Asynchronous Affective Development
Asynchrony
A seven year old gifted student in second grade may have an intellectual ability equivalent to a 10-year-old, and be able to read on a fifth grade level, but may behave like a six year old at times. Just because a gifted student may have exceptional intellectual maturity does not mean that he always displays emotional maturity!
Additional points regarding asynchrony:
- Disparities between their intellectual, physical (fine motor) and emotional abilities.
- Amplified by large discrepancies between a child’s strengths and weaknesses in twice-exceptional students and exceptionally (highly) gifted students.
- Uneven development and feeling out of step with social norms.
- Years between 4-9 are most likely to be beset with problems with asynchronous development.
- Inability to emotionally handle some information they receive/are exposed to.
Affective Development Definition
Giftedness is……
asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm.
This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity, rendering gifted learners vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching, and counseling in order for them to develop optimally.