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CMM and Positive Disintegration Theory PDT

- A conversation hosted by the CMMI on the 8th of November 2022

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Webinar Program

1. Check-in
2. Introduction to the Theory of Positive Disintegration
3. A round of clarifying questions about the theory
4. Relations between PDT and CMM
5. Open dialogue
6. Closing

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Introduction to The Theory of Positive Disintegration

Brief introduction
Some key aspects of the theory
Resources for further exploration

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A very brief introduction

TPD is a developmental personality theory that describes the factors contributing to development, the process of development, and the characteristics of people at different levels of development. TPD was developed out of Kazimierz Dabrowski’s experience as a doctor of psychiatry and psychology and over two decades of clinical and biographical studies of patients, artists, writers, members of religious orders, and gifted children and adolescents […]. His experiences during both World Wars also played a major role in the development of his theory. Dabrowski wanted to explain “the juxtaposition of inhuman humans with those who were sensitive, capable of sacrifice, [and] courageous” (Ackerman, 2009, p. 81).

Ackerman, Cheryl M. “The Essential Elements of Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration and How They Are Connected.” Roeper Review 31, no. 2 (March 27, 2009): 81–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783190902737657.

Development requires disintegration

Roots in Piaget, Jackson, Mazurkiewicz

Four differentiating characteristics

Development is nonontogenetic
Focus on the developmental role of emotions
Idea that conflicts and mental illness are necessary for growth
There is a hierarchy of values, some are better than others

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Some key aspects of the theory

TPD has depth and breadth that cannot be conveyed in a single journal article. Each construct presented is complex and the reader is encouraged to delve into Dabrowski’s

writings for a more complete understanding of the theory (Ackerman, 2009, p. 81)

Three factors influencing development

Developmental Potential

Multilevelness and hierarchy of values

Developmental Dynamisms

Levels of Development

Psychic Overexcitabilities

Integrating the aspects

Applications

Three factors influencing development:

First: heredity.
Second: environment.
Third: ‘own forces’ arising from first and second, but irreducable to both. Includes autonomous processes brought to development.

Developmental Potential:

Psychic overexcitabilities (see later).
Special abilities and talents.
Autonomous Factors (Third factor).

Multilevelness and hierarchy of values:

Once the third factor becomes active, a person starts to distinguish between lower and higher ‘paths of thought, emotion, and action’.
From unilevel to multilevel personality structure.
Not automatic, but a result of a developed capacity to see what is and what ought to be.

Developmental Dynamisms:

Internal processes present during development that facilitate growth.
Presence and quality of dynamisms are indicators of developmental level.

Levels of development:

In addition to nonontogeneticicity, different in that one can start at a higher level than I and regression is possible, even temporally.
A person’s development an bridge more than one level, but these are in conflict.
No consistent progress over time. Intense periods of disintegration and periods of equilibrium.
Level one and five are integrated structures, levels, 2, 3 and 4 are disintegrated.
Disposing and Directing Center as a metaphor for deliberate choice in the moment.

I: Primary Integration: lack of inner conflict and self-reflection. Behavior towards satisfaction od basic needs. Conflict external and dependent on fit with environment.
II: Unilevel disintegration: begin to see multiple value systems, but relative. Results in hesitation, doubt, wavering, dynamisms: ambivalences, and ambitendencies. Can result in severe mental disorders.
III: Spontaneous Multilevel Disintegration: Emergence of a consciousness of what ought to be vs what is. A hierarchy of Values. Often triggered by major life event. Dynamisms: Positive Maladjustment, dissatisfaction with oneself, disquietude with oneself, astonishment with oneself, inferiority towards oneself. Personality ideal.
IV: Organized (Directed) Multilevel Disintegration: deliberate responsibility for one’s growth. Regression no longer possible once level IV fully established. Dynamisms: Subject-object in oneself, inner psychic transformation, pervasive self-awareness, self-control, eductaion of oneself, selfperfection, third factor, authentism, auto-psychotherapy.
V: Secondary Integration: Universal compassion and self-sacrifice. Not static but a state of peace and centeredness. DDC unified with personality ideal.

Overexcitabilities:

Innate.
Psychomotor (surplus of energy, expressions of emotional tension), sensual (enhanced sensory and aesthetic pleasure), imaginational (image, fantasy, spontaneity of visual, quickly bored), intellectual (love of solving problems that require intelligence), emotional (most important for personality growth, borad range of aspects).
People can have one, more, or none.
Present in gifted students, eminent and creative adults,
Essential for accelerated or higher development to occur (see developmental potential).

Integrating:

Overexcitabilities, levels of development, and dynamisms

are integrated in the process of positive disintegration.

Applications:

Gifted studies.
Counseling, therapy.
Adult Development.
Teacher training (see crises as an opportunity for development, distinguishing between OE and AD(H)D, …)

Clinical (Misdiagnosis, missed diagnosis, dual diagnosis)

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Resources for further exploration

Comprehensive website with archives and primary sources maintained by Bill Tillier:

Center to advance PDT through advocacy, education, and innovation

Positive Disintegration Podcast with hosts Chris Wells and Emma Nicholson

3rd factor magazine

Most recent conference presentations

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Webinar Program

1. Check-in
2. Introduction to the Theory of Positive Disintegration
3. A round of clarifying questions about the theory
4. Relations between PDT and CMM
5. Open dialogue
6. Closing

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What triggered me?�The name: POSITIVE disintegration!

PDT

Positive Disintegration

CMM

Paradox
Complexity
More than one thing true at the same time
Hope and Mystery

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Recognition and renaming - PDT

Over-excitability – not «too much» - indicated overwhelming sensitivity as a value
Rather than Psycho neurotic and a diagnosis – Positive disintegration process happening

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Recognition points

PDT

Levels of development
The role of making choices and becoming – Transformation

CMM

Kegan, Pearce
Choice making, critical moments etc - Transformation

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Recognition points – «bridges»

PDT

They eye for us having an impact in the world
Individual perspective
Formation of personality

CMM

Our role in the making of our social worlds
Social world/relational perspective (parallell processes)
Formation of social worlds

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Recogntion points – learning from each other: Ethical aspects and values

PDT

Focus on values
An awareness from «What is» to «What ought to be»
Values are synonomous with emotions
https://positivedisintegration.substack.com/ Values: «truthful, authentic, inclusive, kindness, connecting, honourable, supportive, encouraging, bold»

CMM

Focus on values
«What are we making» to «How do we make BETTER social worlds»
Questions: �Have we named the CMMI values – or just implicit? (Better for whom?) �Contradiction? �What – if anything – are we not seeing here?

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Ideas from PDT for consideration – maybe even inspiration

PDT

Uses difficult language that many people find frustrating
New terms and constructs introduced
Not «black and white», vagueness and subtelty reign
Advanced development is rare and follows a non-traditional path

CMM

Uses difficult language that many people find frustrating
New terms and constructs introduced
Not «black and white», vagueness and subtelty reign
What does «development» imply in CMM? Is it the same or different to the term «emergence»? If so – how – and – looking back and moving forward; how would this show itself on various levels into the future?�

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Goal PDT/`CMM – and final remarks

PDT

Authentic personality – diverse social world (my understanding!)��
Best understood by the application in one’s own life

CMM

Diverse social world – authentic personality (my understanding!)��
Best understood by the application in one’s own life

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….. and (more) questions

How (if at all!) does the idea of a Positive Disintegration framework for understanding a variety of intense individual experiences that often can look and feel like mental illnesses and are viewed as building blocks for creating an authentic personality / relate to viewing CMM/the making of better social worlds as a framework where authentic and diverse social worlds emerges from, and/or even need crisis, disintegration and disharmony in order to find developmental thrusts upwards?� ->Including the creation of new evolutionary dynamics and a moving to a higher level?
TDP states that «advanced development is rare and follows a non-traditional path.» And: «Higher levels of development does not necessarily depend on an unfolding from lower levels.» Could this also be true of CMM, and if so, how could naming it this way be helpful to the CMM being/thinking/doings in the world?

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Webinar Program

1. Check-in
2. Introduction to the Theory of Positive Disintegration
3. A round of clarifying questions about the theory
4. Relations between PDT and CMM
5. Open dialogue
6. Closing