted” and “giftedness” themselves. We summarize the contributors' arguments and propose ten common themes that emerge from the essays: 1. Be clear about what terms actually mean. 2. Promote giftedness as being about maximizing opportunity, not elitism. 3. Achieve equity so that all have equal opportunities. 4. If you identify individuals as “gifted,” use multiple and diverse measures. 5. Move beyond IQ and other narrow constructs. 6. Giftedness is dynamic, not just a permanent state. Who is gifted and how they are gifted can change over time and sociocultural and other contexts. 7. Motivation to achieve and to make a difference is more important than static abilities. 8. What matters is what you achieve, not just what you could achieve. 9. Focus on achieving a collective or common good. 10. Focus on instruction to help maximize on potential, not on identification. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

The narrow manner in which giftedness is often regarded perpetuates the underrepresentation of students of Color in gifted education programs, particularly for Black students. This case study highlights the story of a gifted Black high school student attending a predominantly White high school in the South. Bianca’s story illuminates her struggle with myriad racialized challenges within and outside of school and, more importantly, demonstrates her sophisticated and critically conscious appraisal of structural inequities. Interpreted through the lens of critical consciousness, Bianca’s story of giftedness illuminates her complex understandings of societal and institutional workings. Given the complexity and effort required to participate in critical ways of knowing, especially concerning the ways in which race and racism function, this study highlights that critically conscious students like Bianca are, in fact, doubly gifted and can offer insights to expand commonly held notions of giftedness and greater inclusivity in gifted education. Implications for educators and policy makers are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

The term “gifted” refers to individuals who give evidence of higher performance in specific fields or domains considered relevant for his/her culture of origin. The teachers’ opinion is a valuable aid in identifying giftedness, thanks to the privileged perspective from which they can observe students. The standardized assessment scales compiled by teachers are functional in a multi-informant and multi-method process of evaluation, because they are highly suitable for grasping the complexity that constitutes intellectual giftedness. The present study investigated the psychometric characteristics of the Italian version of the GATES-2, a tool to identify talented and gifted students, in a sample of 925 students, who participated in the Italian adaptation of the instrument. Statistical analyses were conducted to test internal consistency, score stability, and the discriminative validity. The excellent reliability and validity measures of the GATES-2 confirmed its usefulness in recognizing the talent of students. The GATES-2 represents an ideal aid, as it evaluates the five characteristics of giftedness recognized in national definitions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

We reviewed neuroscience-oriented research on two subfields of giftedness: creativity and mathematical giftedness. In both fields the early studies focused on hemisphere differences, using methods of frequency analysis of electroencephalography. However, gradually the analysis of network activity became the main issue of research. These investigations applied various methods of electrophysiology and brain imaging. A central theoretical problem of the field is the ill-defined concept of creativity. In the field of mathematical giftedness performance measurement is available, but studies using highly gifted participants are rather rare. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract) Resumen en idioma originalA tanulmány a tehetséghez kapcsolódó két terület, a kreativitás és a matematikai tehetség idegtudományi kutatásait foglalja össze. Mind a két területen az első megközelítések a két agyfélteke feltételezett eltérő működését hangsúlyozták, és alapvető módszerként az elektroenkefalogram frekvencia-összetevőinek változását elemezték az éppen előtérben lévő elméleti általánosítások függvényében. Fokozatosan dominálóvá váltak a hálózati elemzéseken alapuló munkák, melyek egyaránt támaszkodtak elektrofiziológiai és képalkotási eredményekre. A kreativitás témakörében a legnagyobb problémát az idegtudományi kutatásokban is a kreativitást körülvevő bizonytalanság jellemzi. A matematikai tehetség esetében a résztvevők teljesítménye könnyebben hozzáférhető, azonban a kiemelkedő tehetségek sajátságait vizsgáló kutatások ezen a területen is a kezdeteknél tartanak. Közös a két területben, hogy alapvetőnek tartja a frontális területek, a parietális és esetenként a szenzoros területek hatékony kapcsolatát. Ugyanakkor naivitásnak tűnik, hogy akár a kreativitás, akár a matematikai tehetség esetében specifikus strukturális elrendezéseket vagy mechanizmusokat találjunk. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

Calls for a greater effort to increase connections between studies of giftedness and mainstream psychological and educational research and examines ways to overcome barriers to that integration. The author argues that most mainstream researchers have paid scant attention to the literature on giftedness and have ignored the field's journals. However, studies of giftedness have contributed to mainstream theory and may play some special roles in theory development. Studies of children and adults with special gifts are more likely to influence mainstream theory if they are conceptualized, conducted, and reported so that their potential relevance for understanding other populations and general principles is apparent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Presents an overview of the Munich Longitudinal Study of Giftedness (K. A. Heller, 1991), focusing on research related to the underlying multidimensional/typological giftedness model. 754 7th graders and 794 9th graders, representing 2 of the 6 cohorts of the original study, responded to tests that included the German Cognitive Abilities Tests (Heller et al, 1985), a questionnaire of social competence, and selected scales of the Munich Activities Inventory. Results suggest that cognitive abilities best predict academic achievements and spare time activities in science, while the creativity measures correlate with school marks in German, arts, and music, as well as with nonacademic achievements in literature, arts, music, and social activities. Attempts to find a giftedness typology were unsuccessful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Notes that many reasons have been given for the fact that there are few eminent women: lack of opportunity, sex role stereotyping, and the ignoring of known achievements when they have occurred. However, in addition, the definition of giftedness in terms of eminence has been problematic for women. This paper hypothesizes that women's giftedness has followed unique patterns of development, different from those of men. Most often, women's giftedness has been utilized in empathic relationships and creative connections with others. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Building on the foundation of J. Galbraith's (see record 1986-31280-001) study of the 8 great gripes of gifted students, this article examined qualitative perspectives on giftedness among 85 7th–9th graders. Ss responded in writing to a probe (i.e., "What's it like to be gifted?") designed to elicit their spontaneous perspectives on their experience of giftedness. Results support Galbraith's indication that these children describe their experience in ways that reflect both positive and negative elements. Ss noted specific concerns about a sense of self-as-gifted, high performance demands, and the social consequences of giftedness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Reviews the literature on child prodigies and comments on the paucity of studies on giftedness in very young children. Despite the various shortcomings of IQ testing, published research overwhelmingly equates giftedness with high IQ scores, and these are the only data presented in the literature on symptoms of precocity among infants and toddlers. Given that giftedness develops through an array of unique efforts by a caretaker (e.g., parent) who cares for the child's special qualities and takes steps to accelerate their ripening, longitudinal research would make it possible to determine the staying power of early signs of excellence provided that caretaking practices could also be enriched and monitored systematically. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Suggests that problems associated with giftedness cluster around 3 primary areas: self-perceptions, perceptions of others, and personality traits/external factors. Parental response to the gifted child may be problematic, including anxiety/guilt, denial, ambivalence, disagreement between parents, and overinvestment. Family relationships may be affected in the areas of tempo of family interactions, family system makeup, sibling self-perceptions, and collective attitude toward the giftedness. Counseling strategies include a family counseling modality, exposing myths about giftedness, clarifications of family expectations, and developing educational strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Discusses research on the relation of metacognition to giftedness. At Yale University, R. J. Sternberg (1980, 1983, 1984, 1985) and his colleagues have developed an original "triarchic" theory of intelligence and a subtheory of insight. It is maintained that interactions among the elements of the triarchic theory explain giftedness. The question of whether giftedness is a subset of intelligence or vice versa remains controversial. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)

Examines 2 assumptions that underlie both gifted education and the advocacy approaches of those in the field. These assumptions are that (1) gifted children represent an empirically identifiable population and (2) the needs of that population are significantly different from those of children in general. The exclusivity of the definition of giftedness influences the exclusivity of recommended policies and practices, contributing to the appeal of gifted education, and leading to charges of elitism. Restricting giftedness to a small percentage of the population (3–5%) leads to certain other assumptions. An alternative conceptualization of giftedness suggests that gifted education programs be available to all children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

Describes profiles of 3 female graduate students with different kinds of intellectual giftedness and argues that conventional intelligence tests provide, at best, a modest assessment of only 1 kind of giftedness. The triarchic theory of intelligence is described. According to this theory, intelligence must be understood in terms of the internal and external worlds of the individual and the interface between these 2 worlds as it unfolds through experience. The theory is explained through the Ss' profiles, and measures based on this theory that better assess all 3 kinds of giftedness are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)