To glow and stay connected: Gifted children and Gestalt

"Abstract: This article is based on a presentation delivered at the Roots IV Conference in Hungary, 2009. It explores the special world of gifted children and the unique stresses and challenges they face. A central challenge is finding a balance between their natural wish to stand out and show the world their special knowledge and abilities, alongside their wish to integrate, to belong and be accepted by their peers. This paper conceptualises a Gestalt view of the dilemmas faced by gifted children and relates these to the Gestalt concept of shame. Case material from Gestalt groups facilitated by the author concludes the paper. Key words: gifted children, giftedness, gifted education, overexcitabilities, polarities, shame, school."