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Characteristics & Identification

Characteristics of Gifted Students

The following charts list some intellectual and emotional traits of gifted children. Some key things to keep in mind are:

  • Groups of gifted children often have differences among themselves which are as great as differences from other students.
  • It is highly unlikely for a gifted child to have all of the characteristics on both charts.

Intellectual Characteristics

Characteristics General Description
Motivation
A strong desire to learn		 Initiates, directs and sustains individual or group behaviors in order to attain a goal.
Interest
Advanced, intense, sometimes unusual interests.		 Special attention is given to activities, avocations, subjects that have special worth or significance.
Problem-solving Ability
Effective, often inventive strategies for recognizing and solving problems.		 Process of determining a correct sequence of alternatives leading to a desired goal or to successful completion of a performance or task.
Memory
Large storehouse of information on school or non-school topics.		 Exceptional ability to retain and retrieve information.
Inquiry
Questions, experiments, explores.		 Method or process of seeking knowledge, understanding or information.
Reasoning
Logical approach to figuring out solutions.		 Highly conscious, directed, controlled, active, intentional, forward-looking and goal-oriented thought.
Imagination/Creativity
Ability to generate highly original ideas; produces many ideas.		 Process of forming mental images of object, qualities, situations or relationships which aren’t immediately apparent to the senses; problem solving through non-traditional patterns of thinking.

Emotional Characteristics

Characteristics General Description
Heightened sensitivity Compassion, consideration and understanding of others; protective, nurturing; easily moved to tears; feel others' feelings; sensitive to injustice, criticism, pain; strong need for consistency between values and actions within self and others; caring, understanding; forming strong attachments; empowering others; aesthetic sensitivity (appreciation for complexity in works of art and ability to interpret works of art).
Heightened intensity of experience Energetic, enthusiastic; intensely absorbed in various pursuits; vivid imagination; emotional vulnerability; emotional intensity (experiences emotions strongly and may be emotionally reactive); strong attachments and commitments; high expectations of self and others.
Perfectionism May be a high achiever; may exhibit high personal standards; may set unrealistic expectations; may demonstrate persistence, perseverance and enthusiastic devotion to work; may give up if own standards are not met, or if a mistake is made; may be self-evaluative and self-judging; may have feelings of inadequacy and inferiority and desire praise and reassurance; may become extremely defensive if given criticism: may be less tolerant of imperfection in others; may procrastinate.
Introversion Have deep feelings; are reflective and introspective; focus on inner-growth through searching, questioning and exercising self-correction judgment; have knowledge about emotions; may withdraw into themselves rather than acting out aggressively toward others.
Superior humor Conveys and picks up on humor quickly and well; ability to synthesize key ideas or problems in complex situations in a humorous way; exceptional sense of timing in words and gestures; keen sense of humor that may be gentle or hostile; large accumulation of information about emotions; capacity for seeing the unusual; uncommon emotional depth; openness to experiences; sensory awareness.
Moral sensitivity Emotional sensitivity; innate sense of right and wrong; complex inner life; early ethical concerns; heightened awareness of the world; advanced moral reasoning and judgment; high moral values; empathic attitude towards others; tolerance (not aggression); responsibility for others and self; a just attitude (treating everybody by the same standards); truthfulness; authenticity; courage in the face of adversity; altruism and idealism (desire to enhance caring and civility in the community and in society at large).