The importance of life goals and the level of their achievement among gifted adults in Jordan

The current study aimed to identify the degree of importance of life goals and the achievement of these goals among gifted adults in Jordan in the main fields of life goals, and if there are statistically significant differences in the degree of importance and the level of achievement of life goals due to gender and degree of religiosity. The study sample consisted of (80) gifted graduates’ adults from Jubilee school graduates, whose ages range from (26-41). The descriptive-survey method was used to achieve study goals. The results indicated that all life goals were of high importance to the respondents, regardless of gender. Significant differences were identified in the achievement of life goals attributed to the gender variable in favor of females. The result also showed no fundamental differences in the degree of importance of life goals attributed to the degree of religiosity. The study results revealed that gifted adults focus mainly on achieving goals and professional success, and they achieve themselves through the profession. They see that a promising future means career success and economic power enables them to achieve life goals related to their partner and family. Keywords: Life goals; goals achievement; gifted adults; gender; religiosity.

Crisis of Meaning and Subjective Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Resilience and Self-Control among Gifted Adults

Meaning in life is positively associated with mental and physical health, while a crisis of meaning is a painful existential state that is defined as a perceived lack of meaning. An earlier study has shown that academically high-achieving adults mostly experience existential fulfilment, while intellectually gifted adults have a disproportionally high risk of suffering from a crisis of meaning, which can weaken their potential fulfilment in life. To uncover the underlying mechanisms of how an existential crisis affects gifted adults’ mental health, this study examines the longitudinal relationship between crisis of meaning and subjective well-being via two mediators: self-control and resilience. A multiple mediation model was tested with longitudinal data (two times of measurement) of two gifted groups: intellectually gifted adults (HIQ; N = 100; 55% female) and academically high-achieving adults (HAA; N = 52; 29% female). Results suggest group differences: HIQ had higher crisis of meaning and lower self-control than the HAA. HIQ’s resilience (but not their self-control) and HAA’s self-control (but not their resilience) mediated the relationship between crisis of meaning and subjective well-being. These findings give initial insights about the distinct psychological needs of gifted adults and their different paths toward subjective well-being. These insights can be applied in future giftedness research, talent development programs, or counseling to support gifted individuals in living up to their potential. Thus, HIQ could benefit particularly from supporting their ability to cope with adversity, while HAA could benefit particularly from strengthening their willpower to modify undesired emotions, behaviors, and desires.

Pathways to Supporting the Gifted

This chapter is comprised of the written recollections of four intellectually gifted adults, all of whom became teachers. None had any idea they would ultimately focus on gifted students. Because there is no significant research about who becomes a teacher of gifted students, the purpose of this chapter is to illustrate some of the precursors, critical events, and catalysts that may lead to becoming an educator and advocate for gifted children. The authors each in turn describe the influences of family and others significant to their own talent development and how their exposure to different social and cultural conditions impacted their views. The vignettes provide firsthand information about what motivated these teachers, both internally and externally, and what personal traits contributed to the ways they have advanced the field. All discovered their own giftedness while educating themselves on the needs of gifted students.