Positive Disintegration – The Existential Crises Of Gifted Individuals

There are many kinds of crises, and some of them are of the existential variant. Maybe you have fallen into the strange abyss where you can not stop wondering what the point of it all is. The world, life, your own existence. In the 1960s, a psychiatrist named Kazimierz Dabrowski coined the term “positive disintegration”  to explain this common psychological phenomenon that affects highly intelligent people.

This concept continues to be interesting and insightful. Dabrowski observed that the thoughts of gifted children, teenagers and adults sometimes seemed to drift into a kind of defragmentation process. Their minds had to collapse (in a figurative sense, of course) to put themselves together in a different way after finding answers and explanations for their deepest doubts and giving meaning to their lives.

Dabrowski chose a good name for this existential depression. Disintegration, because there are parts of the mind that fall apart. Beliefs, thought patterns, emotions and values ​​that cease to be valid. These things break apart and come together in a different way. It’s like updating the operating system on a computer. Your mind develops and acquires new skills and abilities.

This is where the “positive” aspect of this concept comes into play. When you sit down again, you are a better version of yourself. Dabrowski believed that this process leads to steps forward in human development. In fact, this Polish personality psychology expert defined five specific steps. These are the different steps that individuals with high IQ tend to experience.

Let’s dive right into it.

Positive disintegration: Become your authentic self

Dabrowski’s theory, formulated over six decades ago, is still relevant today. More specifically, it is a very useful framework for understanding how the development of personality building works for gifted people.

According to this approach, the mental development of someone with a high IQ goes through a series of concrete transitions. The path to these transitions is always upward. In other words, the individual develops, becomes more cognitively and emotionally capable. The strange thing, however, is that every step forward is the result of a crisis. Development occurs when the child, teenager or adult goes through a very frustrating and disturbing experience that causes significant suffering.

Existential doubt usually triggers these moments, when the individual questions why they feel different from other people. They become introspective and begin to wonder why the world is the way it is, why people do what they do, and what the future holds. Among other things, they feel more aware of their own mortality.

Mendaglio and Tillier (2006) analyzed this in the article ” Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Integration and Giftedness: Overexcitability Research Findings “. One of the things they found in the research was that gifted individuals on average experience surges. In other words, they have an active imagination, tend to feel emotions more intensely, and are more impulsive.

These factors make these moments of existential crises very problematic. Therefore, they will usually need some form of intervention and support to overcome the disorder and grow from it. Gifted individuals who experience these crises often stop being productive at work and school during these periods of life. They will probably also have problems with their social conditions.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at Dabrowski’s levels of positive disintegration.

1. Primary disintegration

This first level of development occurs in early childhood. Here the gifted child has his first crisis. Their instincts and selfish behavior are mixed with their interest in what is in their immediate context.

The desire to explore, discover, manipulate and learn leads them to mature faster than other children.

2. Unlimited disintegration

During this stage, the child or adolescent must feel accepted by their peers. However, they do not achieve that connection, which triggers the first serious existential crisis.

Positive disintegration: Spontaneous integration on several levels

Positive disintegration also occurs when an individual suddenly feels dissatisfied with who they are and what they have achieved to that point.

Gifted people usually reach this level in early adolescence. It makes them reformulate their goals and leave some projects and ideas behind. They feel at odds with themselves, but overcome it by coming up with new solutions.

4. Directed disintegration on several levels

The fourth level of personal development for gifted individuals, according to Dabrowski, occurs when they realize that they have spent a lot of time focusing on themselves and their needs. Maybe it’s time to open up to other people, be more altruistic and work for the greater good. During this stage, they adopt higher, more universal values.

Positive Disintegration: Secondary integration

Responsibility, kindness, altruism… In this last phase, the individual begins to focus on more abstract principles at a higher level. They have worked to help others and contribute through the work and efforts. Now they want to make their mark on the world. Their focus shifts to promoting progress.

Finally, it is an important thing to mention about positive disintegration. This model includes a very hopeful and at times unrealistic view of the world. Many people do not want to make the kind of progress that Dabrowski is talking about. These changes do not happen automatically. Many people get stuck, trapped in crises that lead to anxiety or depression.

Therefore, it is important to seek professional help in these moments of doubt and personal crises. Only then will you be able to achieve good mental health and well-being.