Towards a mature personality - family and environmental interactions which determine the appropriate human development in the light of Kazimierz Dąbrowski's Positive Disintegration Theory

Abstract

For Kazimierz Dąbrowski, authentic development means going beyond the genetic endowment and environmental constraints. To this end, the child must be brought up and educated in an environment of mutual compassion, understanding, and positive relationships. It is essential for their healthy socialization to approach children’s uniqueness and developmental potential from a positive point of view. The education of children should include creative adaptations of standard methods of teaching. Teachers should themselves be sensitive, well-formed, oriented towards self-development and seeking ways to understand humans in different schools of thought. Interactions with such professionals help children discover their own potential. Children must be encouraged to develop and follow their uniquely crafted hierarchy of values. Adaptation is directed by the child’s own potential, values, and aims.