Which thinking processes are characteristic of gifted children?

The characteristic thinking processes of gifted children often include questioning ability and insight. Gifted children typically demonstrate a high level of curiosity, leading them to ask profound questions that reflect their desire to understand the world more deeply. This questioning ability allows them to explore concepts in more complexity compared to their peers. Insight, on the other hand, refers to their capacity to connect ideas and see patterns or solutions that others may miss, often leading to innovative and creative approaches to problems.

While divergent problem solving—an essential aspect of creativity—is a typical trait of many gifted individuals, the idea of low frustration tolerance does not accurately capture the resilience that many gifted children exhibit when faced with challenging problems. Similarly, convergent problem solving and narcissism fail to represent the collaborative nature and empathy often seen in gifted learners. Therefore, questioning ability and insight better encapsulate the cognitive strengths and social-emotional attributes found in gifted children.