Overexcitability (OE) is a key concept introduced in the literature by Kazimierz Dabrowski who distinguished 5 forms of OE (psychomotor, sensual, imaginational, intellectual, and emotional) and showed that they are correlated with outstanding talents and creativity. In this study a group of musically talented individuals (n = 106) was compared…

Over the past two decades a wealth of research data on perfectionism has drawn increased attention to the nature and impact of perfectionism on many aspects of student development. Much of the research has explored perfectionism in the gifted student population, but few studies have considered how perfectionism could be perceived differently in…

This discourse is the qualitative component of a mixed-methods study that examined how students were psychologically affected while attending a 2-year residential high school (Academy) in the Midwest. This aspect of the study focused on the emic perspective of nine students using a phenomenological-type approach. To that end, interviews were…

Dabrowski's theory spoke to me at a very deep level of my being. It has been my guide to self-examination, allowing me to appreciate my intensity and to see the challenges in my life as opportunities for personal growth. For the last three decades, I have shared my passion for the theory with anyone who would listen. This article is about my…

This article acknowledges Kazimierz Dabrowski as a foundational influence and inspiration for our work in supporting the development of highly gifted individuals. Our intention is to help disambiguate the ways this farsighted theory of global human development can be employed in uncommon and atypical profiles in the gifted population. Our focus is…

Gifted youths frequently misunderstand what giftedness actually means in their lives, hold unrealistically high expectations for their own achievement, confuse the means and the ends of their accomplishments, overvalue their cognitive dimensions at the expense of their affective natures, or view giftedness as an entitlement. (Author/CL)

Historical analysis of the psychological traits and childhood environments of 55 leading poets, novelists, and dramatists indicated that outstanding traits and conditions of childhood can be identified and serve as portents of future accomplishments. (CL)

The author reviews his own and others' findings on the personality traits of psychoticism, neuroticism, and introversion and their relationship with creativity and originality. Findings show some correlation between creativity in the arts with introversion, neurotic behavior, and higher scores of psychoticism. (CL)

Leadership qualities in children in two kindergarten and two nursery school classes were studied through sociograms and observation. Results indicated three specific factors contributing to leadership at this age level: verbal ability, independence, and sense of structure. (DB)

The article examines the unique, extraordinarily advanced intellectual skills of the highly gifted and highlights the differences between highly gifted and moderately gifted children. Problems of uneven development, perfectionism, adult expectations, intense sensitivity, self-definition, alienation, inappropriate environments, and role conflict…

A framework for dealing with potential maladjustment problems of gifted adolescents views perceptions of being out of stage (different in cognitive development), out of phase (different in interests and abilities), and out of sync (feelings of differences and inability to fit in). (CL)

The article examines patterns of adolescent development believed to exist among both normal and gifted students and cites issues rising from clinical and research studies, including recognition and ownership of giftedness, tension between one's performance and expectations, and low tolerance for ambiguity. (CL)

This supplementary insert discusses the differences between exceptionally gifted children and their more moderately gifted peers. Case studies are provided to illustrate the characteristics of exceptionally gifted children, including their tendencies toward fantasy and their ability to develop alternate realities. (CR)

A study examined the relationship between exceptionally high intellectual ability and psychosocial adjustment in 191 gifted youth (ages 13 to 15). Results indicated that participants' scores on measures of emotional and behavioral problems were well within normative ranges and the most highly gifted tended to exhibit fewer problems than did the…

This exploratory study of 79 high school students examined overexcitability assessment as a potential method for identifying giftedness. Overexcitability (an intensified way of experiencing the world) can occur in five areas: psychomotor, sensual, imaginational, intellectual, and emotional. The measure of overexcitability differentiated gifted and…