States of excellence

Research from the individual-differences tradition pertinent to the optimal development of exceptional talent is reviewed, using the theory of work ad justment (TWA) to organize findings, The authors show how TWA concepts and psychometric methods, when used together, can facilitate positive developme nt among talented youth by aligning learning opportunities with salient asp ects of each students individuality. Longitudinal research and more general theoretical models of (adult) academic and intellectual development suppor t this approach. This analysis also uncovers common threads running through several positive psychological concepts (e.g., effectance motivation, flow , and peak experiences). The authors conclude by underscoring some importan t ideals from counseling psychology for fostering intellectual development and psychological logical well-being. These include conducting a multifacet ed assessment, focusing on strength, helping people make choices, and provi ding a developmental context for bridging educational and industrial psycho logy to facilitate positive psychological growth throughout the life span.