GIFTEDNESS AS HIGH ABILITIY OR POTENTIAL

Giftedness, as we conceive it, is unusually high ability or potential in any domain. Giftedness at its core is difference in the direction of advantage. We believe that giftedness exists even when unrecognized by society and that it exists even when the gift has not been actualized through achievements. Further, giftedness exists when the domain of the gift is not valued by society. For example, Ramanujan, a mathematical prodigy, was born in India in 1887, where his gifts were not recognized. He failed his school examinations and was employed as a clerk (Weisstein, n.d.). Unless a gift is recognized and nurtured, it may die, undeveloped, on the vine.

Giftedness is not always revealed in high achievement, but it may also be defined by high potential in the absence of unusual achievement. The determination of giftedness through assessment of ability or potential is more difficult than the determination of giftedness through recognition of achievement. Unusual potential in the absence of high achievement can often be seen in children's passions and interests outside of school.

There are a variety of reasons why children may have unusually high aptitude without showing high achievement. High achievement can only emerge after a child has experience in the domain in which there is high potential to achieve. Given a disadvantaged background or a learning disorder, children with high potential in a given domain may well never develop the knowledge base in that domain that would make high achievement possible.