Dabrowski's Multilevelness of Emotional And Instinctive Functions

Re: Brief Look at Dabrowski's Multilevelness of Emotional And Instinctive Functions

Thank you obyvatel for opening the thread it is truthfully a very important piece of information,i'm reading at the moment the book 9/11 The utimate Truth so on the second part of the book reading important fragments of A. Lobaczewski's work (political Ponerology) i observed that he mentioned Dabrowski's work :the theory The Positive Desintegration and it made me curious,to find more about this theory,certainly i want to know and understand more the work of D.Dabrowski beceause for there is much to learn from,thank you once again.
 
Re: Brief Look at Dabrowski's Multilevelness of Emotional And Instinctive Functions

Some more excerpts about overexcitabilities (oe) .


Psychic overexcitability is a term introduced to denote a variety of nervousness (a heightened sensitivity and responsiveness to stimuli). It appears in five forms: emotional, imaginational, intellectual, psychomotor and sensual.

The prefix over attached to 'excitability' serves to indicate that the reactions of excitation are over and above average in intensity, duration and frequency. There is another essential feature characteristic for reactions of oe, namely, that the response is specific for that type of oe which is dominant in a given individual. For instance, a person with prevailing emotional oe will always consider the emotional tone and emotional implications of intellectual questions, i.e. what do they mean for people's feelings and experiences. Because of this such a person may fail to appreciate intellectual insights if they do not translate into human relationships. And conversely, a highly intellectual person may, in extreme case, be so caught up in the analysis of feelings and behavior, and his need to seek causal relations to everything that he may not be capable of a genuine emotional relationship with another person.
.............

Sensual o.e is a function of heightened experiencing of sensory pleasure. It manifests itself as need for comfort, luxury, esthetics, fashions, superficial relations with others, frequent changes of lovers etc. As with the psychomotor form it also may, but need not be, a manifestation of a transfer of emotional tension to sensual forms of expression of which the most common examples are overeating and excessive sexual stimulation.
In children sensual oe manifests itself as a need for cuddling, kissing, clinging to mother's body, early heightened interest in sexual matters, showing off, and a need to be with others all the time.

Psychomotor oe is a function of an excess of energy and manifests itself, for example, in rapid talk, restlessness, violent games, sports, pressure for action, or delinquent behavior. It may either be a "pure" manifestation of the excess of energy, or it may result from the transfer of emotional tension to psychomotor forms of expression as those mentioned above.

Imaginational oe in its "pure" form manifests itself through associations of images and impressions, inventiveness, use of image and metaphor in verbal expression, strong and sharp visualization. In its "impure" form emotional tension is transferred to dreams, nightmares, mixing of truth and fiction, fears of the unknown, etc. Imaginational oe leads to an intense living in the world of fantasy, predilection for fairy and magic tales, poetic creations, or invention of fantastic stories.

Intellectual oe in contrast to the first three does not distinctly manifest transfer of emotional tension to intellectual activity under specific forms. This does not mean that intellectual and emotional processes of high intensity do not occur together. They do, but they do not appear to take on such distinct forms. Intellectual oe is manifested as a drive to ask probing questions, avidity for knowledge, theoretical thinking, reverence for logic, preoccupation with theoretical problems etc.

Emotional oe is a function of experiencing emotional relationships. The relationships can manifest themselves as strong attachment to persons, living things, or places. From the developmental point of view presented here intensity of feelings and display of emotions alone are not developmentally significant unless the experiential aspect of relationship is present. This distinction is very important.
For example, when a child is refused candy he may throw a temper tantrum just to show his anger. Or, he may go away sad thinking he is not loved. In the first case we have a display of emotion alone, in the second a relationship. The manifestations of emotional oe include inhibition (timidity and shyness), excitation (enthusiasm), strong affective memory, concern with death, fears, anxieties, depressions, feelings of loneliness, need for security, concern for others, exclusive relationships, difficulties of adjustment in new environments, etc. Relationships of friendship and love are developed usually with very few persons or only one person. For an "emotional" person as defined here such exclusive relationships often are the only source of meaning in life.

In children, emotional oe is easily observed when a child cries at the sight of a dead bird, when it becomes absorbed in thought and worry on seeing physical deformation or handicap, when it suffers insomnia or nightmares after an upsetting film, or when it is moved to be generous to others and tries to hide it.

Each of the forms of oe, however, does not usually appear in isolation from the other forms. In a profile of a person who shows signs of oe we will normally find a dominant form accompanied by varying strengths of the other forms. Only in the case of development limited to primary integration we may observe no oe or only psychomotor or sensual forms.

The different forms of oe are not of the same significance for development. As was just mentioned, the psychomotor and sensual forms cannot by themselves break down the cohesive structure of primary integration. Psychomotor oe is characterized by restlessness, need for activity, muscular tension. None of it leads necessarily to the engagement of psychic processes. The case is similar for sensual oe which is characterized by extreme extraversion, seeking pleasure, comfort, superficial beauty, high turnover of contacts with others, and is antagonistic to solitude, reflection and enriching lasting relationships.

The oe s of greatest developmental significance are the emotional, imaginational and intellectual. They give rise to psychic richness, the ability for a broad and expanding insight into many levels and dimensions of reality, for prospection and introspection, for control and self-control (arising from the interplay of excitation and inhibition). This they are essential to the development of the inner psychic milieu.

Psychic oe in each of its forms is displayed either in all-inclusive or confined forms. For instance, in an all-inclusive form emotional oe may seize the whole psyche in a stream of psychoneurotic process such as general depression or anxiety. In its confined form, it is displayed, for instance, as phobias. In such reactions as neurasthenia (condition with symptoms of fatigue, neuralgia depressed moods etc) or hypochondriasis (having mental symptoms without accompanying physical issues), emotional oe is also in its confined form.
Psychomotor oe in the all-inclusive form manifests itself as as a general restlessness, sudden movements, explosions of anger or screaming. There may be psychomotor crises, which although similar in display to the above, reach deeper into psychic life, even to the unconscious and the subconscious, last longer and have a poorer prognosis. Confined forms of psychomotor oe appear as ticks and hyperkineses.
The all-inclusive forms of oe are more conducive and receptive to developmental transformations.
 
Re: Brief Look at Dabrowski's Multilevelness of Emotional And Instinctive Functions

Levels of Overexcitability

At lower levels of development oe is more often confined than all-inclusive and more often it occurs in isolation from other forms. The characteristics of a low level of development as being primitive, of little consciousness (reflection) and control, ahierarchical, egocentric, selfish and non-creative, apply also to the manifestations of oe. The characteristics of a high level of development are the very opposite.

For example, a person of high level of emotional oe displays great deal of inner psychic transformation, a rich hierarchical inner psychic milieu and strong control by inhibition. Such a person is sensitive. A person of low level of emotional oe will be distinctly irritable and insensitive to others, egocentric, poorly reflective, of little insight and empathy. His inner psychic milieu will be ahierarchical.

A person of high level of psychomotor oe will manifest great abilities towards planning, dynamic course of action and organizational abilities, while a person of low level of psychomotor oe will manifest violent irritability, lack of control in outward expression of his crises such as acting out, physical fights and destruction.

The interaction between different forms of oe leads to important developmental consequences. It was said earlier that the psychomotor and the sensual forms by themselves cannot promote development to a higher level. However, in combination with the other forms such as emotional, intellectual, and imaginational, they can be transformed and raised to a higher level. Thus, for instance, emotional oe (provided it is all inclusive and sufficiently developed) introduces controlling, inhibiting factors to psychomotricity and sensuality. Imaginational oe enriches them by elements of fantasy, humor and prospection which tends to diffuse and control the primitive drive aspect of enhanced psychomotricity and sensuality, by transferring the energy of the impulse to a different and broader territory.

Enhanced excitability, especially in its higher forms, allows for a broader, richer, multilevel, and multidimensional perception of reality. The reality of the external and of the inner world is conceived in all its multiple aspects. In consequence, oe plays a fundamental role in the development of dynamisms, their tension, their seeking for channels leading "upward", their positive maladjustment and transformation not only of the inner milieu but also of the external milieu.


Sensual Oe

Level 1

Sensualism in everyday contacts - "epidermal" attitudes of like and dislike, excessive kissing, caressing and hugging (children as well as adults), excessive eating, especially sweets, frequent nibbling, capriciousness in foods, laziness, frequent masturbation at the slightest stimulation.

Level 2

Periods of some reflection resulting in certain amount of attenuation of primitive sensualism and sexualism. At times, through short-lived astonishment or disquietude in relation to one's sensuality, some inhibition. In sexual needs egocentrism begins to weaken and yields to some personal consideration for sexual partners.

Level 3

Strong linkage of sensual oe with emotional and imaginational. This leads to hierarchization of sensuality through inner conflicts, inhibition, greater control, critical self-evaluation and deepened syntony (i.e. greater empathy). There is growing introvertization. Inclinations towards demonstrativeness and exhibitionism become sublimated and refined.

Level 4

At this level sensuality never appears in isolated forms but is controlled and transformed by higher forms of oe. This manifests itself in esthetic sensitivity, in responsiveness to the beauty of nature, in high level of dramatization such as perceiving movement and contrast in emotional attitudes and relationships - a sense of human drama, in the inclination for concreteness in relation to events, places, people and relationships. Sensual oe adds to the warmth and cordiality in expressing empathy.

Psychomotor oe

Level1

Violent irritability and uncontrollable temper with easy return to equilibrium, general restlessness, impulsive actions, need for frequent changes of jobs and places, primitive wanderlust (impulse to be constantly on the go), juvenile delinquency (frequent running away from home, frequent attempts of escape from detention, stealing of cars, getting into fights etc.).

Level 2

Ambivalences and ambitendencies bring about, from time to time, a suspension of the drivenness of activity and replace it instead by somewhat more controlled activity.

Level 3

Psychomotor oe comes into closer linkage with higher forms of oe (emotional, imaginational and intellectual) and begins to be transformed and modified by them. Within the drivenness of psychomotor oe appear inhibitions, multilevel conflicts, energetic search for channels "upward". Psychomotricity plays thus a role in the formation of a new disposing and directing center at a higher level because of the person's decisiveness.

Level 4

Psychomotor oe provides the dynamics and energy for carrying out a developmental program of action. In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras we find a statement: "Success in yoga comes quickly to those who are intensely energetic". At this level psychomotor oe is totally sublimated to higher forms of oe and provides them with "executive" power.

Emotional oe

Level 1

Aggressiveness, irritability, lack of inhibition, lack of control, envy, unreflective periods of isolation, or an incessant need for tenderness and attention, which can be observed, for instance, in mentally retarded children.

Level 2

Fluctuations, sometimes extreme, between inhibition and excitation, approach and avoidance, high tension and relaxation or depression, syntony and asyntony, feelings of inferiority and superiority. These are different forms of ambivalence and ambitendency.

Level 3

Interiorization of conflict, differentiation of a hierarchy of feelings, growth of exclusivity of feelings and indissoluble relationships of friendship and love. Emotional oe appears in a broader union with intellectual and imaginational oe in the process of working out and organizing one's own emotional development. The dynamisms of spontaneous multilevel disintegration are primarily the product of emotional oe.

Level 4

Emotional oe in association with other forms becomes the dominant dimension of development. It gives rise to states of elevated consciousness and profound empathy, depth and exclusivity of relationships of love and friendship. There is a sense of transcending and resolving one's personal experiences in a more universal context.

Imaginational oe

Level 1

Imagination is in the service of sensualism and impulsiveness. It is manifested in confabulation, facile mendacity, identification with such externally defined roles as for instance, the office of the president or "I am the boss". It is also manifested in theatrical gestures to enhance the effect. Mesmerism of rally and revival speakers belongs here as well.


Level 2

Productive and seemingly fertile creativity, primitive suggestibility (magic, witchcraft, spiritism), success in acting on stage but not as the highest and universal art. Unselective taste for fantasy and adventure stories. Occasionally intense visions of the future, egocentric fantasy (self-delusion) and anxiety states. Frequent dreams and daydreaming, interest in dream symbolism, especially sexual.

Level 3

Imaginational oe becomes more closely associated with emotional and intellectual forms. There is differentiation of "lower" from the "higher" in imagination and creativity. Dreams and symbolic contents are distinctly multilevel. Dreams and visions of the ideal. Creative instinct makes contact with the instinct of self-perfection.


Level 4

Level 3 characteristics become intensified at this level. They serve as tools of conscious development of personality; they become more fully engaged in the realization of the transcendental needs.


Intellectual oe

Level 1

Intellectual activity consists mainly of skillful manipulation of data and information ("a brain like a computer"). Intelligence rather than intellectual oe serves as an instrument subservient to the dictates of primitive drives.

Level 2

The functions of intelligence become uncertain and at times suspended by greater emotional needs. Internal opposition, ambivalences and ambitendencies create a fair chance of disconnection of the linkage between intelligence and primitive drives. This creates the possibility of incipient opposition against the ruling power of primitive instincts. Such an opposition, in the course of progressing of development, creates the possibility of multilevel internal conflicts.

We observe erudition which can be extensive and brilliant but without the systematization and evaluation of knowledge, there is no felt necessity to penetrate into the meaning of knowledge, to analyze in order to uncover the "hidden order of things", or to arrive at a deeper synthesis. Exceptional abilities in many fields can be, nevertheless, one-sided.

Level 3

Intellectual oe intensifies the tendency towards inner conflicts and intensifies the activity of all dynamisms of spontaneous multilevel disintegration. It enhances the development of awareness and of self-awareness. It develops the need for finding the meaning of knowledge and of human experience. Conflict and cooperation with emotional oe. Development of intuitive intelligence.

Level 4

Intellectual oe in close linkage with emotional and imaginational operates in a united harmony of drives, emotions and volition. The disposing and directing center is more closely unified with personality (the level of secondary integration). Intellectual interests are extensive, universal and multilevel. Great deal of interest and effort in objectivization of the hierarchy of values. Inclinations towards synthesis. Intellectual-emotional and intellectual-emotional-imaginational linkages are the basis of highly creative intelligence.
 
Re: Brief Look at Dabrowski's Multilevelness of Emotional And Instinctive Functions

Thanks for taking the time to post this, Obyvatel -- it's even more interesting now that we have some additional context to put it in on the HSP thread. I've been wanting to read Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration for awhile now, but kept putting it off in deference to other reading -- it's back on the top of the stack now. It's interesting that this seems to reinforce Gurdjieff's assertion that the emotional center is the least-developed of the centers in the general population.

What I think is neat about the four levels of the five types of oe categories above is that it gives a clearly defined roadmap to do Work on the self -- if we're able to be objective and honest with ourselves (and better with feedback from others), we can probably figure out what level we fall in for each category. For example, if one feels that level 2 describes them well in some category, they can read the description of level 3 to get an idea of what they might need to focus on on the way to level 4.
 
Just want to give everyone a heads up that Dabrowski's book, Personality-Shaping, is back in print!

See the announcement here: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,38627.0.html

And the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Personality-Shaping-Positive-Disintegration-Kazimierz-Dabrowski/dp/069242749X/
 

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