Stress and Intelligence: Understanding and Encouraging the Exceptionally Gifted and Talented Learners to Cope with Stress

Abstract

Human beings display a vast range of intellectual abilities and the greater the degree of a person's intellectual difference, the greater the discomfort, such an intellect seems to bring to his or her world, and the world responds by creating discomfort for the individual. Thus, the gifted learners are vulnerable in a society that cannot accept differences, and they are often faced with stress of different kinds. The paper, examines some developmental and behavioural factors leading to stress among the gifted learners. It recommends ways on how parents, teachers and counsellors can reduce stress on gifted students by encouraging flexibility, appropriate behaviour, and thereby assisting the gifted students to develop a realistic and accurate self-concept.