A Dabrowskian perspective recognizes that gifted individuals, with their heightened overexcitabilities and strong developmental potential, will be prone to experiences of emptiness as intensity drives them forward and older structures collapse. This article relates some dyamics of counseling six gifted adults, whose expressed symptoms of motivational paralysis, isolation, supersensitivity, impostor syndrome and job instability yield over time to insights based on Dabrowski s Theory of Positive Disintegration. The theory and its relation to experiences of emptiness are delineated and used to explain the dynamics of counseling strategies employed. Warnings and aids to counselors working with this unique population are offered. Special attention is paid to the delicate balance between respecting and confronting gifted defenses.
Perfectionism is the most misunderstood aspect of the personality of the gifted.
The psychological field characterizes it in extremely negative ways, which may be counterproductive to the development of the gifted individual. There are positive as well as negative aspects of perfectionism, depending on how it is channeled. As one gains higher consciousness, perfectionism becomes a catalyst for self-actualization and humanitarian ideals. Dabrowski s theory allows us to see how perfectionism changes in form at different levels of development. A reasonably clear perception of self appears to be one prerequisite to advanced emotional development.