化妆品 http:/ Giftedness: The Gift that Keeps on Giving Introduction nStable versus unstable personal traits e.g. gender versus hair color nWhich is giftedness? nOften viewed as a childhood attribute nThis reflected by a recent web search nWhat are the results of googling ? Google results n“gifted children” 1,440,000 hits nversus post-childhood: “gifted adolescents” 39,600 hits n“gifted teenagers” 1,670 hits “gifted adults” 24,700 hits “gifted elderly” 56 hits n“gifted senior citizens” 8 hits Google results nand versus pre-childhood: “gifted babies” 6,660 hits “gifted infants” 540 hits “gifted zygotes” 1 hit nthe latter some Jon Stewart quip! Argument nGiftedness can be a life-long trait This developmental continuity is especially conspicuous when we look at the highest levels of giftedness e.g., top 1% rather than top 10% Superlative Performance Threshold AGE Top 10% Top 1% PERFORMANCE From Conception to Reputation nGenetic conception nGestation nInfancy nChildhood nAdolescence nAdulthood nDeath nPosthumous reputation Genetic conception Genetic conception nIt all begins with the “gifted zygote” nGaltons 1869 Hereditary Genius nModern behavioral genetics: Giftedness is most likely multi-polygenic (many polygenic traits) emergenic (multiplicative/configurational) epigenetic (unfolds over time) nIn short, a complex, dynamic process Gestation Gestation nIntrauterine environment ne.g., Geschwinds theory elevated testosterone after 20th week nright left posterior hemisphere growth ngiftedness/savantism mathematical ability artistic/spatial ability musical ability nSimon Baron-Cohen: “extreme male brain” Infancy Infancy nThe Developmental “Dark Ages” Early developmental signposts not always indicative of later giftedness and may even be counter-indicative (e.g., delayed speech) nSo when do the Dark Ages end? nWhats the earliest age at which the gift begins to manifest itself? Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence nAttention to novelty at 6-12 months predicts adult IQ academic achievement nbut this assessment concerns general intelligence (Spearmans g) nWhat about more domain-specific indicators? Cox (1926) 301 Geniuses nJeremy Bentham: English jurist and utilitarian philosopher (early IQ 180) Learned alphabet before talking At 3 began classical education when father buys a Latin grammar; same age read Rapins History of England Feldman/Goldsmith (1986/2000) 6 prodigies na child who read music before he was four, ntwo children who played winning chess before they entered school, nanother who studied abstract algebra in grade school, na youngster who produced typed scripts of original stories and plays before his fifth birthday, and na child who read, wrote, began learning foreign languages, and composed short musical pieces before he was out of diapers. Winner (1996): Gifted Children nMichael Kearney speak at 4 months; read at 8 months; algebra on own at age 3 nKyLee Hench fascinated with letters using portable typewriter before 2.5; solved math problems typical of 8-year olds by 3. Childhood Childhood nDark Ages rarely end before ages 2-3, nand more commonly end at the age of a late preschooler or kindergartner neven Mozart didnt begin composing until 5 (with fathers help) nand J. S. Mill didnt write his first book (a history of Rome) until 6.5 (juvenilia) Childhood nDuring this age period various environmental factors kick in nincluding Birth order (not prenatal!) Traumatic, enriching, and diversifying events Domain-specific role models and mentors, and Expertise acquisition (10-year rule) nthat affect the type and degree of giftedness nThe “gift” as a nature-nurture collaboration Adolescence Adolescence nAlthough the previously mentioned factors continue to nurture growth, nthe gifted youth can also be led astray from the path of optimal development: nPeer groups become especially critical during this phase ne.g., Csikszentmihalyi et al.s (1993) Talented teenagers Adulthood Adulthood nThe Great Transformation from Input to Output Potential to Actual Achievement Giftedness to Genius Adulthood nAccelerated career onset Abbreviated expertise acquisition ( 10 years) Early achievement (viz. 1st “hit” in 20s) nExceptional productivity or output (e.g., Napoleon, Edison, Picasso, Mozart) nHigh impact (e.g., disciples, honors) nLong, productive career nEarly- + late-bloomers long-bloomers nHence, last testaments, old-age style shifts, swan-songs Examples nCervantes: nDon Quixote, nPart II, nage 68, ndied age 69 Examples nGalileo: nTwo New Sciences, nage 74, ndied age 78 Examples nGoethe: nFaust, Part II, nage 83, ndied age 83 Examples nVerdi: nFalstaff, nage 85, ndied age 88 Death Death nLife expectancy as contingent on achievement domain nExamples: Mathematicians versus Biologists Poets versus Novelists Military versus Political Leaders Revolutionary versus Status Quo Politicians nPrecocity negative impact on longevity GeniusAge 1st masterwork Age at death Arriaga (music) 1820 Galois (math) 2020 Chatterton (poetry) 1617 Posthu