Identification and Education of Students with Gifts and Talents Based on the Fuzzy Conception of Giftedness

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to review the Fuzzy Conception of Giftedness (FCG) and discuss its implications for the identification and education of gifted students. According to the Fuzzy Conception of Giftedness, the manifestation of giftedness results from the interplay between personal dispositions and stimulus conditions; thus, giftedness exists in the interaction between a person and the environment (e.g., stimulus conditions). While a person is disposed to carry out actions, the environment is potent to allow these actions. In line with this proposition, the identification and education of gifted students should be built on interactions. Interactive models are useful to identify and educate students who have overachievement potential. The FCG proposes three components to define giftedness that could be used in identifying and educating gifted students: intellective and non-intellective dispositions, stimulus conditions, and interaction.