Giftedness is a term that has been used to describe individuals who show exceptional abilities or potential in one or more domains of human endeavor. However, giftedness is not a simple or straightforward concept, as it involves multiple factors, perspectives, and outcomes. In this article, we will explore how giftedness is related to achievement, and what are the challenges and opportunities for gifted individuals and educators.
What is Giftedness?
There is no universally agreed-upon definition of giftedness, as different scholars, organizations, and countries may have different criteria and approaches to identify and nurture gifted individuals. However, some common themes can be found in various definitions of giftedness, such as:
- Giftedness reflects the values and needs of society, as different domains of talent may be more or less valued or needed in different contexts and times.
- Giftedness is typically manifested in actual outcomes, especially in adulthood, as gifted individuals demonstrate high levels of performance, creativity, or eminence in their chosen fields.
- Giftedness is specific to domains of endeavor, as gifted individuals may excel in one or more areas of human activity, such as mathematics, music, art, literature, science, sports, leadership, etc.
- Giftedness is the result of the coalescing of biological, pedagogical, psychological, and psychosocial factors, as gifted individuals are influenced by their genetic makeup, learning opportunities, cognitive abilities, motivation, personality traits, and environmental support.
- Giftedness is relative not just to the ordinary (e.g., a child with exceptional art ability compared to peers) but to the extraordinary (e.g., an artist who revolutionizes a field of art).
One widely cited definition of giftedness is the one proposed by Renzulli (1978), who suggested that giftedness is the interaction of three basic clusters of human traits: above-average ability, task commitment, and creativity. According to this model, gifted behavior emerges when individuals possess high levels of general or specific abilities, show high levels of motivation and perseverance for a particular task or goal, and display originality and flexibility in thinking or producing.
Another influential definition of giftedness is the one proposed by Gagné (2004), who distinguished between gifts and talents. Gifts are natural abilities or aptitudes that are present at birth or develop during childhood, such as intellectual, creative, socioaffective, or sensorimotor abilities. Talents are outstanding achievements or performance that are developed through systematic training and practice in specific domains of human activity. According to this model, gifts are transformed into talents through the influence of various catalysts, such as intrapersonal factors (e.g., motivation, self-regulation), environmental factors (e.g., family support,
