There are many types of crises. Some fall on the side of the existential, in this strange but obsessive abyss, in which they constantly wonder what the meaning of the world, of life and even of themselves is. Kazimier Dabrowski coined the term “positive disintegration” in the 1960s to explain this psychological phenomenon so common in people with high intellectual abilities.
This concept is always interesting and illustrative. It is as if the spirit of these talented teenagers and adults sometimes fell into a kind of defragmentation, spirits collapse (figuratively) to reintegrate in another way after finding the answers, after finding vital meanings and explanations to their deep doubts.
- Dabrowski has chosen to define this phenomenon.
- This type of existential depression.
- Disintegration.
- Because there are parts that eventually dissolve.
- Beliefs.
- Thought patterns.
- Emotions.
- Values that are no longer valid and are reformulated in another way.
- So to speak.
- Developing and acquiring new potentials at the same time.
Hence positive disintegration, because what is achieved, in the end, is a step forward in human development, moving on to another stage, in fact, this Polish psychiatrist specialized in personality psychology and high intellectual abilities has defined up to 5 steps. that a person with a high IQ usually happens.
We’ll share more information about this below
Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration has been in force since it was formulated more than six decades ago; in the field of high intelligence, it is a valuable framework for understanding how the construction of these people’s personality evolves.
According to this approach, the mental development of a person with a high IQ requires a series of very specific transitions. They go in an upward direction; That is, there is an evolution, a cognitive and emotional gain, however, and here is the curious fact, all progress is part of a crisis, of a time in which this child, adolescent or adult lives a lot of suffering, confusion, anxiety and frustration.
These states almost always start with existential doubts. Those where these people question the other because they feel different from others. These are times when they fall into states of introspection to understand why the world is as it is, why people act like them, about the purpose of their future, on the awareness of their mortality, etc.
Mendaglio and Tillier (2006) discussed the subject in their work The Theory of Positive Disintegration and Dabrowski’s Superdotation, what they found in their research is that, on average, people with high abilities also experience great overexigence, that is, they have an imagination fertility, tendency to feel emotions more intensely and, in general, are more impulsive.
All of this makes these periods of existential crisis more problematic; require some kind of intervention and support for these people to overcome the problem and leave it stronger.
The most common thing is that, at the moment, they stop being productive in class or at work and suffer problems in their social relations, so we will know more about the stages of development defined by Dabrowski.
This first level of development is in early childhood, here the child with high abilities suffers the first crisis, in which self-centered instincts and behaviors are mixed with the interest of what is in their immediate context.
The desire to explore, discover, manipulate and learn will gradually mature sooner.
At this stage, the child or tychedlescent needs to feel accepted in their peer group, however, the person does not reach this connection and the first major existential crisis occurs.
In addition, it is necessary to analyze the social values in which it grows and that impact their lives, questions the behavior of people, the rules that govern society and their role in that environment.
Positive disintegration also occurs when the person suddenly feels dissatisfied with what he or she is and what he has achieved so far.
This crisis usually occurs in the early days of youth, when they are forced to reformulate goals, to abandon certain projects and ideas, is in conflict with themselves, but quickly manages to get around the situation looking for new solutions.
The fourth stage of this person’s personal development with a high IQ occurs when he realizes that, perhaps, he has spent a lot of time focusing on himself and his needs, perhaps it is time to open himself up to others, to be more selfless and to assume a more productive role for the good of others , at which point more universal and higher values are assumed.
Responsibility, kindness, altruism? In this last step, the person begins to look for more abstract and higher principles, he has already focused on helping others, bringing his work or efforts to be useful, from now on aspires to leave his mark on culture, to promote progress. of your society.
In conclusion, there is something important about positive disintegration. This model contains a somewhat optimistic and sometimes unrealistic perspective. Can’t everyone? It’s not automatic. Many are trapped, plunged into crises that cause them anxiety or depression.
It is therefore a priority for them to receive professional support in times of personal doubt and crisis, only in this way will they be able to achieve well-being.