From Past to Present Gifted and Talented: The Evolution of Terminologies

Abstract

The phenomenon of giftedness has been expressed in many different terms with the characteristics of dominant culture since it began to be wondered and studied. While the term giftedness is defined very strictly by adhering to numerical measurements, over time it is defined with a more flexible perspective as types of intelligence tests increased. The concept of giftedness has been a curious subject in various disciplines such as sociology and psychology. The term giftedness consists of three stages. These are; the theological stage, the metaphysical stage, and the experimental stage. Studies in this area date back to Ancient Sparta, Ancient Greece, Renaissance Europe, China, and Japan. Galton and Simon are among the first scientists who studied about giftedness. The phenomenon of giftedness does not have a certain term agreed upon in both literature and law. But terms such as gifted, talented, giftedness, gifted and talented, high ability are used as synonyms interchangeably. In Turkey, the term “special talent” which includes gifted and talented has been used in law since 2013.

Keywords

• Gifted
• Talented
• Giftedness
• Gifted and talented
• Intelligence

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