Personality Development Through Positive Disintegration

This book summarizes the research and application of the Theory of Positive Disintegration, one of the most influential theories in gifted education, and compares it to other theories of personality and psychological development.

In his Theory of Positive Disintegration, Polish psychiatrist and psychologist Dr. Kazimierz Dąbrowski (1902-1980) proposed an approach to personality development in which crises are not only necessary but fundamental in creating opportunities for individual development. Crises force our focus inward, leading us to challenge our established beliefs, roles and routines. While crises often resolve with a return to the status quo, recovery is sometimes stymied and posttraumatic stress results. In other cases, however, the outcome is posttraumatic growth. The individual experiences a process of disintegration, a loosening of the components of personality that allows for an examination and re-evaluation of the self. One rebuilds after a crisis, implementing conscious and deliberate changes to reshape the personality toward increased autonomy, uniqueness and the realization of one's ideal personality. This work provides a comprehensive yet balanced overview of Dąbrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration in its historical and present-day contexts and demonstrates its continued relevance in today's most vital areas of psychology, including posttraumatic growth, education, neuroscience, and personality theory.

Kazimierz Dabrowski refers to his view of personality development as the theory of positive disintegration. Dabrowski feels that no growth takes place without previous disintegration. He regards symptoms of anxiety, psychoneurosis, and even some symptoms of psychosis as the signs of the disintegration stage, and therefore not always pathological.

This book describes the overexcitabilities often associated with gifted children and adults, as well as strategies for dealing with children and adults who experience them. It also provides essential information on Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration. Learn practical methods for nurturing sensitivity, intensity, perfectionism.

An original theory of the development of consciousness that brings together research from neurology, new-paradigm studies, psychology, and mysticism.