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2.7.4 Am I Different? Exploring Gifted Identity Formation through a Lens of Difference
Identity development is a vital component of human experience. This study investigated whether gifted children enter identity development stages at a younger age than their peers and whether giftedness brings with it a sense of difference. Successful identity development often leaves gifted individuals with strong convictions and purpose in life, whereas failure to navigate these challenges may bring uncertainty and underachievement. Parents’ perceptions of gifted children’s experience of giftedness in Western Australia were collected by contextual and self-perception questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews was completed to identity themes that impact the gifted individual’s sense of difference.