Aspiration growth, talent development, and self‐fulfillment in a context of democratic erosion

Abstract

Healthy liberal democracies provide strong support for the agency of gifted and talented individuals. Agency entails the development of lofty aspirations, strong talents, and self‐fulfillment over the long term. In contrast, totalitarian sociopolitical environments strongly suppress the agency of most citizens while supporting the ethically warped development of a few privileged insiders. A model of democratic growth and erosion, drawn from syntheses of scholarship from history, political theory, economics, sociology, and ethical philosophy, reveals some dynamics of large‐scale contextual influences on the gifted and talented. Current trends toward ideological polarization and mass deception suggest that democratic erosion is jeopardizing the development of high ability individuals, particularly among disadvantaged populations. Educators of the gifted must become aware of discrepancies in epistemic power and the impact of empathy gulfs while striving to support the development of creative, ethical leadership.