Ten Signs of Gifted Adults

I found this at Alicia's place (now on the blogroll), Twilight Cafe. She found it at Media_Queen.

This is a list of ten characteristics of Gifted Adults. I had a lot of people tell me and my parents when I was very young that I was gifted. I really didn't know what that meant, and for the most part, I never really cared. I went through the same schooling as everyone else, but it seemed a lot easier for me than for many of my peers. I have always known that I think differently than other people.

I'd like to think I exhibit many of the behaviors on the list. Again, IMO, it's not about the label of gifted, its about being interested and engaged in the world, in thoughts and ideas. It's about having fun with your mind. It's about playing with thoughts. It's about being able to see from multiple perspectives.

One thing that both Alicia and Media Queen noted was that for some reason people who display the listed tendencies had a fondness for simple humor, especially puns. I don't know who said it but I have always heard that being easily amused is the sign of high intelligence. Maybe a connection?

The list...

1. Qualitative differences in information processing: unique perception and awareness; sense of humor and creativity outside the norm; questioning, searching for truth, intuitiveness; insightfulness; comfort with both divergent and synergistic thinking; relentless curiosity and heightened creative drive; more process-oriented than product-oriented; holding divergent values compared to mainstream culture.

2. High sensitivity: sensitivity to others often combined with a sense of personal alienation and loneliness; acute awareness of complexities and consequences; heightened responsivity to expectations of others.

3. Intensity: high excitability; high energy level; emotional reactivity; high arousal of the central nervous system.

4. Multipotentiality: having capabilities in many areas and domains of talent; can move fluidly from one pursuit or interest to the next; ability to juggle many things at once.

5. Idealism: striving for moral integrity; interest in social reform and service; extraordinarily high standards; low tolerance for mediocrity and frustration.

6. Perfectionism: self-criticism; labeling oneself as "scattered"; having a lowered sense of entitlement to make mistakes; identifying easily with failure; thinking they are more likely to blame than others; difficulty taking credit for achievements and abilities.

7. Need for autonomy: feelings of being out of step and on a separate path; being "Other"; not fitting in; striving for inner authenticity; may experience deep conflicts between needs for self-actualization and maintaining traditional relationships.

8. Strong entelechy (from Greek for "having a goal"): need for self-determination; for self-actualization; leadership qualities; achievement-orientation; interest in nontraditional careers and professions.

9. Intense moral commitment: seeing injustice and doing something about it; willingness to stand up for one's beliefs; outrage at moral breaches that the rest of the world seems to take for granted.

10. Global view: respect for all human beings; a greater capacity for empathy; concern for others -- especially children; sensitivity and warmth.