Overexcitabilities: A Key Overexcitabilities: A Key to Understanding Your to Understanding Your

Gifted PersonalityGifted PersonalityBased on…Based on…

Dabrowski’s Theory of Dabrowski’s Theory of OverexcitabilitiesOverexcitabilities

OEQ-IIOEQ-II

Please complete the Overexcitabilities Please complete the Overexcitabilities Questionaire IIQuestionaire II

Advanced Education ServicesAdvanced Education Services

Goal 3: Socio-Emotional Guidance Goal 3: Socio-Emotional Guidance AES will recognize and nurture the unique socio-AES will recognize and nurture the unique socio-

emotional development of gifted learners. emotional development of gifted learners.

IEP Goals and ObjectivesIEP Goals and Objectives Goal B: You will demonstrate an understanding of Goal B: You will demonstrate an understanding of

Overexcitabilities and the impact these have on Overexcitabilities and the impact these have on your school success as measured by the following your school success as measured by the following objectives:objectives: 1. You will give a brief oral description of each of the 5 1. You will give a brief oral description of each of the 5

Overexcitabilities.Overexcitabilities. 2. After taking the OEQII, you will describe your primary 2. After taking the OEQII, you will describe your primary

Overexcitabilitie(s).Overexcitabilitie(s). 3. You will assess and describe the impact of your primary 3. You will assess and describe the impact of your primary

and secondary Overexcitabilities (both positive and and secondary Overexcitabilities (both positive and negative) on your school success.negative) on your school success.

4. You will list at least three strategies for coping with the4. You will list at least three strategies for coping with the problematic issues of your Overexcitabilities. problematic issues of your Overexcitabilities.

Overexcitabilities/Overexcitabilities/Supersensitivities/Supersensitivities/

SuperstimulatabilitiesSuperstimulatabilities

A consistent over-reaction to external and internal stimuli in a variety of domains.

Translation!Translation!

Some individuals tend to reactSome individuals tend to react more more stronglystrongly than average to things that happen than average to things that happen to them.to them.

Some individuals tend to react to these Some individuals tend to react to these things things for a longer timefor a longer time than average. than average.

Remember…Remember…

These reactions are a part of the physical and These reactions are a part of the physical and mental make-up of the individual.mental make-up of the individual.

Such individuals do not react this way Such individuals do not react this way on on purpose.purpose.

This is simply a part of This is simply a part of who they are.who they are.

PSYCHOMOTORPSYCHOMOTOR

PSYCHOMOTORPSYCHOMOTOROVEREXCITABILITYOVEREXCITABILITY

Heightened excitability of the neuromuscular Heightened excitability of the neuromuscular systemsystem

Capacity for being active and energeticCapacity for being active and energetic Love of movement for its own sakeLove of movement for its own sake Organic surplus of energyOrganic surplus of energy Psychomotor expression of emotional tensionPsychomotor expression of emotional tension

SENSUALSENSUAL

SENSUAL SENSUAL OVEREXCITABILITYOVEREXCITABILITY

Heightened experience of Heightened experience of sensual pleasure or displeasuresensual pleasure or displeasure

Sensual expression and outlets Sensual expression and outlets for emotional tensionfor emotional tension

Appreciation for aesthetic Appreciation for aesthetic pleasurespleasures

INTELLECTUALINTELLECTUAL

INTELLECTUAL INTELLECTUAL OVEREXCITABILITYOVEREXCITABILITY

Heightened need to seek understanding Heightened need to seek understanding and truthand truth

Intensified activity of the mindIntensified activity of the mind Penchant for probing questions; Penchant for probing questions;

Problem solvingProblem solving Preoccupation with logic, theoretical Preoccupation with logic, theoretical

thinking and development of new thinking and development of new conceptsconcepts

IMAGINATIONALIMAGINATIONAL

IMAGINATIONAL IMAGINATIONAL OVEREXCITABILITYOVEREXCITABILITY

Heightened play of the imaginationHeightened play of the imagination Rich association of images and Rich association of images and

impressionsimpressions Spontaneous imagery as an expression Spontaneous imagery as an expression

of emotional tensionof emotional tension Capacity for living in a world of Capacity for living in a world of

fantasyfantasy

EMOTIONALEMOTIONAL

EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL OVEREXCITABILITYOVEREXCITABILITY

Heightened, intense positive and negative Heightened, intense positive and negative feelingsfeelings

Somatic expressionsSomatic expressions Strong affective expressionsStrong affective expressions Capacity for deep relationshipsCapacity for deep relationships Well differentiated feelings toward selfWell differentiated feelings toward self

Overexcitabilities are…Overexcitabilities are…

Great!Great! Exciting!Exciting! Fulfilling!Fulfilling!

Challenging!Challenging! Troublesome!Troublesome! Painful!Painful!

Questions to Think AboutQuestions to Think About

Think of times when you have been strongly affected by what others Think of times when you have been strongly affected by what others think of you or when you have compared yourself to others.think of you or when you have compared yourself to others.

Think of those situations that cause strong doubt. The situations Think of those situations that cause strong doubt. The situations should involve the way you struggle with yourself (for example, should involve the way you struggle with yourself (for example, dealing with your beliefs, feelings, or abilities).dealing with your beliefs, feelings, or abilities).

Recall times when you have felt inadequate, unworthy, or not-good-Recall times when you have felt inadequate, unworthy, or not-good-enough.enough.

Consider those situations when you have felt like there was most Consider those situations when you have felt like there was most difference between what difference between what isis and what and what ought to be ought to be or the most or the most difference between what difference between what was was and what and what should have been should have been in yourself.in yourself.

Think of your "ideal self" and those qualities that you think are best Think of your "ideal self" and those qualities that you think are best for an ideal life. What attributes have you most dreamed of having?for an ideal life. What attributes have you most dreamed of having?

HomeworkHomework

Take home a parent letter and permission for Take home a parent letter and permission for assessment.assessment.

See you next weekSee you next week