By: Dr. Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues
The relationship of the gifted to the past is a fascinating reflection of their cognitive and emotional complexity. While some revisit their memories frequently, others prefer to stay focused on the present and future. This choice, however, is not arbitrary; It’s deeply connected to the kind of perfectionism they exhibit—adaptive or maladaptive—and the way their brains process emotions and memories.
The Role of Perfectionism in Choices About the Past
Adaptive Perfectionism: Creativity and Focus on the Future
Gifted people with adaptive perfectionism tend not to revisit the past often. For them, memories function as tools that have already been processed and integrated into learning, and not as something to be continuously reanalyzed.
• Subjective Creativity: This profile uses the past as inspiration for new ideas and projects, but without the need to revisit memories repeatedly. These people tend to have a more subjective creativity, channeling their reflections to create original solutions or works that transcend the moment they are experiencing.
• Focus on Progress: These individuals are more interested in building the future and solving current problems than in revisiting past events. Their healthy perfectionism helps them turn learning into motivation to move forward.
Practical Example:
Laura, a gifted with adaptive perfectionism, rarely revisits her old photos. Instead, he prefers to use what he has already learned to develop new projects, such as writing stories or creating artistic works, without sticking to what has already been accomplished.
Maladaptive Perfectionism: Revisitation and Fear
On the other hand, gifted people with maladaptive perfectionism often revisit the past in search of validation or answers to their insecurities. This pattern can be characterized by rumination, self-demand, and a difficulty in accepting imperfections.
• Fear and Self-Criticism: These individuals reopen memories with the aim of identifying mistakes or reviewing decisions, often in an exaggerated way. This practice can generate anxiety and reinforce the feeling of insecurity.
• Seeking Internal Validation: Revisiting moments of success in the past can be an attempt to compensate for insecurity about your performance in the present, creating a cycle of emotional dependence on memories.
Practical Example:
Carlos, a gifted man with maladaptive perfectionism, constantly revisits old work reports, even though he knows they were well evaluated. He believes that by reanalyzing, he can find ways to avoid future mistakes, but this habit often traps him in cycles of doubt.
Neuroscience and the Relationship with the Past
Neuroscience offers important explanations for how these differences manifest themselves.
• Dopamine and Reward: Gifted people with adaptive perfectionism often have a balanced regulation of dopamine, allowing them to revisit the past without getting stuck in it. Those with maladaptive perfectionism may have dopaminergic hypersensitivity, leading them to continually seek the sense of reward associated with acknowledging the past.
• Serotonin and Emotional Regulation: The emotional regulation provided by serotonin is a key factor. Gifted people who can handle emotions in a balanced way tend to avoid rumination, while low serotonin levels can amplify emotional revisiting of past events.
• Brain Plasticity: The capacity for neuronal reconfiguration of the gifted also influences these choices. Those who can reinterpret memories constructively are more likely to move on, while others may feel stuck in the emotional meaning of the past.
Psychosocial and Environmental Factors
In addition to neurobiological factors, psychosocial aspects also play a significant role:
• Pressures and Expectations: The pressure to meet expectations, whether internal or external, can reinforce the need to revisit memories in search of validation.
• Gender Differences: Studies indicate that gifted women tend to revisit memories more often, linking them to more intense emotional connections, while men often prioritize future goals.
Conclusion: Revisit or Move On?
The decision to revisit the past or focus on the future in the gifted is deeply related to the kind of perfectionism they display. Those with adaptive perfectionism see the past as a foundation for creativity and progress, while maladaptives often revisit memories with fear and self-criticism.
Regardless of the approach, it is essential to understand that the past, whether revisited or not, is a tool for learning and growth. The challenge is to balance the acceptance of memories with a focus on the present and the construction of the future.