"All it takes to be gifted is hard work. Those
gifted children are such high achievers; that’s why they do so well in school. Their
parents push them; that’s how they’ve gotten so far." Comments like these are pervasive, and overheard in schools, neighborhoods, and online discussions.
The accomplishments of gifted
children are often falsely attributed to overachievement. The notion is that mastery primarily stems from overachievement rather than innate ability. These children are
viewed as serious and goal-directed, their efforts driven by hard work, parental
coaching or outside pressure. This view is held by both parents and teachers alike
who fail to grasp the meaning of giftedness.
The media and recent
bestsellers have perpetuated this belief. Amy Chua’s “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” described a parent’s effort to encourage
achievement at all costs, and Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers: The Story of Success” proposes that hard work and
practice are more critical to success than innate ability. The backlash against
ability grouping in schools further highlights the assumption that we are all
alike; if we just try hard enough, are pushed relentlessly, or are exposed to
an egalitarian classroom setting, we have an equal shot at excellence.
Yet, gifted individuals are different. With
IQ scores at least two standard deviations above the norm, they not only
acquire knowledge more rapidly, they think more divergently and with more
complexity, and possess a range of emotional traits, such as heightened sensitivities.
These are innate characteristics;
they are unrelated to achievement or
success. While many gifted individuals actually work passionately and
diligently at what they pursue, this stems from an intrinsic desire to learn, create,
or perfect what is meaningful to them. Internally motivated, if a topic sparks
their interest, they will persevere. Otherwise, they may turn in a
lackluster or even inadequate performance. In fact, many gifted individuals are
underachievers who fail to live up to their potential. Confusing overachieving
with giftedness diminishes the needs of gifted children, and overlooks the many
underachieving or minimally challenged students misperceived as successful due
to their adequate or even exceptional grades
.
So, what’s wrong with overachievement?
Some gifted children
are overachievers, just like children who are not gifted. Highly motivated
children and adults who strive to achieve their goals are driven, ambitious, and
hard-working. They learn discipline and focus, and set high standards for themselves.
These are necessary qualities in successful adults, and certainly admirable in
children. Yet, the concept of overachieving
implies going above and beyond what is expected and necessary. Overachievement
in children often stems from outside pressure, a need to please others, or
underlying insecurity. While they may experience a fleeting sense of
accomplishment, when the excitement quickly fades, they feel compelled to pursue
the next challenge. Their self-worth rests on validation from others, being the
best, or gaining recognition. This may lead to burnout, extreme perfectionism,
or feelings of despair when goals are not met.
The emotional burden
that comes from overachievement is too high a price to pay. Although playing by
the rules, healthy competition, and striving toward an external goal are all
necessary learning experiences, they fail to instill an intrinsic drive. Harsh demands, unrealistic goals, and excessive coercion pressure children to achieve beyond what is developmentally appropriate. Encouragement
to achieve in a supportive, challenging, stimulating learning environment is
the most effective tool for enhancing any child’s academic success. It fuels
intrinsic curiosity about learning, and avoids the pitfalls of achieving merely
to conform, gain approval and bolster self-esteem. Finding this balance should foster
continued academic success and interest in learning.
Chua, Amy. (2011).
Battle hymn of the tiger mother. Penguin Group: New York.
Gladwell, Malcolm.
(2011). Outliers: The story of success. Little, Brown & Co.: New York.