Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration

"Dabrowski talked about OE's - over-excitabilities ("superstimulatabilities"), and how the gifted were extremely sensitive in a variety of areas. It's a stimulus-response difference from the norms. It means that in these 5 areas a person reacts more strongly than normal for a longer period than normal to a stimulus that may be very small. It involves not just psychological factors but central nervous system sensitivity." Stephanie Tolan, Dabrowski's Over-excitabilities, A Layman's Explanation

Also visit Social / Emotional, Sensitivities, Spirituality, Counseling, and Depression and Suicide
  ...and Social Stuff in Hot Topics! for Social/Emotional books for our kids...

Living With Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Adults by Susan Daniels & Michael M. Piechowski

Do you know an intense gifted child?  You must read this book!  An easy-to-read volume for parents, teachers, psychologists, everyone dealing with the gifted child, that explains the inexplicable, and guides us all in guiding the growth and development of our gifted children...

 

Dabrowski’s Theory and Existential Depression in Gifted Children and Adults by James T. Webb

People who are bright are usually more intense, sensitive, and idealistic, and they can see the inconsistencies and absurdities in the values and behaviors of others. This kind of sensitive awareness and ideal ism makes them more likely to ask themselves difficult questions... In coping with existential depression, we must realize that existential concerns are not issues that can be dealt with only once, but will probably need frequent revisiting and reconsideration. We can support others and help them understand that disintegration is a necessary step toward new growth and meaning—it can eventually be positive (requires ^{Adobe Reader})
 

Dabrowski's Over-excitabilities, A Layman's Explanation by Stephanie Tolan

The title pretty much says it all... but read on!
 

Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration by Elizabeth Mika

notes on Dabrowski's Theory and the various overexcitabilities, with possible causes and solutions
 

Foundations for understanding the social-emotional needs of the highly gifted by Ellen Fiedler

Theoretical perspective for shedding light on psychosocial correlates of gifts based on Dabrowski. According to Dabrowski, the theory has two key facets: levels of emotional development and overexcitabilities or areas of intensity that individuals may possess...
 

Living & Learning With Overexcitabilities by Cindy Strickland

a teaching unit for gifted middle school students, full of teaching aids, and ready to roll
 

Overexcitabilities used to predict giftedness by Teresa Gallagher, Born to Explore

Over the past few decades researchers have been trying to map out the correlation between "overexcitabilities" and giftedness...
 

Overexcitability and the gifted by Sharon Lind

...intensity, sensitivity and overexcitability are primary characteristics of the highly gifted. These observations are supported by parents and teachers who notice distinct behavioral and constitutional differences between highly gifted children and their peers.  Find strategies for dealing with overexcitabilites, and joys in overexcitabilities!
 

Perfectionism: The Crucible of Giftedness by Linda Kreger Silverman, originally published in Advanced Development Journal, 1999, 8, 47-61

There are positive as well as negative aspects of perfectionism, depending on how it is channeled. As one gains higher consciousness, perfectionism becomes a catalyst for self-actualization and humanitarian ideals. Dabrowski’s theory allows us to see how perfectionism changes in form at different levels of development... (requires ^{Adobe Reader})
 

The Theory of Positive Disintegration

Bill Tillier's definitive web site...