States of Excellence

Research from the individual-differences tradition pertinent to the optimal development of exceptional talent is reviewed, using the theory of work adjustment (TWA) to organize findings. The authors show how TWA concepts and psychometric methods, when used together, can facilitate positive developme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American psychologist 2000-01, Vol.55 (1), p.137-150
Main Authors: Lubinski, David, Benbow, Camilla Persson
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Achievement
Adult
Aptitude
Excellence
Female
Human
Human development
Humans
Individual Differences
Individuality
Intelligence
Life Satisfaction
Male
Motivation
Personal development
Personality Development
Psychology
Quality of Life
Self-Actualization
Students - psychology
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Summary:Research from the individual-differences tradition pertinent to the optimal development of exceptional talent is reviewed, using the theory of work adjustment (TWA) to organize findings. The authors show how TWA concepts and psychometric methods, when used together, can facilitate positive development among talented youth by aligning learning opportunities with salient aspects of each student's individuality. Longitudinal research and more general theoretical models of (adult) academic and intellectual development support this approach. This analysis also uncovers common threads running through several positive psychological concepts (e.g., effectance motivation, flow, and peak experiences). The authors conclude by underscoring some important ideals from counseling psychology for fostering intellectual development and psychological well-being. These include conducting a multifaceted assessment, focusing on strength, helping people make choices, and providing a developmental context for bridging educational and industrial psychology to facilitate positive psychological growth throughout the life span.
ISSN:0003-066X
1935-990X
DOI:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.137