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.

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.

This book attempts to draw together a theory of the unconscious dynamics of groups and how these interact in powerful ways with geography, technology and psychological development. The argument is made that powerful forces operating outside of awareness shape and are shaped by geographical factors (spatiality). Further, the idea is forwarded that technology, which is unevenly distributed spatially and has potent unconscious meanings, is a largely unrecognized and potent vector in shaping human interactional dynamics at both overt and covert levels. Finally these complex interactions are yoked to Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration, which again offers another useful explanatory perspective. Process notes on a psychodynamically-oriented large group with persons carrying diagnoses of severe mental illness are appended and there are notes on the Discourse of the Clown and Derrida’s “differance”.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The term self is of a metaphysical nature. It is not clearly defined, and is used in various senses. It is the distinctness of the existence of a human being, the source of his mental activity, and the individual substratum of his mental structure. #2 Personality is the name given to an individual who is developed and positive, both with respect to the scope and level of the most essential positive human qualities. Personality is not necessarily involved in various general human problems, but if a person possesses it, he embraces with his intellect, sensitivity, and activity all the truly essential problems of mankind. #3 The problem of personality is to give a comprehensive conception of personality that is free from mutable and therefore nonessential qualities. We attempt to base our conception on standards and human values that have been accepted and realized by man since the very beginning of his culture. #4 The majority of humans are mixed types, with positive and negative characteristics existing side by side in them. However, in general, positive characteristics grow in strength and importance.

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.

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