Understanding
higher development is important for strengthening the connections in
performance for employees, students, and professionals. The ability to
recognize these potentials at a younger age is important for grooming and
development. Educators often assume there are sex differences in the types of
excitable potentials but research by Wirthwein, L. et. al. (2011) helps us
understand this may not be the case.
The
concept of overexitability (OE) was proposed by Debrowski with his theory of
positive disintegration. Without OE gifted individuals cannot develop beyond
the average level. He defined it as, “overall developmental potential is composed
of specific talents, abilities, intelligence and OEs. OE is understood as a
biologically rooted super sensitivity or over-reaction to external as well as
internal stimuli” (Ackerman, 2009). Others have defined it as “modes of enhanced mental functioning
(Piechowski & Colangelo, 1984).
As
a person experiences internal states of conflict brought about by their high
sensitivity to drawing in information they move through periods of
disintegration. They smash their concept of self and reform that concept at a
higher level. The more they smash and rebuild, the higher the level of
development. Some may reach a level 5 where their internal and external states
are in alliance and they are considered the profound individuals experienced in
history books. At this point, they are
at the highest state of human development and have their own personality
autonomous from society and its norms.
The
Five types of OE’s are as follows:
-Psychomotor
(high levels of energy and physical activity)
-Sensual
(enriched sensory experiences)
-Imaginational
(rich associations of images and impressions)
-Emotional
(high intensity of feelings)
-Intellectual
(avid pursuit of knowledge and theoretical analysis).
The
researchers conducted studies using those with intellectual giftedness as this
correlates to higher levels of academic performance. They studied German 3rd
graders and then tested them again at 15.3 years of age. All participants had
IQs above 135 and showed other signs of potential development. OE’s were
assessed through the OEQII.
The
results indicated that there wasn’t a statistical difference between males and
females in the type of OE’s experienced. It is often believed that males showed
intellectual and psychomotor while females displayed emotional and sensual OE’s.
Their report indicates that this may not be true. Development is gender neutral.
Comment:
Even though the report does not include this concept
it is possible that the results match up to the higher androgynous sex identities
that incorporate both male and female traits (as defined by social norms) into
a higher sense of being. The biologists Ludwig von Bertalanffy
introduces the concept of robopath to
define most of society. This means that people are focused primarily on either
fulfilling their biological needs or strict adherence to social norms without conscious
awareness of why and how they are acting. They are unaware of what they believe
and why they believe it. If this is true,
then much of society will continue to display the same patterns over and over
until something within the environment forces it to change. Could this be why
society either rises or falls together? Is it an inability to adjust to new
environments, economic realities, or ecological developments?
Ackerman,
C. (2009). The essential elements of Dabrowski’s theory of positive
disintegration and how they are connected. Roeper
Review, 31.
Piechowski,
M. & Colangelo, N. (1984). Developmental potential of the gifted. Gifted Child Quarterly, 28.
Wirthwein,
L. et. al. (2011). Overexcitabilities in gifted and non-gifted adults: does sex
matter? High Ability Studies, 22 (2).
