A Polish psychiatrist and psychologist named Kazimierz Dabrowski came up with the idea of “overexcitability” as part of his Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD). Overexcitability refers to the increased neuronal ability to react to inputs. We will discuss the best approach to overexcitability in a gifted child.
It’s the zing you get when you’re among some individuals who appear to exude enthusiasm and the intensity you see in the eyes of the introspective seeker. Overexcitability is part of a more extensive theory and an essential part of Dabrowski’s Theory of Personality Disorders (TPD).
The Gifted Development Center/Institute for the Study of Advanced Development (GDC/ISAD) is the best place to deal with these issues. We’ve been studying the word “overexcitability” since 1980, when it was first used in gifted education. Dabrowski (1938) created the notion of Overexcitability before developing the theory of TPD.
In this post, we shall address the following questions: What is the overexcitability of a gifted child? The types of Overexcitability? How can parents assist their children suffering from it?
What exactly is Overexcitability?
Overexcitability in a gifted child?
Overexcitabilities are innate intensities that indicate a more remarkable ability to react to stimuli. Overexcitabilities are more common in creative and talented people. They show increased sensitivity, alertness, and intensity, indicating a significant change in how life works and the quality of experiences.
One or more of these may be present in a person. “Someone overexcited in more than one way sees reality in a new, stronger, and more complex way.” The one-of-a-kind way of experiencing the world brings great pleasure and pain.
Is Your Child Overexcitable?
Kazimierz Dabrowski, a psychologist, coined the word “overexcitability” to describe the natural tendency to react more and more strongly to things that happen in life. He felt that certain people were genetically inclined to have more profound life experiences.
So, suppose your kid has more energy than his companions, robust emotional responses, severe reactions, an excessive appetite for information, and a vibrant fantasy world. In that case, he may experience one or more episodes of hyperactivity.
When developing the theory of positive disintegration, Dabrowski discovered five significant areas of Overexcitability. Overexcitabilities do not affect all talented children, but they are more common in the gifted community than in any other.
Dabrowski says that gifted children and adults can have one or more of these traits and that people with more than one have a different way of seeing the world. They have a more robust and diverse experience of the world than others. Dabrowski defines five types of overexcitability as psychomotor, sensory, emotional, intellectual, and imaginative. I’ll provide tips for helping your gifted child make the most of the qualities they have. Just keep reading.
What Are The Five Types Of Overexcitabilities
Kazimierz Dabrowski found five types of “overexcitability” that he thought were strongly linked to giftedness: intellectual, psychomotor, imaginative, sensual, and emotional. On the other hand, a gifted child with these five overexcitabilities finds it hard to work in the classroom.
There are five types of overexcitability, as discussed below:
1. Psychomotor Excitation
An excess of physical energy characterizes psychomotor overexcitability. There is rapid speech, intense physical activity, and fierce competition every day. a gifted child with psychomotor overexcitability appears to have an excess of energy. It can manifest as fidgety behavior, rapid or excessive talking, and overactive physical behavior.
When worried or emotionally tense, a child with psychomotor overexcitability might act anxious, work too much, or do things on the spur of the moment.
Children with this overexcitability are misdiagnosed as having ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Kite children with psychomotor overexcitability have higher-than-normal amounts of energy. The methods in which this manifests itself varies from kid to child, but it may take the form of:
Difficulties sitting still
insomnia, continuous talking or making noise, competition compulsiveness, organizing anxious habits and tics, impulsive behaviour. Some mothers will tell you how they walk downstairs in the morning to discover full-fledged scientific projects or new works of art that their kid worked on in the middle of the night.
So, what happens when several of these OEs coincide with the child’s asynchronous development (the other distinguishing attribute of giftedness)? There are many choices, but one commonest is what many adults call a temper tantrum or an out-of-control reaction, given their age and “the seriousness of the situation.”
Overexcitability in a gifted child: experiencing life more intensely than most gifted children (and adults). Parents, educators, and doctors acquainted with the phrase “overexcitability” often see it as a negative phenomenon, partly due to the word “over” in its name. And also because of the negative ways in which these mannerisms might manifest themselves.
2. Sensual Overexcitability
Individuals with sensory overexcitability have an increased sensitivity to their senses. Those with well-tuned sensory systems may find sensory input repulsive. Children with sensory overexcitability may need earplugs to block out noises and parents to remove clothing tags, and they may even become ill if exposed to an unpleasant odour.
The opposite is also true. A gifted child with sensuous overexcitability may enjoy immense pleasure in music and art. Overeating, going on shopping sprees, and wanting to be the center of attention are all ways to deal with emotional stress. Despite the provocative name, we’re talking about the five senses here.
Children who have sensual overexcitability receive more sensory input than expected. This could manifest as strongly reacting to sounds, light, textures, or tastes. This response could be positive, in which case the student would want to keep feeling the sensation, or negative, in which case the student would try to get away from the stimulus.
3. Imaginational Overexcitability
Students with this overexcitement may daydream, doodle, or occupy their minds while dull teacher drones on. Young students with vivid imaginations may tell stories that appear to be lies (but may not be). My primary school friend used to tell people as a child that she had travelled to different countries. Her stories will compel you to believe that she is indeed a tourist. But she is yet to get an international passport.
.I’ve also heard parents discuss their child having to tell the teacher about their mom’s car when there was no car. What are strange lies for a child? Children grow out of it. We’ve all seen a youngster with an imaginary companion. Many of us may have had one when we were younger.
On the other hand, a gifted child with an overactive overexcitability can take this to an extreme, building a private world that is so detailed and vivid that it can be hard to tell if it is accurate or not. Individuals with this overexcitability enjoy fantasizing and daydreaming.
Overexcitability has very high-intensity levels regarding these kids’ interests and how they react to their environment and daily input. There are five categories of intensities: intellectual, emotional, imaginative, sensory, and psychomotor. Raising a child with such intense and frequent imaginative experiences might be challenging. Having an imaginative overexcitability might also affect peer interactions.
4. Emotional Overexcitability
A gifted child with emotional Overexcitability is susceptible and reactive to feelings and emotions, whether positive or negative. They can form significant attachments to people, locations, animals, etc. Emotionally overexcited students may react unexpectedly emotionally to tragedies, injustices, and reminders of mortality.
To a teacher, they may appear overly dramatic or desperate for attention. On the other hand, these students feel emotions more intensely, whether happy or sad. This sensitivity could manifest as strong compassion, empathy, and concern for others. They may, however, endure acute dread, anxiety, and sadness.
It is rare for a gifted child with emotional overexcitability to be diagnosed with a bipolar illness or other emotional disorders. Emotionally intense children have strong attachments to people, places, and objects. They may be overly concerned or have exceptionally high levels of empathy for their age. Other emotions are also heightened.
Read this article: Social and emotional issues in a gifted child
When they are no longer toddlers and something irritates them or someone harms their emotions, their reactions might seem exaggerated. Friendships become more complicated when you see (and interpret) people’s behavior and the world in general through a different prism than your age peers.
A gifted child who gets too emotional too often may have a stronger sense of what is right and what is wrong. When you see (and interpret) people’s behavior and the world in general through a different lens than your age peers, friendships become more complicated.
One of the many reasons we need to dispel myths about giftedness is that this level of intensity is one of them. Most of us have experienced some of the Overexcitabilities listed above at some point in our lives. However, researchers think Overexcitabilities are intrinsic and present throughout one’s life rather than rare.
According to studies, gifted child and those who excel in one area or are deemed creative, have much more overexcitability than the norm. Overexcitability may be thought of as varying intensities. Even though it might be hard to raise a gifted child with one of these overexcitabilities, it doesn’t mean that the child has a problem or is having trouble.
5. Intellectual Overexcitability
Intellectual overexcitability is characterized by intense curiosity. A gifted child with intellectual overexcitability is smart, interested, and curious. They ask questions that stump you, make connections that amaze you, and come to conclusions that leave your lesson plan in the dust.
They will want to delve deeper into fascinating topics, discuss theoretical concepts, and move through the content faster than they can. This is the most common. Here are some recommendations to help you cope:
- Acquaint yourself and your youngster with overexcitabilities.
- Find out all you can about your child’s overexcitability.
- Educate your youngster that variances are expected and contribute to who we are.
- Emphasize the good aspects of your kid’s overexcitability and assist your youngster in learning to see them as strengths.
- Teach your youngster how to regulate his exuberance.
- Help your youngster recognize the indications of approaching overreaction and role-play alternative responses.
- Learn to embrace your kid for who he is, flaws and all!
- Seen in bright, brilliant youngsters.
Read this article: The therapy for a gifted child here.
They may spend a long time chewing over a notion or idea. Those with intellectual. Here are some recommendations to help you cope:
- Acquaint yourself and your youngster with overexcitabilities.
- Find out all you can about your child’s OE (s).
- Educate your youngster that variances are expected and contribute to who we are.
- Emphasize the good aspects of your kid’s OE(s) and assist your youngster in learning to see them as strengths.
- Teach your youngster how to regulate his exuberance.
- Help your youngster recognize the indications of approaching overreaction and role-play alternative responses.
- Learn to embrace your kid for who he is, flaws and all!
- Are voracious readers, good observers, and very contemplative.
- They may grow irritated if urged to work at a slower rate.
- They may be exceedingly critical at times and question authority.
- Intellectually intense kite kids have a keen sense of curiosity.
- They often like mental challenges like riddles, brainteasers, and strategy games.
- My kid even enjoyed the intelligence tests provided by a school psychologist – so much so that as we were leaving, he kept asking me when he could go back and do more!
In the 1960s, a psychologist named Kazimierz Dabrowski was the first to call this a trait of a gifted child. When it comes to these children’s interests and how they react to their environment, overexcitability has incredibly high degrees of intensity.
Read this article: The therapy for a gifted child
There are five categories of intensities: intellectual, emotional, imaginative, sensory, and psychomotor. What do I mean? Unlike a kid who is a high achiever but not intellectually “gifted,” the intellectually
Here are some recommendations to help you cope:
- Acquaint yourself and your youngster with overexcitabilities.
- Find out all you can about your child’s overexcitabilities.
- Educate your youngster that variances are expected and contribute to who we are.
- Emphasize the good aspects of your kid’s overexcitabilities and assist your youngster in learning to see them as strengths.
- Teach your youngster how to regulate his exuberance.
- Help your youngster recognize the indications of approaching overreaction and role-play alternative responses.
- Learn to embrace your kid for who he is, flaws and all.
When they go for lengthy periods without obtaining or evaluating information, they might feel imprisoned – even despairing. Is there empirical proof that gifted children and adults have higher Overexcitability?
What can parents do to assist their children suffering from Overexcitabilities?
To assist a gifted child suffering from overexcitability, first consider each overexcitability and determine which characteristics best fit the child. Compare the child’s behavior to the characteristics of each type of overexcitability. Be aware that children can have more than one type of excitability, but usually, one is more dominant.
Understanding the neurology underlying your child’s character will better position you to understand and assist the child and also to understand those behaviors, allowing you to help them channel their zeal for good. Are you excited to learn more about Overexcitabilities, how to identify them in your children, and how to help them channel those energies for good?
Also, please take a moment to tell me about your children in the comments section. Understand your child’s intense curiosity and do everything you can to help him learn about what he’s interested in. Encourage their interests while also exposing them to new learning topics. When possible, take your child to museums and aquariums, but also check out local community programs, especially if your child is young.
While the gifted child may be curious and want to learn everything they can, they may need help finding the answers to their questions. Assist them in learning how to do this. This includes finding appropriate websites on the Internet and books at the local library. You and your child could also write down the information needed to answer together.
Conclusion
Our family is rife with what Polish psychologist/psychiatrist Kazimierz Dabrowski refers to as “overexcitabilities.” As I’ve previously said, talented youngsters are likelier to be more intense than their classmates.
This enhanced awareness, sensitivity, and intensity may create obstacles in raising children. The idea that Dabrowski’s five overexcitabilities must be healed is one of the hardest things to get past. Such a strong reaction to the world can be very hard for a gifted child and a parent, but it can also be gratifying.
They may lead to extraordinary accomplishments, inventions, and beautiful creativity. Overexcitabilities should be praised for their positive characteristics. Challenges and bad traits must be used positively to help gifted and driven kids grow and reach their full potent
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