Domain-specific abilities and characteristics: Evolving central components of the talent development megamodel

Talent development addresses important components and stages of domain trajectories from childhood through adulthood, with the goal of providing opportunities for achieving creative productivity for those with abilities and aspirations to pursue that goal. The talent development megamodel (TDMM) identifies the interaction of domain specific abilities, learning, mentoring opportunities, and psychosocial skills as central features of the model. We discuss domain specific abilities, both physical and cognitive (e.g., spatial reasoning), that drive possibilities for fulfilling talent in STEM, dance, and sport. A deeper look at these domain abilities introduces concerns for needed research especially as fields transform and evolve over time.