Personality Development Through Positive Disintegration: The Work of Kazimierz Dabrowski

Description

In his Theory of Positive Disintegration, Polish psychiatrist and psychologist Dr. Kazimierz Dabrowski (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 Dabrowski’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. Title Page Personality Development Coyright Dedication Acknowledgments Table of Contents Foreword Overview Who was Kazimierz Dąbrowski? A Note on Organization. 1 Dąbrowski’s Unique Approach to Mental Health and Development 1–1. Positive Mental Health 1–2. Adjustment 1–3. Development 1–4. Personality 1–5. A Synopsis of Dąbrowski’s Approach 1–6. What Dąbrowski Shares in Common with Other Approaches to Development 1–7. Chapter Summary 2 Multilevelness, Multidimensionality and Dąbrowski’s Five Levels 2–1. Multilevelness 2–2. Multidimensionality 2–3. Levels versus Stages 2–4. Diagnosis and Assessment 2–6. Chapter Summary 3 Developmental Potential 3–1. The Three Factors of Development 3–2. The Role of Instincts 3–3. Developmental Potential 3–4. Chapter Summary 4 The Developmental Process and Psychoneuroses 4–1. Approaches to Integration 4–2. Approaches to Disintegration 4–3. Dąbrowski’s Types and Degrees of Disintegration 4–4. Positive Disintegration 4–5. Neuroses and Psychoneuroses 5 5–1. Dynamisms 5–3. Emotion in Dąbrowski’s Theory 5–4. The Hierarchy of Values 5–5. Psychological Types 6 The Foundations of Dąbrowski’s Approach 6–1. Plato and Multilevelness 6–2. Essence and Existentialism 6–3. The Average Person as Automaton 6–4. The Average Person as “Being Asleep” 6–5. Socialization Squelches Autonomy 6–6. Exemplars of Advanced Development 6–7. Disintegration in the Process of Development 6–8. Four Major Themes 6–9. Chapter Summary 7 Dąbrowski in Context 7–1. The Role of Suffering and Suicide in Development 7–2. Crisis Intervention 7–3. Posttraumatic Growth 7–4. Positive Psychology 7–5. Selected Approaches to Personality Development 7–6. The Legacy of John Hughlings Jackson 7–7. Creativity 7–8. Overexcitability versus Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 7–9. Overexcitability as Heightened Awareness 7–10. Neuropsychological Views of Overexcitability 7–11. Chapter Summary 8 The Role of Self-actualization in Dąbrowski’s Approach 8–1. Self-actualization 8–3. Multilevel-actualization 8–4. Chapter Summary 9 Education 9–1. Dąbrowski’s General Approach to Education 9–2. Self-education (Education-of-oneself) 9–3. Issues in Gifted Education 9–4. Dąbrowski and the Gifted 9–5. Applications of Dąbrowski to Gifted Populations 9–6. Chapter Summary 10 Conclusion Appendix 1 A Biography of Kazimierz Dąbrowski A-1. Dąbrowski’s Early Life and Education A-2. World War II A-3. Imprisonment under Stalin and “Rehabilitation” A-4. The 1960s: Dąbrowski Establishes Roots in North America A-5. The 1970s: A Final Flurry of Activity A-6. Dissemination of Dąbrowski’s Legacy A-7. Dąbrowski Conferences A-8. Scientific Memberships A-9. Other Accomplishments Appendix 2 Selected Resources Relating to Dąbrowski, 2006-2017 References Endnotes About the Author