As part of the first phase of a longitudinal study, interviews were conducted with nine high school seniors who had demonstrated high creative productivity while participating in an elementary Talented and Gifted program. Commonly experienced were a desire for creative outlets in high school, difficult junior high years, and constancy of…

Interviews with 169 children labeled 10 years earlier as gifted, nonlabeled but equally able, or having average ability revealed significant intergroup differences in work patterns and emotional outcome. Intense academic study possibly inhibited creative development; parents and teachers should be aware of the possible loss of creative potential…