The Truth about Overexcitabilities

What is overexcitability (OE)? Is there empirical evidence that gifted

children and adults have greater OE? Does OE portray gifted children as
emotionally needy and peculiar? Why is the concept controversial? Can we
distinguish OE from AD/HD, sensory processing disorder, and other
issues? How should we respond to OEs?

We are in a unique position at GDC/ISAD to answer these questions. We

have been studying overexcitability since 1980, shortly after the concept
was introduced in gifted education. We create and distribute the
instruments to assess OE and guide research.

What is overexcitability?

The concept of OE was a gift from Kazimierz Dabrowski, a Polish

psychiatrist and psychologist, as part of his Theory of Positive
Disintegration. OE is a greater neural capacity to respond to stimuli. It is
the zing you experience when you are with certain people who seem to
radiate excitement.

Dabowski identified 5 OEs: psychomotor abundance of physical

energy; sensual heightened responses of the senses and aesthetic
appreciation; imaginational capacity for fantasy; intellectual
curiosity and aliveness of the mind; emotional sensitivity, intensity,
empathy.

Is there empirical evidence that gifted children and adults have

greater OE?

Yes, a considerable amount of research has been conducted since 1980,

and new studies are published frequently. The OEQ-II has been translated
into 7 different language groups and 14 languages. Numerous studies have
explored the relationship between giftedness and OEs. All show that the
OEs differentiate between gifted and nongifted in a variety of ways.
The concept of overexcitability is statistically robust. It has been validated
in several factor analytic studies. Reliabilities of the OEs range from .73 to
.83, which is quite high (Silverman, Falk & Miller, 2015).

Large-scale studies of the Big Five Personality Theory have found high
correlations between intelligence and Openness to Experience. Intellectual,
imaginational, emotional and sensual OE bear strong resemblance to
Ideas, Fantasy, Feelings, and the Aesthetic facets of Openness to
Experience (Gallagher, 2013).

Does OE portray gifted children as emotionally needy and

peculiar?

No, not at all. OEs are primarily positive sources of energy. It is a

misunderstanding of the over in overexcitability to represent OE as a
burden or a deficit of some kind. The term literally means
superstimulatability of the nervous system. The OEs can be thought of as
an abundance of physical, sensual, creative, intellectual and emotional
energy.

Why is the concept controversial?

There are many misunderstandings. OEs are not signs of disturbance. OEs
should not be used as excuses for bad behavior. A child can have OEs and
AD/HD; they are not mutually exclusive. Some OE enthusiasts
inadvertently overlook real issues that could be helped by interventions.
Some proclaim that discussion of OEs will obscure diagnosis of disabilities
and prevent a child from getting accommodations, but many respected
diagnosticians of twice exceptional children also assess and discuss OEs.

In addition, there are theoretical squabbles. OEs are innate, suggesting

that gifted children are wired differently. Those who define giftedness as
achievement motivation believe that it is the result of effort rather than
innate differences. Some believe that OEs are not measurable. Others
contend that if something hasnt been measured with control groups, it
doesnt exist.
Can we distinguish OE from AD/HD, sensory processing
disorder, and other issues?

Yes. Much of the controversy can be resolved by recognizing the OEs as

positive signs of developmental potential. While there are some negative
manifestations of the OEs, there are far more positive than negative
descriptors (Piechowski, 1979; 2013). Abundant physical energy, deep
aesthetic appreciation, capacity for fantasy, intellectual curiosity and
profound empathythe hallmarks of overexcitabilitydo not require
correction.

Negative aspects of OE require further evaluation to rule out

overlapping symptoms.

Anxiety, mood swings, unusual activity level, distractibility, feeling easily

overwhelmed, discomfort with certain textures, social withdrawal or lack of
cooperation may have many other causes. OEs can co-exist with any
disability. Children can have OEs along with AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome,
manic depression, sensory processing disorder, social phobia, and many
other issues. It is essential to rule out any other possible causes of
problematic behavior, rather than just attributing it to OEs.

How should we respond to OEs?

Appreciation

Allow movement in learning

Create a beautiful environment

Give children experiences in nature

Provide a quiet place to retreat

Employ fantasy and imagination

Mindfulness training
 Community service projects

Challenging work (Silverman, 2015)

Overexcitabilities are alive and well, describe the richness of experience of

the gifted individual, and are to be celebrated.

REFERENCES

Gallagher, S. A. (2013). Building bridges: Research on gifted childrens

personalities from three perspectives. In C. S. Neville, M. M. Piechowski, &
S. S. Tolan (Eds.). Off the charts: Asynchrony and the gifted child (pp. 48-
98). Unionville, NY: Royal Fireworks Press.

Piechowski, M. M. (1979). Developmental potential. In N. Colangelo & R.

T. Zaffrann (Eds.), New voices in counseling the gifted (pp. 25-57).
Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.

Piechowski, M. M. (2013). A bird who can soar: Overexcitabilities in the

gifted. In C. S. Neville, M. M. Piechowski, & S. S. Tolan (Eds.). Off the
charts: Asynchrony and the gifted child (pp. 99-122). Unionville, NY:
Royal Fireworks Press.

Silverman, L. K. (2015, October). Overexcitabilities: Myth, realizations

and new research. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Colorado
Association for the Gifted/Talented. Loveland, CO.

Silverman, L. K., Falk, R. F., & Miller, N. B. (2015, November).

Overexcitabilities: Verifying the inner worlds of the gifted globally. Paper
presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Gifted
Children, Phoenix, AZ.