1974_Two Developmental Concepts: Multilevelness and Developmental Potential
The theory of positive disintegration appears to be deceptively simple. It tells us that the development of individuality occurs in successive stages, wherein each succeeding stage is higher than the previous one. “Higher” means more awareness, more mental control, more Rogerian openness to experience, more empathy, more individual responsibility. To get from one level to […]
1978_Self-actualization as a developmental structure: A profile of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The characteristics of self-actualization are fully reflected in excerpts from Saint-Exupéry’s autobiographical writings. The correspondence between the characteristics of self-actualization and Saint-Exupéry’s developmental profile gains special significance because there exists, independently, a theoretical structure corresponding both to self-actualization and to Saint-Exupéry’s material. This structure—level IV in the theory of positive disintegration—has previously been shown to […]
1981_The Logical and the Empirical Form of Feeling
Susanne K. Langer’s theory of art seems to have suffered some neglect in recent years. The plausibility, usefulness, and demonstrability of her principal idea, that works of art present the logical form of feeling, have been questioned. The purpose of this paper is to invite attention to the work of Manfred Clynes on experimentally obtained […]
1984_Developmental Potential of the Gifted
Describes a model of developmental potential that defines 5 parallel dimensions or modes of mental functioning assumed to be genetically independent of one another. The 5 modes encompassed by the model are represented by 5 forms of “psychic overexcitability.” The prefix over in overexcitability is meant to convey that this is a special kind of […]
1985_Comparison of Intellectually and Artistically Gifted on Five Dimensions of Mental Functioning
Compared overexcitability profiles in (1) 23 18–59 yr olds active in art, music, literature, or other artistic fields; (2) 37 intellectually gifted 22–55 yr olds; and (3) 42 22–50 yr old graduate students, using a 21-item, free-response questionnaire. Five broadly defined areas of psychic life were measured by the instrument: personal level of energy, sensual […]
1985_Patterns of Overexcitability in a Group of Artists
Interviewed 13 Ss (aged 19–43 yrs) who had a serious involvement with artistic or creative work at a vocational, professional, or avocational level to assess the manner of functioning and interaction patterns of the 5 categories of overexcitability (i.e., psychomotor, emotional, sensual, intellectual, imaginational) that are considered to be basic in gifted and creative individuals. […]
1986_The Concept of Developmental Potential
There exist important personality characteristics of the gifted and talented that intelligence tests do not tap. Among these characteristics is a broad range of a heightened activity which finds expression in an enlarged and intensified manner of feeling, thinking, imagining, even tasting. The model of developmental potential defines five dimensions of such enhanced mental functioning. […]
1990_Inner Growth and Transformation in the Life of Eleanor Roosevelt
This article describes Eleanor Roosevelt’s discipline of inner life. An earlier study (Piechowski & Tyska, 1982) showed that Eleanor Roosevelt met all the criteria of self-actualization as given by Maslow. Maslow labeled her a “doer” rather than a ”seer” or a visionary. But she was an inspired person, “a woman with a deep sense of […]
1990_The Heart of Leta S. Hollingworth
The life of educator and psychologist Leta Hollingworth (1886-1939) is examined in terms of six traits associated with self-actualization: autonomy and superior perception of reality, problem centeredness, spontaneity, a sense of kinship with all people, interpersonal relations, and imperfections.
1991_A Developmental Framework for Self-Actualization
Brennan and Piechowski. This study presents a theoretical framework for personal growth leading to self-actualization, and case studies of individuals engaged in such growth. Maslow’s description of self-actualizing people and Dabrowski’s theory of emotional development are brought together for this purpose. We show that self-actualizing people can be found by means of an instrument for […]