We are hearing more and more about HIP (High Intellectual Potential) and HEP (High Emotional Potential).
But what is it really about? And then How to know if we're HIP1 HEP Or both? Besides, perhaps we can be HIP and HEP At the same time?
I shall also turn to the question of diagnosis HIP and testing HEP so that you can, by the end of the article, know what category you are in: zebra or hypersensitive?
What are the characteristics of HIP and HEP ?
Terms HIP and HEP were created to measure two different types of intelligence: intelligence cognitiveandintelligence emotional. The first is measured with the quotient intellectual (QI), the second with the quotient emotional (QE).
If we caricature to the maximum, the HIP is a gifted brain who thinks super fast (or a Ferrari in the skull as I like to say). The HEP, he, is a hypersensitive one that captures all the external stimulations (it is a large antenna that connects to its environment).
The HIP : a gifted with a superefficient brain
People HIP (which is sometimes called Zebras in Psychology, gifted, atypical, etc.) have a brain that goes fast and does not stop.
This mental efficiency is partly related to a particular mode of thought that is called the thought in tree (or tree thinking). This is an abuse of language. In fact, by looking more closely, this thought is not tree but rather a thought Linear (Like everyone else actually). But she's moving faster. We're back on this Ferrari thing.
Particular cognitive intelligence may affect the reasoning of the gifted. Let's say connections and links are different.
School problems are often considered. If we don't understand the instructions like everyone else, it's normal that we don't give the expected answer. And yet, we don't really understand where the mistake comes from. So we're bored. In children HIP So (generally called intellectually early children – PIE), detect the HIP is super important as soon as possible.
Finally, note that even if you see everywhere that the gift goes Mandatory causing school failure and ill-being, the scientific reality is very different. When you measure precisely, you realize that people HIP actually have better academic results, better jobs, are healthier and happier.
If you read me on the other hand, you may not be a part of this majority (but that is not a problem).
The HEP : a hypersensitive that captures all the stimulations of its environment
People HEP have an intelligence that is not cognitive but based on affective. They are able to see, understand and interpret accurately the emotions of others and their own. They say they have a great empathy.
High emotional potential is often called Highly Sensitive Person. Some experts will tell you that these are two completely different things. Others (of which I am a part) see only one person.
In any case, this notion of high emotional potential is much more recent than intellectual precocity. As a result, it is less well known, which also explains the differences of opinion.
Common characteristics and similarities between HIP and HEP
Even if, at first glance, the high intellectual level and the HEP seem very different, they actually have several common characteristics. The three main ones are the feeling of lag, creativity and extra-lucidity.
| Characteristics / Similarities | High Intellectual Potential (HIP) | High Emotional Potential (HEP) |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive abilities | Rapid learning ability, analytical thinking, high intellectual curiosity. | Ability to understand complex emotions and social nuances. |
| Sensitivity | Sensitivity to boredom, need for intellectual stimulation. | Increased emotional sensitivity, high empathy. |
| Emotion Management | Can experience difficulties with expression and emotional management. | Excellent understanding and management of emotions, both his own and those of others. |
| Social relations | Can experience difficulties in social interactions due to differences of thought or interest. | Strong emotional communication skills, which can facilitate deep social interactions. |
| Curiosity and interests | Curiosity mainly oriented towards subjects of learning and intellectual exploration. | Curiosity often oriented towards understanding people and emotional dynamics. |
| Educational needs | Need for an appropriate educational approach, with stimulating intellectual challenges. | Need for an environment that supports emotional expression and the development of social skills. |
| Stress vulnerability | May be more vulnerable to stress and anxiety related to performance expectations. | May be more vulnerable to emotional stress and empathic overload. |
The feeling of lag
The feeling of difference usually manifests itself during schooling. For my part, I have the first memories since very small (primary or even even maternal). But the hardest thing I think is college. This is a time when everyone starts to assert and find out who he is. Except the little one HIP or HEP does not recognize itself in any mould. It doesn't match what others expect. And that's the beginning of the shift.
I challenge you to find me a HEP or HIP who never felt out of step. And when you think about it in more detail... you realize it's quite normal.
Finally, let us be Surpassed or hypersensitiveWe're different from the norm. We represent a minority. Is it not normal at that time to feel in one way or another a sense of lag with others?
Creativity
Creativity is there, whether it is in the HIP or HEP, even though I felt that she did not express herself in the same way.
In HIP, I notice creativity in new ideas and new associations. An original and different solution to a problem is found. Once again, we are returning to this creativity. intellectual.
In my opinion, it's related to the fact that our super-fast thinking returns the problem in every direction within a few moments and associates it with other ideas to find an original answer. As if our thought was creative.
In HEP, creativity is expressed rather in a way artistic. Since the high emotional potential is hyper-sensitive to the surrounding world and its emotions are exacerbated, it is easier to understand an emotion and transmit it in a new way in the form of art.
Extra-lucidity
Extralucidity is a particular concept that one could draw closer to foresight or intuition.
People High Intellectual Potential and HEP are people who, because of their emotions or their analysis, very quickly manage to identify people and assess situations.
So, they work a lot in intuition. They feel that this solution is the best, or Do not feel This person... without being able to explain it.
What are the differences between HEP and HIP ?
I wanted to summarize the main differences between HEP and HIP in a table to facilitate the task:
| HIP (High Intellectual Potential) | HEP (High Emotional Potential) |
| High cognitive intelligence measured by the intellectual quotient (IQ) | Great emotional intelligence measured by the emotional quotient (EQ) |
| Reason logically. The thought of the gifted adults guides them. We're talking about logical reasoning. | Reason with his emotions. His feelings guide him. We're talking about intuitive reasoning. |
| Cognitive functioning induces good memory (both short and long term) | Memory is effective only when an emotional charge is associated with memory |
| Great verbal communication capabilities. People with talent have a very rich vocabulary | Arrive to detect all non-verbal communications with great efficiency |
Maybe we are. HIP and HEP And at the same time?
Yes, it is quite possible to be HIP and HEP At the same time.
Moreover, some specialists of the over-educated adult think that all HIP are also HEP. This is particularly the case for clinician therapists. Jeanne Siaud-Facchin in her book Too smart to be happy?.
On the other hand, others believe that it is two different things and that, therefore, a person is not necessarily both at the same time. However, one can quite be. It's just not an automation. This is for example the idea of Cathy Assenheim in My Brain is Hyper.
As for scientific research, we agree that we can be a gifted and gifted person. HEP At the same time. On the other hand, researchers do not agree on the automation of the pair.
So yes, you can be over-educated and hypersensitive at the same time. But it is not known whether the great intellectual abilities are automatically linked to the high emotional potential.
Where to test HIP and HEP ?
To detect the HIP, we use a official IQ test called WAIS. Psychological assessment takes place in a specialist psychologist.
If you're interested, I wrote a directory of psychologists specialized for intellectually young people IQ tests and a detection check.
Otherwise, you can find many free IQ tests online which are more or less reliable (but especially less) to recognize the potential.
To detect the HEP, we use a test HEP or hypersensitivity test.
How to know if we're HIP or HEP ?
To determine if High Intellectual Potential (HIP) or High Emotional Potential (HEPIt is essential to go through an evaluation carried out by a qualified professional. For the HIPThis often involves an IQ test that measures various aspects of cognitive intelligence. However, identify a HEP requires a more nuanced analysis of emotional and social skills, sometimes through specific interviews and questionnaires. The distinction lies in the nature of the dominant capacities: HIP, emotional and relational for the HEP. Recognizing its profile therefore requires a thorough understanding of the different dimensions of intelligence and sensitivity.
What is the IQ of a HEP ?
The Intellectual Quotient (IQ) of a person High Emotional Potential (HEP) can vary considerably, as the HEP is primarily measured by the Emotional Quotient (EQ) rather than the IQ. The EQ refers to the ability to recognize, understand, manage and use emotions effectively, both at home and in others. Thus, an individual HEP may have an IQ in the average or higher, but what really distinguishes it is a high IQ. Assessment of the HEP focuses on aspects such as empathy, social sensitivity, and emotional understanding, reflecting advanced emotional intelligence rather than strictly cognitive.
How to diagnose HIP or HEP ?
The diagnosis of High Intellectual Potential (HIP) or the Emotional High Potential (HEP) requires a thorough professional assessment. For the HIPThis usually involves standardized IQ tests administered by a qualified psychologist, measuring different facets of cognitive intelligence, such as logic, memory and treatment speed. For the HEPThe process is less standardized and more based on qualitative assessments of emotional and social behaviour, including interviews, observations and sometimes QE-specific questionnaires (Emotional Quotient). It is crucial that these assessments be carried out in an appropriate context, taking into account personal history and individual development, to ensure accurate and useful diagnosis.
