ABSTRACT
Motivation is exceedingly important in the development of talent. According to Olszewski-Kubilius et al., Many scholars who study giftedness agree that what most distinguishes eminent producers from others is not simply extraordinary ability, but a level of drive and a commitment to their field as evidenced by the willingness to devote enormous energy and time to their work. One of the main tenets of the gifted child paradigm is that individuals will be more motivated to fulfill their potential if their basic psychological, social, and emotional needs are met. Within the humanistic psychology perspective, Maslow created a Hierarchy of Needs that culminates in the notion of self-actualization, or the fulfilling of one’s potential. Self-determination theory suggests that motivation varies in both magnitude and type, and suggests that the fulfillment of three basic needs will foster motivation: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
