Men, Gifted

Although research studies of gifted boys are limited in number, studies of gifted men are even more scarce. Since the 1920s, when Lewis Terman sought to change the lens through which society viewed giftedness, few researchers have examined the life experiences of gifted males beyond their secondary school and collegiate years. This group deserves greater attention in order to better understand the intellectual and emotional needs of this population. A review of literature uncovered only two recent studies, described below.

A 2001 study examined the adult experiences of 13 men who were enrolled in a gifted program in the early 1960s. They were selected for the program in the fourth grade because their scores on a variety of instruments indicated very high academic potential. At the ...