Conceptualisation of the Problem of Giftedness in Foreign and Domestic Research

Abstract

The phenomenon of talent and giftedness is the driving force of innovative progress, but the lack of a clear definition of this concept hinders the development of a clear system of training and upbringing of capable children, which has led to the relevance of the study. The purpose of the scientific work is to compare foreign views on the interpretation of the concept of “giftedness” for further borrowing of educational methods of training in the Ukrainian scientific space. General research methods, in particular structural and comparative analysis, including the synthesis method, allow achieving this goal. The article highlights the main theoretical concepts of giftedness in foreign and Ukrainian discourse. In this context, the problem of identifying the concepts of “giftedness”, “talent”, and “abilities” is considered. The views of foreign scientists on the interpretation of the phenomenon of giftedness are presented. It is found that many scientists consider certain aspects of giftedness in relation to related humanities, including history, anthropology, psychology and cultural studies. Examples of the main models of the structure of giftedness in the context of historical development are given. Based on the conducted categorical analysis, the author’s definition of the concept of “giftedness” is suggested, which is identified through such structural elements as the basis and factors of giftedness, experience, and favourable environmental conditions. The concepts of giftedness considered in the article allow stating that they have not only a theoretical but also a practice-oriented character since they are aimed not only at interpreting the phenomenon of giftedness and mechanisms of its development but are the theoretical and methodological basis for systematic activities with gifted children