Despite extensive research, questions underlying the nature and nurture of talent remain both numerous and diverse. In the current paper, we present an account that addresses 2 of the primary questions inspired by this debate: (a) the very existence of innate talents and (b) how exceptional abilities are developed. The development of exceptional…

Educators, by making aspects of school other than academic achievement desirable, can motivate children to achieve in diverse areas. We need not, and we must not, limit the feeling of school success to the top two-percenters in academic accomplishment. (Author)

With a dyadic interaction theory of human development and behavior as the framework, factor and multiple regression analyses were used to determine predictors and criteria of talent (socially or culturally valued behavior). Analyses covered grade point average and scores on standard academic achievement and scholastic aptitude tests; also covered…