[Gifted children. Psychological and psychopathological aspects (author's transl)].

After having tried to define the term "gifted children" the authors record the principal works devoted to this subject and the opinions, often controversial raised by the attitude in regard to exceptional children in different countries. Then, are given the means to detect gifted children as well as the characteristics in the recognition of the very young gifted children. In a third section are described the psychology and the difficulties of adaptation which these children sometimes encounter (scholastic problems, behavioral and personality problems, seldom psychotic). Finally, the orientation of gifted children can be undertaken in three ways, all of which present advantages and disadvantages: grouping in special classes, speeding up and enrichment of the programmes.