A 4W Model of Wisdom and Giftedness in Wisdom

ABSTRACT

We propose that wisdom should be considered in understanding, identifying, and developing skills of thought translated into action in gifted children and adults. First, we review some of the history of the gifted field and conclude that ideas about understanding, identification, and instruction are largely obsolete and based on assumptions that might have seemed valid in the early 20th century but that now are known not to be. Second, we discuss wisdom—what it is and how it is structured. Third, we discuss different kinds of wisdom and why they matter. We further discuss “4W’s” of wisdom. Fourth, we discuss the role of wisdom in the identification of gifted individuals. Fifth and finally, we conclude that our emphasis in the understanding, identification, and development of gifted individuals needs to be expanded to include wisdom, and certainly not just IQ.

KEYWORDS:

• balance theory of wisdom
• creativity
• giftedness
• intelligence
• Iranian model
• polyhedron model of wisdom
• wisdom

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robert J. Sternberg

Robert J. Sternberg is Professor of Human Development in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University and Honorary Professor of Psychology at Heidelberg University, Germany, and Past President of the American Psychological Association. Sternberg’s BA is from Yale University summa cum laude, his PhD is from Stanford University, and he holds 13 honorary doctorates. Sternberg has won James and Cattell Awards from the APS. He has won both the Torrance Award and the Distinguished Scholar Award from the NAGC. He also is the winner of the Grawemeyer Award in Psychology (2018). He has been cited over 200,000 times. Email: [email protected]

Sareh Karami

Sareh Karami is an assistant professor of Educational Psychology at Mississippi State University. Karami earned her doctorate in Educational Studies from Purdue University. Sareh received her bachelor’s and first master’s in clinical psychology from the University of Tehran. She served as the head of the research and extracurricular programs department in the Iranian gifted school for more than 10 years. Sareh left her job to do more graduate work in education at the University of British Columbia, Canada, where she received her second master’s in education. She has developed two theories of wisdom. She has published several articles on wisdom, creativity, and intelligence. Email: [email protected]