Research indicates that the brain of someone who is classified as Gifted follows a pattern of asynchronous physiological development. This means that different areas of the brain will develop at notably different rates; often more developed areas result in a person’s developing skills or abilities which far exceed their chronological age, while less developed areas manifest in behavior that lags behind that of their age-related peers. In a series of three webcasts, I explore how this and other facets of Gifted development can impact one’s sense of identity, and ultimately, happiness. These webcasts are parts of a presentation originally given in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in July 2008, at the 50th anniversary reunion for the Louisiana Governor’s Program for Gifted Children (GPGC).

In the first webcast of this series (Part 1), I present an overview of all three webcasts, some thoughts about the usefulness of psychology in general, and summarize three different theories of psychology (Erikson, Debrowski, and Linehan) which are referenced in the other webcasts in this series. The second webcast in this series (Part 2) presents information about aspects of Giftedness other than intellectual prowess: emotional implications, social impact, formation of identity, male/female differences, etc.

In the third webcast (part 3), available on this page, I expand on Giftedness in the later stages of the lifespan, particularly the adult and elder years. This includes challenges for the Gifted person in the workplace, different ways Giftedness can manifest, and coping strategies often employed by Gifted individuals. A summary of the entire presentation is also included, along with a list of references and cited sources, including indications of where to find complete versions of the videos from which excerpts have been included.

The first and second parts of this series are available as independently-downloadable webcasts, on other pages you will find in this section of the site.

While these presentations are based on research specific to the Gifted population, the information may be relevant to different degrees for anyone ranked in the top 10% of the population, in terms of intelligence. All original materials presented here are copywritten by Cal J Domingue, MFT, and should not be re-used or re-posted without express written permission from the author.

Video – Part Three