Theory of Positive Disintegration (Levels 1-3)
This week we discussed Kazimierz Dabrowski's "Theory of Positive Disintegration." (Our introduction to “overexcitabilities” in the previous weeks served as a relevant jumping off point for understanding his complex and profound observations.) Dabrowski was a European humanist counterpart to Maslow. His research involving positive psychology didn't become as famous and is still mostly confined to the world of gifted education. One of the many ways it differs from Maslow's hierarchy of needs involves allowing for self-actualization in individuals who don't have their lower level needs met (physiological, safety, relationships, etc.). Also, growth in terms of his theory takes what Dabrowski called "developmental potential."
It's wise to think of his "theory" as more of a personal philosophy. That being said, his under-explored research can be very insightful for creative individuals going through difficult periods internally or in the outer world.
We looked at levels 1-3. Here is a summary:
Level 1: Little to no inner conflict exists on level one. Conflict that does exist is mostly with the outer world. Focus on the self, measuring oneself against others, using achievement for attention-seeking, lack of trust, blame, and severe projection are common at this level.
Level 2: Essentially, anything that causes someone to question reality, their role in the world, and how they define themselves may send someone into level two. Without conscious and self-disciplined devotion to the cultivation of an inner personality, competing values from the mainstream culture (and predetermined social ideas) will win-out and the person will find it hard to move up.
Level 3: A person whittles away at most choices in terms of their lower and higher self. An ear-splitting awareness operates within the individual constantly reminding them of what mode they are operating in (higher or lower). They may watch themselves say or write something and be hyper-vigilant about assessing its usefulness to others. They understand words matter when it comes to character. They typically engage in creative activities as a source of self-reflection to sort themselves out. This was also a great level for discussing the role of mentors and role models when someone reaches for their inner "personality ideal."
Optional Resources:
- Book: Living With Intensity by Susan Daniels and Michael Piechowski
- Video: Click to play YouTube video
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/016235320603000104
Optional Journaling:
- What does self-reflection have to do with creativity?
- Can you be in multiple levels at the same time?
- Why should we refrain from judging or labeling others at a certain "level"?
- Do you think a lot of people were recently sent into level two due to the pandemic? What life choices/changes are being made as people reach for more meaning and purpose?
- Predict: What do you think are the characteristics of levels 4 and 5?
TPD Prompts (From the book Living With Intensity):
1. Describe how you feel when you are extremely joyous, ecstatic, or incredibly happy.
2. What has been your experience of the most intense pleasure?
3. How vivid are your dreams, daydreams, and fantasies? Describe.
4. What kinds of things get your mind going?
5. Describe what you do when you feel full of energy.
6. What attracts you in people you like, and what in those you become close to?
7. How do you act when you get excited?
8. How well do you visualize events, people, and things--real or imaginary? Give examples.
9. What do you like to concentrate on the most?
10. What physical activity (or inactivity) gives you the most satisfaction?
11. What pleasures do you derive from looking at things?
12. What pleasures do you get from different tastes?14. What pleasures do you experience from touching?
15. What pleasures do you experience from different sounds?
16. Do you sometimes catch yourself seeing, hearing, or imagining things that aren't really there? Give examples.
17. How do you think about your own thinking? Describe.
18. What gives you the strongest urge to do something? Please elaborate.
19. Does it sometimes appear to you that things around you have a life of their own and that animals, plants, and all things in nature have their own feelings? Give examples.
20. When you are faced with a difficult idea or concept, what do you do in order for it to become clear?
21. What do you do when you feel poetic? Describe.
22. How often do you carry on arguments in your head? What sorts of things are they about?
23. When you ask yourself, "Who am I?" what is the answer?
24. When you were young, did you have an imaginary playmate? One or several? Please describe.
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