Introduction to Positive Disintegration Splash!, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 11/22/14 Josh Shaine Locus of Thought 7 North End Road Townsend, MA (978)

Dr. Dabrowski: worked with psychotic/psychoneurotic people wondered why some people reacted more extremely than others concluded that his patients were having sane reactions to an insane world developed the Theory of Positive Disintegration

Key Elements Levels of Personality DevelopmentLevels of Personality Development DynamismsDynamisms Psychic Overexcitabilities (OE’s)Psychic Overexcitabilities (OE’s)

Levels of Personality Development Primary IntegrationPrimary Integration Unilevel DisintegrationUnilevel Disintegration Spontaneous Multilevel DisintegrationSpontaneous Multilevel Disintegration Organized Multilevel DisintegrationOrganized Multilevel Disintegration Secondary IntegrationSecondary Integration TIP Levels are neither rigid nor are they ‘one-way.’

Primary Integration Formerly called “Primitive” IntegrationFormerly called “Primitive” Integration EgocentrismEgocentrism “If it’s good for me, it’s good!”“If it’s good for me, it’s good!”

Unilevel Disintegration Moral Relativism or externally based moralityMoral Relativism or externally based morality –Dabrowski vs. Piechowski vs. Shaine “If it’s okay with you, it’s okay!”“If it’s okay with you, it’s okay!” Permanent Instability?Permanent Instability?

Spontaneous Multilevel Disintegration Inner Conflict, existential despairInner Conflict, existential despair “I know what is right, but I’ll never be able to do it!”“I know what is right, but I’ll never be able to do it!” The Myth of SisyphusThe Myth of Sisyphus

Organized Multilevel Disintegration Self-directed LifeSelf-directed Life “Doing well, being good!”“Doing well, being good!”

Secondary Integration Personality IdealPersonality Ideal “To be is to do good!”“To be is to do good!”

Dynamisms “The structure of the inner psychic milieu”“The structure of the inner psychic milieu” First Factor - GeneticFirst Factor - Genetic Second Factor - EnvironmentalSecond Factor - Environmental Third Factor - Autonomous ProcessesThird Factor - Autonomous Processes Other DynamismsOther Dynamisms

First Factor - Genetic Provides the foundationProvides the foundation Source of Psychic OverexcitabilitiesSource of Psychic Overexcitabilities May be a limiting factorMay be a limiting factor

Second Factor - Environmental Source of ConflictSource of Conflict Less of a limiting factorLess of a limiting factor Stronger influence at lower levelsStronger influence at lower levels

Third Factor - Autonomous Processes Source of DriveSource of Drive If you don’t have it, Level V is unattainableIf you don’t have it, Level V is unattainable Influence starts at Level IIIInfluence starts at Level III

Disposing and Directing Center Main Primitive Drive (Level I)Main Primitive Drive (Level I) Multiple Wills (Level II)Multiple Wills (Level II) Ascending and Descending (Level III)Ascending and Descending (Level III) At the 4th and 5th Levels, the DDC and Third Factor overlap Unified (Level IV) Personality Ideal (Level V)

Other Dynamisms - Group C Temperamental SyntonyTemperamental Syntony Inner ConflictInner Conflict IdentificationIdentification EmpathyEmpathy Creative InstinctCreative Instinct Levels Levels Levels Level 3 (L. 4 starts Self-Perfection)

Other Dynamisms - Level II AbivalencesAbivalences AmbitendenciesAmbitendencies Not being prepared to insist things are this way or that way, but that they could be either.

Other Dynamisms - Level III Positive MaladjustmentPositive Maladjustment Feelings of GuiltFeelings of Guilt Feelings of ShameFeelings of Shame Astonishment with OneselfAstonishment with Oneself Inferiority toward Oneself Dissatisfaction with Oneself Hierarchization

Other Dynamisms - Level IV These each get started at Level III, but are strongly in Level IV. Most of them continue being an influence at Level V as well. Self-Control and Self-Awareness are the major exceptions.These each get started at Level III, but are strongly in Level IV. Most of them continue being an influence at Level V as well. Self-Control and Self-Awareness are the major exceptions.

Other Dynamisms - Level IV Personality IdealPersonality Ideal AutonomyAutonomy AuthentismAuthentism ResponsibilityResponsibility Subject-Object in OneselfSubject-Object in Oneself Education of Oneself Autopsychotherapy Self-Control Self-Awareness Inner Psychic Transformation

Forms and Expressions of Psychic Overexcitabilities What is an Overexcitability?What is an Overexcitability? PsychomotorPsychomotor SensualSensual IntellectualIntellectual ImaginationalImaginational EmotionalEmotional

Psychomotor High energyHigh energy Physical expressions of emotional tensionPhysical expressions of emotional tension Other ramificationsOther ramifications

Sensual Any or all of the five sensesAny or all of the five senses A need for sensory stimulationA need for sensory stimulation Unlooked for consequences - allergies, etc.Unlooked for consequences - allergies, etc.

Intellectual Analysis, “Why’s,” Theoretical thinkingAnalysis, “Why’s,” Theoretical thinking Sense of JusticeSense of Justice Most easily recognized of the OE’sMost easily recognized of the OE’s

Imaginational Magical thinking/personification of the inanimateMagical thinking/personification of the inanimate Spontaneous imagery as expression of emotional tensionSpontaneous imagery as expression of emotional tension “They used to call me a liar. Now they call me a story teller!” - Isaac Bashevis Singer“They used to call me a liar. Now they call me a story teller!” - Isaac Bashevis Singer

Emotional Least understood of the OE’sLeast understood of the OE’s Intensity of feelingsIntensity of feelings Introverted and/or Extraverted sensitivityIntroverted and/or Extraverted sensitivity Affective memoryAffective memory Somatic ExpressionsSomatic Expressions Feelings of inferiority (?!)Feelings of inferiority (?!)

Dabrowski as part of everyday life… Recognizing sources of conflictRecognizing sources of conflict Understanding ‘fit’Understanding ‘fit’ Betwixt and between levelsBetwixt and between levels

In Conclusion Remember:Remember: –Dynamisms –OE’s –Levels of Personality Development Look in the mirrorLook in the mirror Where do you go from here?Where do you go from here?