Author: merja
Date:Apr 22 2019
The theory of positive disintegration. What can be positive about
disintegration, you may ask?
Disintegration means breakdown, collapse, ruin, but it also means
dismantling as a prelude to
construction and subsequent creation at a higher level. The pheonix effect. If
we think of the self
as having many parts working together, we are relying on a concept of order or
structure. Things
can and do change in th self, as they do everywhere else in life. As a result
of great loss, grief
and despair, one may experience an inner fragmentation, a collapse, even a
breakdown. That's the
disintegration part. For example, when love has ended or left the
relationship, one may become so
upset that life for him loses meaning, thereby triggering a process of psychic
crumbling. Such a
breakdown, if he feels no hope, may proceed to a full disintegration. But one
he starts to question
himself and realize that others have lived through similar experiences, that
one cannot make
another person responsible for one's happiness, he is on th way out of the
disintegration. Inner
growth begins, and it's positive---a process of emotional development within
the broader context of
personality development.
Human development is powered by the tension between the higher and lower, the
good and the bad, experienced within the self. The drama of inner seeking,
figuring out the world, feeling anguish, questioning the meaning of human
existence, testing oneâs values and ideals, growing in empathy and
understanding of othersâthese are the elements that encompass the striving for
optimal human development. Human development is characterized by reflection,
self-evaluation, and the urge fo inner transformation.
Five overexcitabilities [superstimulatability]: 1) Psychomotor, movement,
restlessness, drivenness, an augmented capacity for being active and
energetic. 2) Sensual, enhanced refinement and aliveness of sensual
experience. 3) Intellectual, thirst for knowledge, discovery, questioning,
love of ideas and theoretical analysis, search for truth. 4) Imaginational,
vividness of imagery, richness of association, facility for dreams, fantasies,
and invetions, endowig toys and other objects with personality [animism],
preference for the unusual and unique. 5) Emotional, great depth and
intensity of emotional life expressed in a wide range of feelings, great
happens to profound sadness o despair, compassion, responsibility,
self-examination.
Similar to the aspects of Temperment, overexcitabilities are often noticed
quite early in life. For example, gifted children tend to be more active and
more alert than most children and display a higher energy level, whether
physical, intellectual, or emotional. Their intensity is greater than average,
sometimes extreme and an overabundance of energy enhances their experience.
This surplus of energy, or psychomotor overexcitability, has to be discharged
through action.
Liking with passion what is pleasant and disliking intensely what is
unpleasant characterizes sensual overexcitability.
Intellectual overexcitability is the characteristic and intelligence about the
ability to solve problems, but excitability is about the passion for solving
them. When emotional and mental energies meet, the mind supplies the
intellectual power of concentration, while emotional energy drives the
interest and the passion in pursuing them.
Highly creative individuals display their equitable imagination especially in
rich and surprising ways, with a vast concept encompassing activity and
application in wide and diverse areas, literature, the arts, science,
technology, culture and interpersonal relationships. Boredom is anathema
the need fo novelty is absolute.
Emotional overexcitability finds expression in a wide range of emotions and
expressions and feelings. Compassion, caring, and responsibility are
prominent, and it can reach extremes of sensitivity and intensity. Emotional
intensity becomes evident early and and tends to stay with a person for life,
It is also quite independent of what actually evoked the intense emotional
response.
Unfortunately the stronger these overexcitabilities are, the less peers and
teachers welcome them. Developing understanding the this is the childâs innate
makeup facilitates tolerance and acceptances and oneâs hopes, even an
appreciation of these fertile qualities.
overexcitability is often viewed by others as overreacting or as inappropriate
behavior needing to be tempered. It should really be viewed, however, as a
contributor to optimal development.