Definitions and Terms

Once again, we begin with some basic concepts and definitions.

• Development: a step or stage in growth
  
  
• Phenomenological: relating to a self-awareness, and of how one experiences the world around them and/or their existnce; in this context, how gifted students experience the world and view themselves
  
  
• Positive Disintegration: the process through which development occurs as offered by Dabrowski
  • “…growth occurs through a series of psychological disintegrations and reintegrations, resulting in dramatic change to a person’s conceptions of self and the world. Positive disintegration forges a personality that motivates one to perform at increasingly high levels, emphasizing altruism and morality. However, not all disintegrations are positive. When negative disintegrations occur, psychoses or suicide may be the outcome. An important theme of TPD is the movement from an initial egocentric approach to life to an altruistic one…” (from Mendaglio, 2004 Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration: Some implications for teachers of gifted students)
    
    
• Developmental Potential: a person's talents, intelligence, overexcitability and the capacity to change
• Overexcitabilities: innate areas of development (as understood in gifted individuals) that are understood to be heightened or intensified, and as understood by the individual on a more profound level.These areas are:
  • Psychomotor - surplus of energy, restless, curious
  • Sensual - sensory and aesthetic pleasure
  • Intellectual - strong signs of analysis and synthesis, theoretical thinking, probing questions, learning, problem solving
  • Imaginational - vivid fantasy life, spontaneous imagery, sensitive to imaginary realities
  • Emotional - intensity of feeling, complex emotions and feelings, extremes of emotion, sensitivity, identification with the feelings of others, difficulty adjusting to change. (Dabrowski 1972; Piechowski, cited in Silverman, 1993)

As you read through this week’s articles, you will see these terms explained. You will also be able to understand how they all are linked together to give us a better understanding of the gifted learners we teach.