Based on information from Maureen Neihart, Psy.D.
( lecture given at PAGE Conference Dec.7, 2002)
Characteristics: Big Ideas: 3 Necessary Provisions:
  • Advanced social maturity
  • Advanced moral reasoning
  • Sensitivity
  • Asynchronous Development
  • Perfectionistic
  • Strong Conceptual Thinkers
  • Fast Learners
  • Desire for Solitude
  • Concerns about Morality, Justice, Spirituality
  • Growing up gifted is a qualitatively different experience
  • Advanced Maturity
  • 3 minimal provisions necessary to prevent problems
  • The psychosocial factors contributing to high performance can be shaped and cultivated.
  • Placement with others of like ability.
  • Flexible progression at a rapid pace through academics
  • Appropriate Challenge
FAMILY VALUES
  • Risk taking
  • Coping with setbacks and failures
  • Hard work and sustained effort
  • Independent thought
  • Individual Expression
  • Cultural and intellectual pursuits
  • Importance of finding and developing one's abilities.
Friendships: Motivation: Girls and Boys:
  • Unlikely to find others who share their abilities and interests.
  • Social Isolation is felt most between ages of 4-9
  • Choose a select few of tight knit friends and invest heavily in those relationships
  • Different expectations of those friendships than others their age.
  • Prefer to work alone
  • Self-motivated
  • more task-oriented
  • Less desire for high grades or recognition-especially in Elite Gifted.
  • Want to enhance the enjoyment of work
  • Some form of acceleration necessary- especially in Elite Gifted.
Gifted: IQ of 130+
Highly Gifted: IQ of 144+
Elite gifted: IQ of 155+
Girls:
  • Avoid competition to preserve relationships
  • Perceive them selves as less capable than they really are.
  • Search for ways to conform to the group norm.
Boys:
  • Multicultural appreciation
  • View their emotions as functional tool
  • 14% of G/T boys and NO G/T girls say that childcare is solely a women's responsibility.
  • Boys are more specific about career goals.