Through the Dąbrowski lens: a fresh examination of the Theory of Positive Disintegration

Dąbrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration is an emotion-centred, non-ontogenetic, five-level theory of personality development where the experience of all emotions is essential for the process of growth. In this paper, we examine the complexities of the Three Factors of Development, which are essential to the notion of development within the Theory of Positive Disintegration. We elaborate upon the relationships between these Factors, depict the processes and interactions in a new graphical framework, provide associated explanations and support these by additional references to Dąbrowski’s original writings.