Children who are labelled as gifted at an early age can experience emotional problems as a result of adult expectations, according to research presented by Professor Joan Freeman at the British Psychological Society conference. For the past 27 years she has followed the lives of 200 children aged between five and 14 into adulthood. For her study, the progress of children whose parents belonged to the National Association for Gifted Children was compared with that of children of equal ability, who were not labelled 'gifted'. As they grew up the 'gifted' children often conformed to their parents' expectations of their 'odd behaviour' and unhappiness.
Children who are labelled as gifted at an early age can experience emotional problems as a result of adult expectations, according to research presented by Professor Joan Freeman at the British Psychological Society conference. For the past 27 years she has followed the lives of 200 children aged between five and 14 into adulthood. For her study, the progress of children whose parents belonged to the National Association for Gifted Children was compared with that of children of equal ability, who were not labelled 'gifted'. As they grew up the 'gifted' children often conformed to their parents' expectations of their 'odd behaviour' and unhappiness.
