The contribution of the O.K. Tikhomirov’s school in the field of psychology of thinking is analyzed, and the main elements of the personal meanings theory of thinking are presented: namely, personalityrelated determination of thinking, regulative function of emotions, actual genesis of goalsetting and senseformation processes, creative thinking, and the impact of information technologies on the transformations of intellectual and communicative activities.

The article considers modern tendencies in studying of giftedness. Controversial problems of psychology of giftedness are being discussed. Argumentation for usefulness of general psychological approach, which is being developed in Tihomirov’s school for solving many of these problems, is being provided. Theoretical and methodological backlog created in this school allows to overcome a number of substantial disadvantages of wide spread static “segmental” approach to studying of giftedness, and facilitates the developing of new methods of its diagnostics.