I Live in My Own Bubble: The Values of Talented Adolescents

Abstract

Values are commonly thought to be important in the construction of personal and group morality, in personality, and as a basis for living life. The Rokeach Values Survey (RVS) was administered to gifted and talented adolescents in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. Two groups were compared in this study: Group I, pre-September 11, 2001 (n = 191; M = 64, F = 127); and Group II, post-September 11, 2001 (n = 96; M = 36, F = 60). Results showed that the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon did not affect the values of the talented teenagers. Values were ranked thus: Terminal Values: (1) Salvation, (2) Freedom, (3) Self-Respect, (16) World of Beauty, (17) Social Recognition, (18) National Security. Instrumental Values: (1) Love, (2) Honesty, (3) Imagination (16) Obedience, (17) Politeness, (18) Cleanliness. Qualitative analysis was conducted of student essays and interviews.