SIGNS OF GIFTEDNESS IN ADULTHOOD

by Elyse Killoran

The vast majority of adults who were labeled *gifted* in childhood are unaware that their advanced development would continue to have an impact throughout their lives. Contrary to popular belief, giftedness is not characterized by high intelligence alone. Rather, gifted individuals experience early & exceptional psychological, spiritual, and intellectual development. As a result, gifted adults exhibit common personality traits and face similar challenges on the road to self-actualization.

Gifted adults demonstrate:

1. Qualitative differences in information processing – characterized by: unique perception and awareness; a sense of humor and creativity outside the norm; questioning, searching for truth, intuitiveness; insight-fulness; comfort with both divergent thinking (breaking things into components) and synergistic thinking (putting things together to form something new and different); relentless curiosity and heightened creative drive; more process-oriented than product-oriented; hold divergent values compared to mainstream culture.

2. High sensitivity – characterized by: sensitivity to others often combined with a

sense of personal alienation and loneliness; acute awareness of complexities and

consequences; heightened responsivity to expectations of others.

3. Intensity – characterized by: high excitability; high energy level; emotional

reactivity; high arousal of central nervous system.

4. Multipotentiality – characterized by: having capabilities in many areas and

domains of talent; can move fluidly from one pursuit or interest to the next; have the

ability to juggle many things at once.

5. Idealism – characterized by: striving for moral integrity; interest in social reform

and service; extraordinarily high standards; low tolerance for mediocrity and

frustration.

6. Perfectionism – characterized by: self-criticism; labeling themselves as

“scattered”; having a lowered sense of entitlement to make mistakes; identifying easily

with failure; thinking they are more likely to blame than others; difficulty taking

credit for achievement and abilities (“impostor” phenomena).

7. Internal locus of control – characterized by feelings of: being out of step and on

a separate path; being “Other”; not fitting in; striving for Inner Authenticity may

experience deep conflicts between needs for self-actualization and maintaining

traditional relationships.

8. Strong entelechy (from Greek for “having a goal”) – characterized by: the need

for self-determination, for self-actualization; leadership qualities; achievement oriented;

interested in non-traditional careers and professions.

9. Intense moral commitment – characterized by: seeing injustice and doing

something about it; willingness to stand up for ones beliefs; outrage at moral breaches

that the rest of the world seems to take for granted.

10. Global view – characterized by respect for all human beings; a greater capacity

for empathy; concern for others–especially children; sensitivity and warmth.

As a gifted individual, it is important that you recognize your precious creativity and

acknowledge that the full expression of your gifts would be a tremendous contribution to

the society at large. It is essential that you develop a plan to channel and focus your

abundance of physical, sensual, intellectual and emotional energy.

The above listing has been derived from the work of Douglas Eby, Mary Rocamora,

Kathleen Noble and studies conducted by Linda Kreger Silverman of the Institute for the

Study of Advanced Development.