Overexcitabilities was a topic that had not been discussed on #gtchat since October of 2012, and obviously one that needed revisited considering the overwhelming number of votes it received in our weekly poll.
Kazimierz Dąbrowski is a familiar name in the gifted community as well as in the field of psychology. His theories of Positive Disintegration and Overexcitabilites, although not originally posited for gifted individuals only, were adopted by gifted advocates and academics as a way to explain many of the behaviors they saw in the gifted; particularly the concept of overexcitabilities.
Dąbrowski died in 1980, but two men who worked with him, Michael Piechowski and William Tillier, are closely associated with his work; albeit with significantly different interpretations. For a historical perspective, links have been included with this post to more fully cover this debate as it was not covered during the chat.
So exactly who was Kazimierz Dąbrowski and how did his theories come to influence the gifted community? He was a Polish psychologist, psychiatrist and physician who lived from 1902 to 1980. His theories, as mentioned above, serve as a framework for understanding certain gifted characteristics. Dąbrowski believed ability/intelligence plus overexcitability predicted the potential for higher-level development. (Lind) For an excellent review of his influence on gifted theory, see this article by Sharon Lind at the SENG website.
Interview with Dąbrowski recorded in October 1975 in Edmonton (Canada) by PJ Reece
Concentrating on overexcitabilities, there are 5 types: Psychomotor, Sensual, Intellectual, Imaginational, and Emotional. Creative and gifted individuals appear to express overexcitabilities to a greater degree through increased intensity, awareness and sensitivity. These characteristics can often lead to misdiagnosis in gifted children by professionals unfamiliar and untrained in recognizing these traits.
Strategies have been developed for coping with overexcitabilities. Talking with and explaining the concept of overexcitabilities with those experiencing them tends to be a good coping strategy. In the case of children allowing them to ‘move’ and expend their energy in a safe and caring environment can be a huge benefit; especially in classroom settings. Provide stimulating and challenging coursework in educational settings for children with intellectual overexcitability can affect their lives in dramatic ways as well as prevent underachievement and boredom.
For a transcript of this chat, visit our Storify site.
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Fridays at 7/6 C & 4 PT in the U.S., midnight in the UK and Saturdays 1 PM NZDT/11 AM AEDT to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
Interview with Prof. Kazimierz Dąbrowski 1975 (YouTube 22:38)
Five Unexpected Traits of Gifted Students from Byrdseed Gifted
Dąbrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration & Giftedness: Overexcitability Research Findings (pdf)
Living With Intensity: Understanding Sensitivity, Excitability & Emotional Development of the Gifted (Amazon)
Dąbrowski’s Over-excitabilities A Layman’s Explanation by Stephanie Tolan
Identifying Gifted Adolescents using Personality Characteristics: Dąbrowski’s Overexcitabilities (pdf)
Overexcitabilities & the Gifted Child from Duke TIP
Living with Intensity Understanding Giftedness through Dąbrowski’s Eyes
Overexcitabilities & Why They Matter for Gifted Kids
Overexcitabilities A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Your Gifted Child (pdf)
Dąbrowski’s Theory & Existential Depression in Gifted Children & Adults (pdf) by Dr. James T. Webb
Relationships between Overexcitabilities, Big 5 Personality Traits & Giftedness in Adolescents via @sbkaufman
Dabrowski’s Overexcitabilities or Supersensitivities in Gifted Children
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Amazon)
Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration (Amazon)
Overexcitabilities & Sensitivities: Implications of Dabrowski’s TPD for Counseling the Gifted
Foundations for Understanding Social-Emotional Needs of Highly Gifted from Davidson Gifted
Mellow Out, They Say If I Only Could: Intensities & Sensitivities of the Young & Bright (Amazon)
Dąbrowski 201: Intro to Kazimierz Dąbrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration by William Tillier (pdf)
Point-Counter Point Piechowski and Tillier: Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration http://goo.gl/0bn3dV
Response to William Tillier’s “Conceptual differences between Piechowski and Dabrowski” (pdf)
Can Giftedness be Misdiagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder? Empirical Evidence (pdf)
Thank you to Leslie Graves (President of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children), Dr. Brian Housand (NAGC Board of Directors, #gtchat Advisory Board, Amy Harrington (SENG Board of Directors), Jo Freitag (Gifted Resources), Corin Goodwin (Executive Director of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum), Dr. Marianne Kuzujanakis (SENG Director and Medical Liaison) , Amanda Morin, and Jerry Blumengarten (Cybraryman).
The OEQ 2 Inventory (pdf)
Gifted Articles: Overexcitability on Livebinders
Educating the Educator – Gifted Education (AUS): Overexcitability
Dąbrowski’s Theory of Overexcitabilities
The Intellectual and Emotional Experience of Being Gifted and Talented
Overexcitabilities and Asynchronicity and Perfectionism! Oh, My!
Gifted: Overexcitabilities and Asynchronicity
Nurturing the Gifted Mind: Intellectual Overexcitabilities
Gifted Homeschoolers Forum Brochures
Reducing the Risk of Medical Misdiagnosis from SENG
How to Help Your Grade-Schooler Manage Overexcitement
How to Help Your Middle- or High-Schooler Manage Overexcitement
GHF: Tips from an Occupational Therapist
Overexcitabilities on Livebinders from Leslie Graves
Cybraryman’s Coping Strategies Page
Sprite’s Site Do You Know the Dabrowski Dogs?
Sprite’s Site Doggy Classroom Dynamics
Sprite’s Site Travelling with the Dabrowski Dogs
Sprite’s Site Critical Thinking
Sprite’s Site Be Creative with the Dabrowski Dogs
Graphic courtesy of Lisa Conrad.
Global #gtchat 
4 thoughts on “Dąbrowski’s Overexcitabilities”