Characteristics of the Gifted: "The United States of America needs both equity and excellence in its educational programs. The rights and needs of most learners are vehemently defended, but sometimes the arguments that gifted students also have rights are often ignored. It is just as unfair to ignore the gifted student as it is to ignore any other special needs students." Gary A. Davis and Sylvia B. Rimm, 2004

Providing for the rights of gifted students includes establishing agreed upon behavioral characteristics for this unique set of learners. The chart below lists some of these characteristics. It is important to remember that it is the extreme degree in which the characteristic manifests itself that makes the trait a gifted behavior.

Positive Characteristics

Negative Characteristics

Early and rapid learning Rapid language development Superior language ability Extremely large knowledge base Superior analytic ability High-capacity memory Superior reasoning and problem-solving Manipulates, invents symbol systems Greater meta-cognitive skills Highly alert High activity level (may require little sleep) Unusable concentration level Extreme sensitivity to noise, textures, frustrations Reflective Unique sense of humor High level of morality

Uneven precocity Interpersonal conflicts often due to cognitive differences Underachievement especially in uninteresting areas. Nonconformity Nonconformity in disturbing areas Perfectionism Frustration and anger Adapted from Davis & Rimm