Do Overexcitability and Perfectionism Challenge Gifted Students?: Insights from an Interview Study

This study explores the subjective experiences of gifted adolescents regarding overexcitability and perfectionism through in-depth interviews with 41 male students (7th-10th graders) from a prestigious boys’ school known for academic excellence. Participants described their experiences with selected items from the Gifted with Discordant Feelings (GDF) Checklist, rated associated difficulties, and explained their ratings. The findings revealed generally low difficulty ratings, with students attributing their resilience to personal traits (e.g., skills, strategies) and environmental factors (e.g., supportive peers, teachers). These results highlight the protective role of nurturing environments in managing traits associated with giftedness. Implications will be discussed.