Intellectual Giftedness
Intellectual giftedness is having above-average intellectual ability. IQ testing has been used to show intelligence scales in the population. Roughly half of the population has a score between 90 and 110. A quarter of the population has scores higher than 110 and a quarter has scores lower than 90. About two percent have scores lower than 70, which would mean they have mental retardation. Another roughly two percent have scores of 130 or higher, and they are often called "gifted". The scores bring about the famous bell curve of the I.Q. charts. (source)I.Q. scoring isn't a exact science because I.Q. tests have a margin of error. The Weschler scale has an error margin of 15 points. Giftedness can also be described as having high creativity.
What does having high intelligence mean?
What does having higher intelligence than most of the population mean? This is something I have pondered. On the good side it means few limitations on academic pursuits and being prone to having a lot of creativity. Having a wide variety of interests is a trait. Yet it also means thinking differently than most of the population. According to psychologists, characteristics of giftedness are: (source)
# perfectionistic and sets high standards for self and others
# has strong moral convictions
# is highly sensitive, perceptive or insightful
# fascinated by words or an avid reader
# feels out-of-sync with others
# is very curious
# has an unusual sense of humour
# a good problem solver
# has a vivid and rich imagination
# questions rules or authority
# has unusual ideas or connects seemingly unrelated ideas
# thrives on challenge
# learns new things rapidly
# has a good long-term memory
# feels overwhelmed by many interests and abilities
# is very compassionate
# feels outrage at moral breaches that the rest of the world seems to take for granted
# has passionate, intense feelings
# has a great deal of energy
# can't switch off thinking
# feels driven by creativity
# loves ideas and ardent discussion
# needs periods of contemplation
# searches for ???? in their life
# feels a sense of alienation and loneliness
# is very perceptive
# feels out of step with others
What are the needs of highly intelligent people?
The highly intelligent have the need to be intellectually stimulated. Following their passions is important, and so is having challenges. Depression and anxiety can result when they don't have those needs met. There would be a nagging feeling of "I could be doing something better" in the back of the mind. Boredom can easily come when not being stimulated enough. Being a lifetime learner is part of being gifted. Those people are always wanting to learn new things like a new language, instrument, or hobby. They may want to attend live theatre, opera, visit museums and galleries, or take academic classes for enrichment.
Another need is having fellowship with other like-minded people. Though they are able to relate to other people in some ways, being with others like them a better chance to share common interests and talk about things on the same level. The gifted people generally find small talk to get boring quickly. Friendships form because of having things in common, and it is normal for the highly intelligent people to want to make friends with the same kind of people. The problem with that is that it means having fewer kindred spirits in this world.
There are societies of scholars and high-IQ societies such as Mensa (I.Q. 132+) and the Cerebrals Society (I.Q. 144+). Their meetings have people of various walks of life talking about various subjects and is a breath of fresh air for the members.
Being Different
Gifted students are the different ones in school. They are at a higher level than the other students in many subjects, so they easily get bored or want to do a project on their own rather than as a group. Very intelligent students are treated differently by their peers, and that causes many of them to hide their gifts in order to "fit in". Many become the target of bullying because they are different. It is important that they be with their intellectual equals, even if it means not being with students of their own age. They need challenging material or else they will get bored. Many gifted students don't like school because they find it boring or they are the target of bullies. Some are underachievers. They need to have the more difficult classes and peers of similar ability.
Independent thinking is a characteristic of gifted people. History is filled with geniuses who went against the crowd. They thought for themselves, so they didn't do things solely because other people did them. Challenging authority is normal for them. Albert Einstein said "fate has made me an authority myself". He proved his independent ideas because he renounced his German citizenship, became Swiss, Austrian, and finally a United States citizen. He disliked nationalism because it was herd mentality to him.
Overexcitabilities
There are many people who have overexcitabilities. According to studies and observations, they are more common among the gifted population than the general populace. Overexcitabilities cause a person to experience the world more intensely. Psychologist and psychiatrist Kazimierz Dabrowski gave five classifications of them. They are: psychomotor, sensual, imaginational, intellectual and emotional. Those can cause great highs in enjoyment, and also great lows as well. It must be a factor in the reasons why so many creative individuals have depression. Kazimierz had a theory called "Positive Disintegration" in which he proposed that conflicts and inner suffering were necessary for advanced development. (source)
Psychomotor overexcitability is having lots of energy and/or restlessness. The sensual overexcitement is sensitivity to things such as bright lights, loud sounds, touch--so that they may look for very comfortable clothing and seats. Yet it causes great appreciation for beauty and aesthetics. Those are the reasons why some people can compose great music, poetry, and art. The imaginational, intellectual, and emotional overexcitabilities cause vivid dreams, daydreaming, deep curiosity, and strong emotions, among many other things. (source)
In Conclusion
I think it's best for each gifted individual to find their niche(s) where they can flourish. We must all be proud of who we are and not feel that we must follow the crowd and be like most people. There is nothing wrong with being ourselves.
What does having high intelligence mean?
What does having higher intelligence than most of the population mean? This is something I have pondered. On the good side it means few limitations on academic pursuits and being prone to having a lot of creativity. Having a wide variety of interests is a trait. Yet it also means thinking differently than most of the population. According to psychologists, characteristics of giftedness are: (source)
# perfectionistic and sets high standards for self and others
# has strong moral convictions
# is highly sensitive, perceptive or insightful
# fascinated by words or an avid reader
# feels out-of-sync with others
# is very curious
# has an unusual sense of humour
# a good problem solver
# has a vivid and rich imagination
# questions rules or authority
# has unusual ideas or connects seemingly unrelated ideas
# thrives on challenge
# learns new things rapidly
# has a good long-term memory
# feels overwhelmed by many interests and abilities
# is very compassionate
# feels outrage at moral breaches that the rest of the world seems to take for granted
# has passionate, intense feelings
# has a great deal of energy
# can't switch off thinking
# feels driven by creativity
# loves ideas and ardent discussion
# needs periods of contemplation
# searches for ???? in their life
# feels a sense of alienation and loneliness
# is very perceptive
# feels out of step with others
What are the needs of highly intelligent people?
The highly intelligent have the need to be intellectually stimulated. Following their passions is important, and so is having challenges. Depression and anxiety can result when they don't have those needs met. There would be a nagging feeling of "I could be doing something better" in the back of the mind. Boredom can easily come when not being stimulated enough. Being a lifetime learner is part of being gifted. Those people are always wanting to learn new things like a new language, instrument, or hobby. They may want to attend live theatre, opera, visit museums and galleries, or take academic classes for enrichment.
Another need is having fellowship with other like-minded people. Though they are able to relate to other people in some ways, being with others like them a better chance to share common interests and talk about things on the same level. The gifted people generally find small talk to get boring quickly. Friendships form because of having things in common, and it is normal for the highly intelligent people to want to make friends with the same kind of people. The problem with that is that it means having fewer kindred spirits in this world.
There are societies of scholars and high-IQ societies such as Mensa (I.Q. 132+) and the Cerebrals Society (I.Q. 144+). Their meetings have people of various walks of life talking about various subjects and is a breath of fresh air for the members.
Being Different
Gifted students are the different ones in school. They are at a higher level than the other students in many subjects, so they easily get bored or want to do a project on their own rather than as a group. Very intelligent students are treated differently by their peers, and that causes many of them to hide their gifts in order to "fit in". Many become the target of bullying because they are different. It is important that they be with their intellectual equals, even if it means not being with students of their own age. They need challenging material or else they will get bored. Many gifted students don't like school because they find it boring or they are the target of bullies. Some are underachievers. They need to have the more difficult classes and peers of similar ability.
Independent thinking is a characteristic of gifted people. History is filled with geniuses who went against the crowd. They thought for themselves, so they didn't do things solely because other people did them. Challenging authority is normal for them. Albert Einstein said "fate has made me an authority myself". He proved his independent ideas because he renounced his German citizenship, became Swiss, Austrian, and finally a United States citizen. He disliked nationalism because it was herd mentality to him.
Overexcitabilities
There are many people who have overexcitabilities. According to studies and observations, they are more common among the gifted population than the general populace. Overexcitabilities cause a person to experience the world more intensely. Psychologist and psychiatrist Kazimierz Dabrowski gave five classifications of them. They are: psychomotor, sensual, imaginational, intellectual and emotional. Those can cause great highs in enjoyment, and also great lows as well. It must be a factor in the reasons why so many creative individuals have depression. Kazimierz had a theory called "Positive Disintegration" in which he proposed that conflicts and inner suffering were necessary for advanced development. (source)
Psychomotor overexcitability is having lots of energy and/or restlessness. The sensual overexcitement is sensitivity to things such as bright lights, loud sounds, touch--so that they may look for very comfortable clothing and seats. Yet it causes great appreciation for beauty and aesthetics. Those are the reasons why some people can compose great music, poetry, and art. The imaginational, intellectual, and emotional overexcitabilities cause vivid dreams, daydreaming, deep curiosity, and strong emotions, among many other things. (source)
In Conclusion
I think it's best for each gifted individual to find their niche(s) where they can flourish. We must all be proud of who we are and not feel that we must follow the crowd and be like most people. There is nothing wrong with being ourselves.
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