High Ability

The democratization of genius represents a victory for human equality. But if everyone can be a genius, then what does it mean?

By Darrin M. McMahon, author of Divine Fury: A History of Genius http://buff.ly/188jF2e

One of my related articles: "Celebrating giftedness: You may be gifted – get over it" - We may not have realized all or even many of the promises of our identity as a gifted kid, and through circumstance or suppression left talents unmanifested or unspoken. But that doesn’t mean we have lost that aspect of who we are. http://highability.org/67/

"Gifted children and adults are often misunderstood. Their excitement is viewed as excessive, their high energy as hyperactivity, their persistence as nagging, their imagination as not paying attention, their passion as being disruptive, their strong emotions and sensitivity as immaturity, their creativity and self-directedness as oppositional.

This resource describes these overexcitabilities and strategies for dealing with children and adults who are experiencing them.."

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Related post: Excitabilities and Gifted People – an intro by Susan Daniels

http://highability.org/537/excitabilities-and-gifted-people-%E2%80%93-an-intro-by-susan-daniels-phd/

By Matthew C. Makel, Duke University Talent Identification Program

What happens to gifted kids when they grow up?

A hundred years ago, people feared that early ripe would lead to early rot, with gifted children growing up to lead difficult adulthoods.

Numerous counterexamples have diminished that belief. Today, a more common discussion is about the differences between gifted males and females.

“I don’t think I’m even close to fulfilling my potential.” Actor Kerry Washington 

Psychologist Kenneth W. Christian delineates some of the most prominent patterns of thinking and behavior he has found that may lead to undermining and underachievement as adults.

He says "Pulling back from your potential is a kind of abdication, an abandoment of your own best interests."

By Linda Kreger Silverman, Ph.D.

"When we equate giftedness with achievement in school, or with the potential for noteworthy achievement in adult life, we create an inequitable criterion for children of color, children who are economically disadvantaged, and females. Throughout history, those who attain eminence have been predominantly white, middle or upper class males...

"By way of contrast, giftedness is color-blind, is found in equal proportions in males and females... and is distributed across all socio-economic levels... While the percentage of gifted students among the upper classes may be higher, the vast majority of gifted children come from the lower classes... Throughout the world, there are more poor gifted children than rich ones."

“I was shy. I was a mixture of insecurities and very bossy.” J.K. Rowling added that she was “Very bossy to my sister but quite quiet with strangers. Very bookish. Terrible at school."

One of the personal qualities that seems to be shared by most gifted children is being different and divergent – in terms of thinking, interests, values and behavior.

Many gifted adults feel “wrong” or anxious about “not fitting in” even though being different can be a strength, a positive attribute.