Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
10:26
Problem-Solving Before Instruction PS-I: A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
Published on: September 11, 2021
4.5K
When Lightning Strikes Twice: Profoundly Gifted, Profoundly Accomplished
Matthew C Makel1, Harrison J Kell2, David Lubinski3
1Talent Identification Program, Duke University.
Psychological Science
|May 27, 2016
Summary
Profoundly gifted individuals (IQ ≥ 160) achieve remarkable life success. Differential ability strengths, not just high intellect, guide their unique developmental paths and accomplishments.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Gifted Education
Background:
- The Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) documented profound giftedness (IQ ≥ 160).
- Questions remain about whether these accomplishments are representative of all equally able young adolescents.
- Duke University's Talent Identification Program (TIP) studied a cohort of equally gifted young adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the life accomplishments of equally gifted young adolescents by age 40.
- To investigate the role of differential ability strengths in predicting developmental trajectories.
- To understand the factors contributing to noteworthy achievements in profoundly gifted individuals.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking 259 young adolescents identified as highly gifted by Duke TIP.
- Analysis of educational, occupational, and creative accomplishments by age 40.
- Examination of the relationship between differential ability patterns and life outcomes.
Main Results:
- By age 40, 37% of participants earned doctorates, 7.5% achieved academic tenure, and 9% held patents.
- Participants demonstrated extraordinary life accomplishments, including leadership roles in major organizations.
- Differential ability strengths were found to predict distinct developmental trajectories, even among individuals with superior mathematical and verbal reasoning skills.
Conclusions:
- Profoundly gifted individuals exhibit extraordinary life accomplishments.
- Individual differences in ability patterns significantly influence developmental paths.
- While high ability is necessary, commitment and opportunity are crucial for achieving noteworthy accomplishments.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Gene-Environment Interactions
1.5K
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
1.5K
01:23Extrasensory Perception
1.1K
Extrasensory perception, or ESP, suggests the ability to perceive events beyond the conventional senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Parapsychologists, who research ESP and related psychic phenomena, categorize ESP into three main types: precognition, telepathy, and clairvoyance.
Precognition involves foreseeing future events, such as predicting an accident before it happens. An example of precognition could be someone dreaming about a specific event, like a car crash, which then occurs...
Precognition involves foreseeing future events, such as predicting an accident before it happens. An example of precognition could be someone dreaming about a specific event, like a car crash, which then occurs...
1.1K
01:20Multiple Intelligences Theory
9.3K
Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligence proposes that there are nine distinct types of intelligence, each reflecting different ways of interacting with the world. Introduced in 1983 and expanded in subsequent years, Gardner's framework challenges the traditional notion of a single, generalized intelligence.
9.3K
01:12What Are Outliers?
5.5K
Outliers are observed data points that are far from the least squares line. They have unusual values and need to be examined carefully. Though an outlier may result from erroneous data, at other times, it may hold valuable information about the population under study and should be included in the data. Hence, it is crucial to examine what causes a data point to be an outlier.
The z score is used to find outliers or unusual values. It should be noted that any values beyond -2 and +2 are...
The z score is used to find outliers or unusual values. It should be noted that any values beyond -2 and +2 are...
5.5K
01:23Wechsler's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence
2.3K
David Wechsler, a psychologist who worked with World War I veterans, developed a significant IQ test in 1939 called the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale. This test was innovative because it combined several subtests that measured both verbal and nonverbal skills, reflecting Wechsler's belief that intelligence is a global capacity involving purposeful action, rational thinking, and effective interaction with the environment. This test later evolved into the Wechsler Adult Intelligence...
2.3K
01:26Desirable Characteristics in Others
187
Various factors, including the type of relationship, gender, and duration of the relationship, influence the perception of desirable characteristics in others. While certain traits such as trustworthiness, cooperativeness, agreeableness, and extraversion are universally valued across all relationships, other characteristics are context-dependent and gain prominence based on specific relational dynamics.Universal and Context-Dependent TraitsTrustworthiness and cooperativeness are fundamental...
187