Positive Disintegration

The theory of positive disintegration (TPD) is Kazimierz Dabrowski's theory of individual personality development. According to Dabrowski, personality is shaped and created by each individual. The process of this development is called positive disintegration. It describes how people transform themselves from conforming and self-serving to introspective and self-directed individuals. Growth and development occur as a person moves from a lower level of integration to a higher level of integration through a series of psychological disintegrations and reintegrations that change one's view of self and the world. Dabrowski placed emotions more than intelligence at the heart of personality development and believed some individuals, especially gifted and highly creative people, possess higher levels of developmental potential. Overexcitabilties, the heightened sensitivity of the nervous system resulting in above-average ...