ABSTRACT
Every personal characteristic has its good points and its bad points. Sometimes the same traits that are valued in one situation are considered negative in another situation. This is certainly true with gifted individuals. Many young people who are perfectionists are consumed by fears, especially fears of social, academic, or parental rejection. These children perceive themselves as failures, feeling they have not met either their own expectations or the expectations of others. They may feel that respect and love from others is conditional upon their performance. When external pressures (either real or perceived) are exerted upon some children, results can be even more acute. These external pressures may include due dates, reward systems, and expectations for certain grades. Many teachers (and parents) are extroverts, and it often is very difficult for an extrovert to understand an introvert. Therefore, an adult may see the introverted student as someone with a problem, not as simply someone with a different personality type.
