Importance of Personality in Gifted Children's Identity Formation

Abstract

This study examines the importance of personality characteristics to identity formation in Terman's gifted sample. Four identity statuses of Identity Achievement, Moratorium, Foreclosure, and Diffusion, as well as two subgroups that followed progressive and regressive pathways in identity development, are compared in their personality characteristics. Results indicate that positive traits such as perseverance, purposiveness, desire to excel, and self-confidence are conducive to a successful identity formation and to the adoption of the progressive pathway in identity development.