Comments on: Why ‘Gifted’ Is a Terrible Word…

By: Rejection of Gifted Adult Label — gifteduniverse.com

Rejection of Gifted Adult Label — gifteduniverse.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:11:35 +0000

[...] Gifted is a terrible word – I don’t doubt that some people would reject the idea they are a gifted adult simply because the term itself is off-putting. [...]

By: Gifted Adult - Pros and Cons of a Label | gifteduniverse.com

Gifted Adult - Pros and Cons of a Label | gifteduniverse.com — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:42:00 +0000

[...] label ‘gifted’ or bad. Certainly a lot of people reject the label, possibly because gifted is a terrible word and there is ambiguity as well as misconceptions about what being a gifted adult is. There [...]

By: admin

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:19:56 +0000

I agree so completely! I react poorly to psychology’s drift of pathologizing difference…but responded well to Seligman/Rogers etc. No doubt there are people who struggle with their neurological efficiency but it’s my feeling the vast majority sit in the middle of the spectrum – not stuggling nor feeling optimum but interested in building on strength. Total digression but I was reading about Marcus Buckingham who in turn reminded me of Peter Drucker’s management theory of building on the strength’s of individuals. How do you address this in your practice?

By: Cindy Glovinsky

Cindy Glovinsky — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:14:33 +0000

Thanks for this excellent essay. I agree the word “gifted” is bad, but I do think we need to think of other, more emotionally neutral terms to represent the particular ways that some people’s minds are different that got them labelled as “gifted.” Possibilities — rapid connectors, neurologically efficient, hungry minded — any other ideas? As a clinician, it bothers me that DSM-IV has no axis for special neurological strengths, just weaknesses. If find that these are hugely important in deciding how to help people.