Personality Development Through Positive Disintegration

"This profound book -- in addition to being the definitive work about the psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski -- contains extraordinary summaries about many aspects of modern psychology. With its clear explanations, its comprehensive index, and its biographical information about Dabrowski's life and works, the book should be read not only in university courses, but also by practicing psychologists, and by everyone interested in piercing the mysteries of human development."

~ Michael Pastore

"I had never heard of Kazimerz Dabrowski before I read William Tillier's remarkable book. The Polish psychiatrist's model of personality development contains so much insight that I have already cited him in my own work. Dabrowski was a shrewd commentator on the human condition, especially in such areas as personality development, education, and suicide. His contributions heralded such perspectives as humanistic psychology, existential psychology, and positive psychology. It was a profound revelation to read this book, and gratitude must be offered to Tillier so that potential readers do not have to learn Polish to appreciate Dabrowski's wisdom."

~ Stanley Krippner

William (Bill) Tillier, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Calgary and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Alberta. It was there he met Dr. Dbrowski and became his student. Bill worked as a forensic psychologist for over 20 years before developing a neuromuscular disorder. Dbrowski and his work remained a passion for Bill, who created a Dbrowski website and promoted and distributed Dbrowski's original works. He has also been involved with many Dbrowski conferences and written an introduction to the republication of Dbrowski's seminal work, Positive Disintegration. Bill is on disability leave and spends his time doing research and volunteering.

table of contents

Acknowledgments............................................................................... vii

Table of Contents................................................................................. ix

Expanded Table of Contents................................................................ xi

Foreword.......................................................................................... xvii

Overview........................................................................................... xxi

1. Dbrowski’s Unique Approach to Mental Health and Development 1


2. Multilevelness, Multidimensionality and Dbrowski’s Five Levels 35


3. Developmental Potential 69


4. The Developmental Process and Psychoneuroses 101


5. Key Psychological Structures of Development 139


6. The Foundations of Dbrowski’s Approach 183


7. Dbrowski in Context 219


8. The Role of Self-actualization in Dbrowski’s Approach 307


9. Education 325


10. Conclusion 347

Appendix 1. A Biography of Kazimierz Dbrowski 351

Appendix 2. Selected Resources Relating to Dbrowski, 2006-2017 365

References 369

Notes 455