Giftedness: A diagnosis to fear?

The topic of giftedness is still a taboo in Switzerland. Parents and children suffer as a result, says Giselle Reimann. She carries out assessments of gifted children at the University of Basel.

Mrs Reimann, how do I recognise that my child is gifted?

Very often, gifted children have an enormous thirst for knowledge. They are very interested in various topics. They also have a very good grasp of things and can draw conclusions surprisingly quickly. However, there are also gifted children who appear very slow to the outside world. Because they think a lot and consider a lot before they say anything at all.

So it's not so easy to recognise giftedness without a doubt?

No, especially in the case of so-called underachievers, children who don't show their potential, don't get good grades, don't speak up in class, it is sometimes not immediately recognisable that they are highly gifted.

How bad is it when gifted children are not recognised as such?

This can be problematic. We often end up with families where this has led to difficulties. If a child is constantly working at a level that is actually far too low, they can't be proud of what they do, they are simply bored and disappointed with their own achievements. This can have a negative impact on self-esteem and, in the worst cases, can lead to serious psychological problems or behavioural problems.

Many parents are afraid of the diagnosis «gifted»

So should children always be checked when in doubt?

It doesn't always need to be clarified. But if the child is suffering, I would highly recommend it. A thorough assessment can answer many of the parents' questions and, above all, identify possible solutions to defuse the situation.

Dossier: Giftedness

Als hochbegabt gilt ein Kind, wenn es einen IQ von mehr als 130 Punkten hat. Was bedeutet dies für seine schulische Laufbahn? Und wie muss es gefördert werden?
A child is considered gifted if they have an IQ of more than 130 points. What does this mean for their school career? And how should they be supported? Answers and background information on the topic of giftedness in our large dossier.

How do parents react to the diagnosis «gifted»?

Many people believe that parents come for an assessment to prove that their child is gifted and are then very proud. In reality, however, the vast majority are afraid of this diagnosis. They are afraid of the stigma they could face as parents,
for example, if they approach the school and say: «My child is gifted and needs special support.» It really is still a taboo. Some parents keep the diagnosis a secret. They do an assessment, but keep the results to themselves.

Is that what parents do?

Yes, that happens. I very much regret that. After all, an assessment is not just about identifying giftedness, but above all about finding out how the child's everyday life can be improved. We look at what individual solutions are available that suit the family. However, these must then be implemented, otherwise an assessment is of little use. Care must also be taken to ensure that the family does not develop a «fixed mindset», i.e. a belief that the high level of talent must now manifest itself in high performance without any effort.

«Gifted children usually cope very well socially and emotionally.»

Do we Swiss have a problem with outstanding performance? Do we prefer to be average?

Absolutely. A lot of research on the subject of giftedness comes from the US, and there it is much more natural for performance to spiral upwards. We don't like to see that here. In Switzerland, we want everyone to be treated equally. That's a nice idea in principle, but it doesn't do everyone justice.

There is a myth that gifted people are intellectually strong but socially weak. What role do such prejudices play in dealing with the topic?

They play a major role. This myth in particular is very persistent. I hear it again and again from parents, teachers and children themselves. But it has been scientifically refuted. It has been shown that gifted children usually cope very well socially and emotionally. However, a child who spends a long time in an unsuitable environment can develop emotional problems. This can happen, for example, if they are not well supported or if they are rejected by other children because of their giftedness.
Image: Pexels

About the person:

Giselle Reimann ist stellvertretende Leiterin des Zentrums für Entwicklungs- und Persönlichkeitspsychologie an der   Universität Basel. Sie ist unter anderem auf die Abklärung und Beratung von Hochbegabten spezialisiert.
Giselle Reimann is deputy head of the Centre for Developmental and Personality Psychology at the University of Basel. Among other things, she specialises in the assessment and counselling of gifted children.

Individual articles:

  • Zwei hochbegabte Kinder erzählen aus ihrem Alltag. Die Eltern von Ella wünschen sich für ihr hochbegabtes Kind eine möglichst normale Schullaufbahn. Juri ist höchstbegabt und stellt damit selbst in der Minderheit der Hochbegabten eine Ausnahme dar. 
  • «Intelligenz wirkt auf viele bedrohlich», sagt die die Intelligenzforscherin Elsbeth Stern.
  • Helle Köpfe, dunkle Aussichten? Drei Mythen über Hochbegabung. Über angebliche Persönlichkeitseigenschaften und Verhaltensweisen Hochbegabter existieren zahlreiche Mythen. Wir haben uns drei davon genauer angesehen.
  • Hochbegabung: Die meisten Eltern fürchten sich vor der Diagnose. Das Thema Hochbegabung ist in der Schweiz noch ein Tabu. Darunter leiden Eltern und Kinder, sagt Giselle Reimann. Sie führt an der Uni Basel Abklärungen von Hochbegabten durch.

Dossier Hochbegabung: 

  • Als hochbegabt gilt ein Kind, wenn es einen IQ von mehr als 130 Punkten hat. Was bedeutet dies für seine schulische Laufbahn? Und wie muss es gefördert werden? Antworten und ­Hintergründe zum Thema Hochbegabung in unserem grossen Dossier.