Overexcitabilities Contributing to Perceived Argumentativeness
Gifted individuals often face a unique set of challenges and perceptions, one of which is being labeled as argumentative. This perception, however, often stems from a deeper misunderstanding of their inherent intellectual intensity, emotional depth, and vivid imagination.
Understanding the reasons behind this behavior is crucial for appreciating the complexity of giftedness.
This article delves into the overexcitabilities that contribute to this perception, exploring how intellectual, emotional, imaginational, and psychomotor traits can make gifted individuals seem more argumentative.
By highlighting these aspects, we hope to create a better understanding of the gifted mind and encourage more supportive interactions. It’s important to reduce the misunderstandings that often come with their intense nature. Understanding what makes gifted individuals tick can help us connect with them better and support them in ways that truly matter.
Intellectual Overexcitability
A gifted person might be perceived as argumentative due to their strong drive for intellectual engagement and deep-seated curiosity, often stemming from their intellectual overexcitability. This overexcitability fuels a relentless pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking, and a desire to explore various perspectives in depth.
When engaged in conversations or debates, they might question assumptions, challenge ideas, and seek detailed explanations, which can come across as argumentative to others who may not share the same level of intensity or interest in the topic.
This passion for intellectual debate can be misinterpreted as argumentative behavior, especially when others perceive their questioning as a challenge to their knowledge or beliefs.
Emotional Overexcitability
The emotional intensity of gifted individuals can amplify their reactions during discussions. If they feel strongly about a topic, their passion and emotional investment can make their arguments seem more forceful or confrontational.
Their deep empathy might also lead them to advocate strongly for issues they care about, which can be seen as argumentative by those who are less emotionally engaged.
Imaginational Overexcitability
With a rich and vivid imagination, individuals with imaginational OE may envision numerous possibilities and alternatives during a discussion.
They might present multiple hypothetical scenarios or creative solutions, which can overwhelm or frustrate others, leading to perceptions of being argumentative.
Psychomotor Overexcitability
High energy levels and an intense need for activity can make individuals with psychomotor OE more animated and persistent in their arguments.
Their restlessness and drive to engage can come across as insistent or domineering in conversations, contributing to the perception of argumentativeness.
Overall, the combination of these overexcitabilities can create a dynamic where gifted individuals are seen as argumentative, even when their intent is simply to engage deeply and passionately with the subject at hand.
Building Resilience in Gifted Adults: 10 Key Strategies
Here are 10 tips for gifted people to cope with daily challenges:
Reflect and Understand Yourself
Take time to reflect on your behaviors and interactions. Keep a journal to track your thoughts and emotions and learn about the different types of overexcitabilities to understand how they affect you.
Practice Mindfulness
Incorporate mindfulness exercises like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga into your daily routine. These practices can help you manage stress and maintain emotional balance.
Improve Communication Skills
Practice active listening to improve understanding and reduce misunderstandings. Use assertive communication techniques, such as “I” statements, to express your thoughts and feelings without sounding confrontational.
Seek Support Groups
Join groups or communities where you can share experiences and support each other. Connecting with others who understand your challenges can provide a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation.
Find Safe Spaces
Identify trusted friends, and family members, a therapist or coach, where you can openly discuss your thoughts and feelings. Having a safe space to express yourself is crucial for emotional well-being.
Pursue Balanced Activities
Engage in hobbies and activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Having an outlet for your energy and creativity is crucial for maintaining mental and emotional health. Balance intense intellectual pursuits with physical exercise and leisure activities to ensure overall well-being. This balance helps prevent burnout and provides a much-needed break from constant mental stimulation, allowing you to recharge and stay focused.
Set Realistic Goals
Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Setting realistic goals helps maintain focus and motivation, making tasks feel more achievable.
Manage Your Time
Practice effective time management techniques to balance different interests and responsibilities. Prioritize tasks and create schedules to ensure you allocate time for both work and relaxation.
Seek Professional Help
Consider seeking help from a therapist or coach who specializes in working with gifted individuals. Experts can provide tailored strategies for managing overexcitabilities and emotional intensity.
Cultivate Resilience
Practice positive self-talk to build self-esteem and counteract negative perceptions.
Focus on your strengths and achievements and develop adaptability and flexibility to handle change and challenges more effectively.
By following these tips, you can better manage the unique challenges of being gifted, improve your well-being, and foster healthier relationships.
Notes on the Author
Ilse Gevaert is a psychologist and coach with expertise in neurodiversity (ASD and ADHD), giftedness, trauma, narcissistic abuse, and resilience. Ilse continued her education at prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Cornell, where she obtained leadership certificates that have informed her practice.
Read More
Building Mental Health Resilience
Giftedness and The Power of Intensity
Giftedness and Anxiety: Struggles of Exceptional Minds
Unraveling the Complexity of Giftedness: Beyond IQ-Scores and Academic Achievement
10 Effective Time Management Strategies for Individuals with ADHD
References
Dabrowski, K. (1964). Positive disintegration. Boston: Little, Brown.
Dąbrowski, Kazimierz (1996). Multilevelness of emotional and instinctive functions. Part 1: Theory and description of levels of behavior. Towarzystwo Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego.
Gatto-Walden, Patricia (2017). Embracing the Whole Gifted Self. Royal Fireworks Publishing Co, Inc. Unionville, New York.
Piechowski, M. M. (1999). Overexcitabilities. In M. Runco & S. Pritzker (Eds.), Encyclopedia of creativity (Vol. 2, pp. 325-334). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Silverman, L. K. (2013). Giftedness 101. New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826107985
