The Physiologically Gifted Child

The Physiologically Gifted Child model proposes that sensitive children can turn their vulnerability to stress into strength through physiological training. When the child's sensitivity is viewed as a physiologically modifiable trait, the child is less likely to engage in self-blame and more likely to engage in self-care strategies to manage emotions. The author emphasizes that cardiovascular reactivity is significantly higher in a child with physiological giftedness. Because the physiologically gifted child is wired to react more intensely to stress, he or she is unlikely to be able to reduce sensitivity without addressing its physiological origin. The author proposes biofeedback and self-care activities as methods to reduce a physiologically gifted child's vulnerability to stress while simultaneously allowing the child to benefit from his or her extraordinary gifts of feeling and perceiving. A description of a physiologically gifted child and optimal performance strategies illustrate this concept.