Modern psychology views giftedness as the result of multiple interacting factors, including a high level of intelligence, strong creativity, and sustained motivation. These indicators can be assessed through specialized methods, but the evaluation should be conducted by a qualified psychologist rather than a parent. This perspective comes from a leading expert in the field who explained the process to socialbites.ca.
In this framework, intelligence means the capacity to solve complex problems, which is commonly measured with IQ assessments. Creativity and motivation are evaluated using additional techniques. The goal is clear: to establish high levels across these parameters, recognizing that stronger indicators generally point to a greater potential for giftedness.
Diagnosing giftedness is the responsibility of the psychologist. For instance, a specialist may employ tools designed to explore motives. One example involves presenting a child with a set of cards representing different motives and asking the child to rank them from most to least important. This kind of exercise helps reveal the structure of the child’s motivational landscape.
“This is a gentle method that yields insight into motivation, while more challenging techniques probe deeper. The child may be placed in a choice scenario—this or that—to pinpoint the primary reason driving the decision. There are also various projective methods, such as asking the child to finish sentences or stories. These tasks illuminate how a person’s motivational field is organized,” the expert noted.
There are diagnostic tools that parents can use as well. Parents can work with books written specifically for them about giftedness and related topics. Examples include titles like Gift Card and Palette of Interests. There are also evaluation methods designed for teachers, such as the intellectual portrait and related tools, the expert added.
Readers can learn more about diagnosing giftedness in a child and why it is important to avoid isolating gifted children in a separate school by reviewing the expert’s perspective reported by socialbites.ca.
Indeed, what indicators of giftedness can be developed in a child? These questions form part of a broader conversation about recognizing, nurturing, and supporting gifted achievements within educational contexts.
[Source attribution: Savenkov, socialbites.ca]