Zebra, laminar or complex profile?

What’s the difference between a laminar and a complex gifted?

When I became interested in zebras, I didn’t want to put myself in another box.
That’s why Inever looked at these two profiles – laminar and complex – until now. We’re full of convictions and principles until life plays tricks on us.

These two profiles were discovered by Fanny NUSBAUM, Olivier REVOL and Dominique SAPPEY-MARINIER and explained in the co-authored book : Les Philo-Cognitifs. I recommend it. I loved this book, which popularizes the fruit of their scientific research.

One of my best friends is a zebra. We get on really well and share the same vision of life. However, I do feel that sometimes we don’t have the same approach, the same way of working. Even in society, we don’t approach people in the same way.

 

Zebras with different cognitive functions

I’m pretty straightforward, I connect easily and I’m pretty comfortable in a group. It’s going to be just the opposite for her. She will observe a lot before exchanging and sharing. On the other hand, once she’s confident, she’lllet herself go, where it’s harder for me to do so.

So we can have a high IQ, a hypersensitivity to the world and slightly different ways of functioning. Several neuropsychologists Giftedness specialists have identified two types of zebra: laminar and complex. My friend would be more laminar, while I would be more complex.

The gifted laminar profile

The laminar zebra has more analytical characteristics:

• They have linear and analytical reasoning
• They are good students who like to succeed; they have a stable school career if they find their balance
• They are more attached to the subjects than to the teacher
• They are demanding and consistent
• They have a rational analysis of situations
• They are organised
• They are objective and rely more on facts than intuition
• They are outwardly focused rather than inwardly focused
• They are able to adapt easily and have emotional, affective, and professional stability
• They lack a second degree and take things in stride
• They are hard workers who strive to achieve their goals
• Their Intelligence Quotient is homogeneous
• They are punctual
• They are introverted

The complex gifted profile

The complex zebra is said to have creative and intuitive characteristics. :

• tree-like thinking (divergent)
• They are intuitive and creative
• They live by their feelings and trusts their instincts
• there’s a gap between his great analytical skills and his ability to manage his emotions.
• They see the world through their own lens
• They have their own reality
• learning is guided by the people who inspire it, not by the subject, e.g. the teacher, not the subject matter
• They are more emotionally dependent
• They have a heterogeneous Intelligence Quotient
• They do not tolerate illegitimate authority and find it difficult to adapt in conflict situations.
• They do not know how to deal with conflict
• They like changes and challenges
• They need calm to recharge their batteries and calm their brain that never stops thinking
• The physical reaction to their hypersensitivity is immediate and visible (crying, anger, racing heart)
• They will be more out of touch and will not be able to hide their difference, their atypicality
• They are never unanimous; they annoy as much as they are adored
• They are less attached to the rules
• They are extroverted

Generally speaking, the laminar profile is more stable than the complex profile.

They are more rational and precise in their analyses and their view of others, whereas the complex profile may be influenced by personal bias guided by intuition. It is a bit like the difference between a scientist and an artist.

These two laminar and complex zebra profiles remind me of the popular belief we have about the use of one or the other of our two brains.

I’m creative, I solve problems by intuition as much as by logic, but one thing’s for sure, I love solving problems… I’m as organized as I am messy… Well, I’d say it’s a little to the right… But rigor and attention to detail are qualities I possess and enjoy.

In the end, are you a zebra with a complex or laminar profile?

For my part, it’s true that on paper I have more of the characteristics of the complex profile, however, I think that like the way our brains work, we’re not all one or all the other. As proof, I’m extremely organized and demanding. At work, my teams know that I’m as open, creative and caring as I am sharp, despotic and methodical in my expectations.

I use both analytical and intuitive thinking. I juggle from one to the other depending on the situation. I listen to myself a lot because I’m very often affected and emotional, I’m rather self-centred but that doesn’t stop me from being very altruistic in my approach to the world.

I try, unconsciously, touse all the areas of my brain and the abilities I have to do this or that.

Whatever the case, I’ll always categorically refuse to put myself in a definitive box.
The box can be a means of finding an answer at a given moment and helping us to move forward, but it must never be used as an excuse or pretext.

You can also find more information, resources and tools on Giftedness in Mel POINAS‘ book. With a lot of humor, Mel tells the story of the discovery of her giftedness and the routines she put in place to finally find her place!

To go further, you can read

• What is being Gifted?
• Right and left brain
• The best books about High Learning Potential
• Giftedness : 20 characteristics of complex and laminar profiles
• How to take the WAIS 4 test?

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