L.S. Vygotsky on Giftedness as "A Higher Order Formation"

The author explores the concept of giftedness as presented in the published scientific manuscripts of L.S. Vygotsky and in the newly released psychological dictionary co-authored by him. This article emphasizes the importance of utilizing these archival sources for contemporary research on the issue of giftedness. Through a theoretical analysis, it highlights key ideas regarding the understanding of giftedness from the perspective of cultural-historical psychology: the necessity of distinguishing between individual psychological functions and giftedness; the notion of giftedness as a "formation of the higher order", not reducible to the level of a separate function; the systems approach to studying giftedness; the role of the concept of development in elucidating the phenomenon of giftedness. The article also demonstrates the potential of L.S. Vygotsky for advancing research on research and enhancing practices.