Meta-Theoretical Conceptions of Giftedness

Ziegler and Heller’s meta-theoretical model of giftedness was a significant step forward in placing the study of giftedness on a firm theoretical and experimental foundation. Termed the critical state view of giftedness (CSG), it provided a clear experimental basis for the study of giftedness, including the ontological relationship between the various components leading to achievement eminence (AE) and a framework to test the relationship between the components and AE. This chapter describes the essential features of the CSG and ends with a framework by which the conceptions of giftedness described in this book can begin to be tested. The prototype of giftedness in the field of medicine, for example, contains the characteristic attributes of the examples within the field. In some cultures, there is a strong relationship between spirituality and giftedness.