From the Foreword by Linda Silverman to the book Enjoying the Gift of Being Uncommon: Extra Intelligent, Intense, and Effective by Willem Kuipers. I have just started reading the book, and as Dr. Silverman notes here, it has a number of stimulating perspectives: The vast majority of gifted adults are never identified. Even those who [...]
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 [...]
By Sarah Williams Some among us, plain and simple, are born great. There are people who have high capacities for specific talents, such as those who are math wizards or seemingly inherently know everything scientific. The world is home to a select few highly gifted people blessed with abilities the average human can only envy. [...]
In the TV series “House,” Amber Tamblyn portrays Martha M. Masters – a “genius third-year med student who, after graduating from high school at age 15, spent her down time getting PhDs in applied math and art history.” “She’s like the Internet, with breasts,” House observes before correcting himself. “Oh wait, the Internet already has [...]
Smoking weed, drinking and trying some other drugs, Weed Girl preferred the pot smoking which she explains “took the edge off of her brain.” This was the beginning of Weed Girl’s new lifestyle which landed her in jail and rehab several times each. Sadly, by the time I met her, Weed Girl was pretty convinced [...]
Mia Wasikowska earned acclaim for her intense performance in the HBO series “In Treatment.” She plays the title role in the new “Alice in Wonderland,” and notes that at age 20 she is still fairly new to acting: “I was at dance school doing about 35 hours practice a week until I was 14. Then [...]
Article by Cathy Goodwin “James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he’s hyperactive.” “Nancy seems to be all over the place. She’s got a dozen projects going at once!” “Harley does things so fast! He put up a website in two weeks.” “Marlene is so intense. She needs to lighten up.” While it’s [...]
Backgrounds and practical recommendations By Noks Nauta, Sieuwke Ronner This article was published in Dutch in Tijdschriftvoor Bedrijfs-en Verzekeringsgeneeskunde (Journal for Occupational Health- and Insurance Physicians), TBV 16, no. 11 (Nov. 2008): 396-399. Publisher: Bohn Stafleu Van Loghum, Houten, The Netherlands. The editor agreed with translation and publication on this website. Key words: GIFTEDNESS, CHARACTERISTICS, [...]
Polish psychiatrist and psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski (1902 – 1980) worked with creative adults and adolescents, and developed a theory of personality and emotional development that is often applied toward understanding the psychology of gifted and talented individuals. One aspect of his Theory of Positive Disintegration is the concept of unusual intensity and reactivity, as Lesley [...]
Site author: Douglas Eby, M.A./Psychology, is a writer and researcher on creative expression and personal growth, especially for high ability adults. He is creator and publisher of the Talent Development Resources series of sites, and author of the book Developing Multiple Talents - The personal side of creative expression.
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