Contemporary Interpretations and Applications of the Theory of Positive Disintegration

The authors of the present study intend to show that the Theory of Positive Disintegration of K. Dąbrowski can be widely applied today. Undoubtedly, the advantage of Dabrowskfs concept of development is displaying the universal values and the scale of developmental difficulties as key factors in the process of becoming a person. Dąbrowski presents the positive aspects of these processes, exposing their developmental character. By formulating the idea of positive disintegration, Dąbrowski initiates research studies on the processes of auto-creation, in which internal conflicts, crises, and difficult experiences play an unusual role in a mans personal growth. These innovative initiatives spur a series of original solutions proposed by Dąbrowski. On the theoretical-developmental level these are: taking into account the vertical and horizontal dimensions of development. On the metho-dological level Dąbrowski suggested the following: capturing individual paths of development in a holistic manner, and the dynamie statistics. Linking the theoretical-developmental and methodological proposals, Dąbrowski creates a genetic-teleological vision of human development, in which he takes into consideration the direction of changes in human behavior indicated by values as well as the multi-dimensional and multi-level understanding of transformation. The articles present the issue concerning various stages of human development understood from or referring to the perspective of Dabrowskis concept.From Introduction