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Positive Disintegration Paperback – January 10, 2017

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Kazimierz Dabrowski refers to his view of personality development as the theory of positive disintegration. He defines disintegration as disharmony within the individual and in his adaptation to the external environment. Anxiety, psychoneurosis, and psychosis are symptoms of disintegration. In general, disintegration refers to involution, psychopathology, and retrogression to a lower level of psychic functioning. Integration is the opposite: evolution, psychic health, and adequate adaptation, both within the self and to the environment. Dabrowski postulates a developmental instinct—that is, a tendency of man to evolve from lower to higher levels of personality. He regards personality as primarily developing through dissatisfaction with, and fragmentation of, the existing psychic structure—a period of disintegration—and finally a secondary integration at a higher level. 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 of this evolution, and therefore not always pathological.

Praise for Positive Disintegration:

POSITIVE DISINTEGRATION

“Dabrowski’s theory is not only interesting but even exciting in its breadth and depth of its implications. The ubiquity of psychological symptoms has always confounded a simple descriptive psychopathological approach to mental illness. Dabrowski’s theory gives these symptoms a role in normal personality development that is consistent with their broad distribution as shown by epidemiological studies and as felt by those aware of the problems in themselves and in those around them.”
~ Jason Aronson, Harvard Medical School

Praise for other works by Dabrowski:

MENTAL GROWTH THROUGH POSITIVE DISINTEGRATION

“I consider this to be one of the most important contributions to psychological and psychiatric theory in this whole decade. There is little question in my mind that this book will be read for another decade or two, and very widely. It digs very deep and comes up with extremely important conclusions that will certainly change the course of psychological theorizing and the practice of psychotherapy for some time to come.”
~ Abraham H. Maslow, Brandeis University

PERSONALITY-SHAPING THROUGH POSITIVE DISINTEGRATION

“Dr. Kazimierz Dabrowski is no ordinary psychiatrist. Although educated as a physician, he has developed a conception of man and his 'existential' vagaries which radically transcends the physical and biological realms; and although later trained in Freudian psychoanalysis, he has a point of view which, instead of denigrating morality and idealism, puts them in a place of supreme importance.

Dr. Dabrowski has certainly been a pioneer in the development of the kind of psychiatry that is set forth in this book, and he deserves great credit for his originality and courage. But, at the same time there is nothing singular or eccentric about his particular orientation. It is, in fact, part and parcel of a widespread and growing perspective in clinical psychology and psychiatry which can only be described as revolutionary.”
~ O. Hobart Mowrer, University of Illinois

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  1. Print length
    130 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 10, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.3 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1600250955
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1600250958
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dabrowski's theory is not only interesting but even exciting in its breadth and depth of its implications. The ubiquity of psychological symptoms has always confounded a simple descriptive psychopathological approach to mental illness. Dabrowski's theory gives these symptoms a role in normal personality development that is consistent with their broad distribution as shown by epidemiological studies and as felt by those aware of the problems in themselves and in those around them."
Jason Aronson, Harvard Medical School

About the Author

Kazimierz Dabrowski, M.D., Ph.D., (1902 - 1980) was born in Poland. He received his medical degree from the Forensic Medicine Department of the University of Geneva in 1929, and earned his Ph.D. in psychology, as well as a second medical diploma, from the Adam Mickiewicz University in 1931. Dabrowski was a very prolific scholar; his publications number in the hundreds in Polish, including some twenty major books. Dabrowski's titles in English include: Personality-shaping Through Positive Disintegration, Mental Growth Through Positive Disintegration, and Psychoneurosis Is Not an Illness.

William (Bill) Tillier, M.Sc., received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Calgary and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Alberta. It was there he met Dr. Dąbrowski and became his student. Bill worked as a forensic psychologist for over 20 years before developing a neuromuscular disorder. Dąbrowski and his work remained a passion for Bill, who created a Dąbrowski website and promoted and distributed Dąbrowski's works. He has also been involved with many Dąbrowski conferences and written an introduction to the republication of Dąbrowski's seminal work, Positive Disintegration. Bill is on disability leave and spends his time doing research and volunteering.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Maurice Bassett (January 10, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 130 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1600250955
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1600250958
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.3 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

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Kazimierz Dąbrowski

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
41 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Arrowcatcher
5.0 out of 5 stars A human development classic
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a reprint of the 1964 edition but with a new foreword. The original foreword was useful but was mainly a quite academic examination of comparative developmental theories. The new foreword gives a highly accessible history of Dabrowski along with a concise executive summary of the Theory of Positive Disintegration. In this way the reader is warmed up for the main course with all its nuances to fill in the blanks. Unlike many famous philosophers, academics, and scholars, Dabrowski writes in clear accessible language. So you can readily get the theory right from the "horse's mouth" so to speak.

Elements of the theory turn out to be naturally adjunct to gifted education, particularly in regards to the "overexcitability" dynamic (descriptors of several different high sensitivities). While overall personality development is the actual thrust of Dabrowski's proposals, some of them have been adapted to development in gifted education. If you have an interest in gifted education, a direct study of Dabrowski can certainly help your background understanding of advanced development.

Positive disintegration is unique among personality development theories in emphasizing that trauma, anxiety, neurosis, and even some forms of psychosis represent an opportunity for higher development through fragmentation of a person's existing psychic structures. We've all seen anecdotes of positive, seemingly improbable growth after traumas and stress, likely even experienced this ourselves. We've all had negative episodes and events in our lives, and in Dabrowski we can better understand the unexpected developmental value these can have for us. In this latter light, I have to admit a positive bias toward Dabrowski since I have become familiar with the theory and especially with its implications for my own life experience and development. The theory has a quite universal application, so you may likely find that same value in this book and others by Dabrowski as I have.
32 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful concept
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017
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The underlying theories within this book are fascinating and revolutionary. Unfortunately, the writing uses antiquated terminology and is overly-verbose. The forward to the book is written in a concise and modern fashion, summarizing the ideas better than the remainder of the book. Recommended for persons with a serious interest in the study of human psycho-social development. The concepts in this book mesh nicely with Jane Loevinger's theory of ego development and Abraham Maslow's conception of self-actualizing people.
9 people found this helpful
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Yahia Ragae
4.0 out of 5 stars Reasonable, plausible theory on mental health but feels incomplete
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2020
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The theory is built reasonably and with example. It discusses how most of what is considered mental illness is simply part, a healthy one that is, of human development. The book suffers from some repitition and some concepts that feel incomplete and vague.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2017
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The Theory of Positive Disintegration is a life changer.
5 people found this helpful
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Tafts
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2018
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Excellent!
One person found this helpful
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Michael Pastore
5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Contribution to Third-Force Psychology
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018
This pithy work explains Dabrowski's theory of "Positive Disintegration", wherein the human psyche is designed to advance by first taking a step backward before it leaps forward into its new existence. Disintegration is not to be feared, it is natural and necessary for human growth. This book offers Dabrowski's theory in his own words, along with an illuminating introduction by William Tillier.
7 people found this helpful
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Ulises Castillo
4.0 out of 5 stars teacher or you have a Smart child you should read
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017
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If you are psychologist, therapist, teacher or you have a Smart child you should read Dabrowski
5 people found this helpful
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mardona
4.0 out of 5 stars Create your own being
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2017
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Interesting premise. Too bad shrinks don't practise "disinigration" theory any more
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

papsman
5.0 out of 5 stars A rare / smart find
Reviewed in Canada on December 24, 2022
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Exceptional book, period.
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