Genius. Gifted Adult. Who would want to claim either of these labels to describe themselves? I came across a great article by Willem Kuipers that addresses some of the reasons why gifted people, even Mensa members, avoid both labels. Here are some of them:
- - people think geniuses are extraordinary achievers. If you haven’t found the cure for cancer or achieved extraordinary success, the label doesn’t apply to them
- - the word gifted is associated with children and education, so if you’re not in school or not a child, than you can’t be gifted
- - the elitist connotation
- - geniuses/gifted are socially inept geeks or nerds
People are very reluctant to claim the label of ‘gifted’ or ‘genius’. I totally understand that – I often ask myself, if I’m so damn smart than how come I can’t find my keys or read a map? Kuiper suggests that while gifted people consistently reject the labels, they will claim the characteristics associated with being a genius or gifted. Kuiper defined gifted adult characteristics as:
- - intellectually able
- - inquisitive
- - need for autonomy
- - excessive zeal in pursuit of interests
- - emotionally insecure/intellectually self-confident
In other words, people will say ‘yup, I’m a fast thinking, curious, intense, perfectionist, control freak but I’m not that smart and I’m certainly not a genius or gifted’.
Kruiper put his finger on it: a lot of people in the academic, education and psychological fields have done terrific work defining what it means to be a gifted adult. However, their audience is mostly other people within these disciplines. I attended university, have worked in the mental health field (though not as a mental health practitioner), was identified as gifted as a child and I have trouble with a lot of the language in the existing information about gifted adults. I’m sure that the language and tone alienates people to who are geniuses/gifted. And THAT assumes that they even encountered the information to begin with.
Much of the information about gifted adults strikes me as the far end of the spectrum. I don’t doubt that some people truly and profoundly struggle with the experience of being gifted, often not knowing what they are struggling with. And some gifted people likely have no issue with it whatsoever. And the majority of us, fall in the middle. Not tragic, but restless, wanting to understand. Looking for practical information in everyday language about how to do more, be more.
This brings me to another gap in the information about gifted adults: careers. Most of us spend more time working than any other activity in our life. Sounds to me like a terrific opportunity to build on the foundation the academics, educators and psychologists have created….while avoiding the term gifted or genius. I figure ‘curious-fast thinking-control freaks’ is the better way to go.
