Dabrowski’s overexcitabilities

Overexcitabilities in gifted individuals – Intensity as a strength and a pitfall
The Polish psychiatrist Kazimierz Dabrowski developed the theory of Positive Disintegration, a developmental model in which inner tensions, doubts, and even psychological dysfunction are not seen as pathological, but rather as signs of growth and moral development. Central to his vision is the idea that some people—often with high sensitivity and intellectual intensity—grow through inner conflicts toward a more authentic and complex self.

A key component of his theory is the so-called Overexcitabilities (OEs): five forms of heightened sensitivity or intensity at the psychomotor, sensory, intellectual, imaginative, and emotional levels. These OEs are remarkably common in gifted individuals, influencing not only how they think and learn, but also how they feel, communicate, and form relationships.

In this article, we explore how these intensities can manifest in (suspected) giftedness. What does it mean to think increasingly deeply, feel more intensely, or be constantly stimulated by your environment? How do these sensitivities affect daily functioning, self-image, work relationships, and connections with others? And perhaps even more importantly: how can you recognize, acknowledge, and use these intensities as strengths rather than burdens?

What are Overexcitabilities?

According to Dabrowski, overexcitabilities (OEs) are innate, relatively stable predispositional patterns that lead to a heightened responsiveness to stimuli. This means that people with strong OEs experience and process stimuli more intensely in five distinct, but often overlapping, areas:
* Psychomotor Overexcitability:
Increased physical energy and need for exercise. This can manifest as restlessness, tension, rapid speech, impulsiveness, or a need for action.
* Sensory Overexcitability:
A heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as sounds, colors, smells, tastes, temperature, or touch. People can easily become overstimulated or intensely enjoy pleasant stimuli.
* Intellectual Overexcitability:
A drive to think deeply, analyze, solve problems, and make connections. This is often paired with a desire for knowledge, curiosity, and a critical attitude.
* Imaginative Overexcitability:
A rich imagination, creativity, and the ability to daydream. This also includes a strong sense of experience with images, stories, and metaphors, and a tendency towards original ideas.
* Emotional Overexcitability:
Intensely experiencing emotions, both positive and negative. This can manifest as empathy, sensitivity, strong attachment, and sometimes mood swings or feelings of inner turmoil.

Overexcitabilities and giftedness: a close connection

While not exclusive to gifted individuals, OEs are remarkably common in this group. Giftedness is usually associated with increased intellectual capacity, but this also goes hand in hand with intensities in other areas. Research and practical experience show that virtually every gifted individual exhibits multiple OEs, although the pattern varies from person to person.

Importantly, the five OEs can occur in different orders and combinations. This explains why gifted individuals are so diverse in their behavior and emotional life, despite sharing intellectual potential. For example, someone might be highly intellectually and emotionally overstimulated but experience less sensory stimulation, while another might score high on sensory and psychomotor OEs.

This variation means that there is no standard “gifted profile” that encompasses all intensities equally. The distinction in order and degree of OEs makes each individual’s internal world unique and requires a personalized approach in guidance and understanding.

How do OEs manifest themselves in everyday life?

The influence of OEs manifests itself in many ways:
* Thinking and learning:
Intellectual OEs stimulate a desire for deep knowledge and logical coherence. This can lead to an enormous eagerness to learn, but also frustration with superficial or repetitive tasks.
* Emotions:
Emotional OEs trigger a wide range of intense feelings. This can lead to profound empathy, but also to mood swings or fragile self-esteem.
* Social relations:
Overstimulation or sensitivity can make it difficult to connect, as gifted individuals tend to want in-depth conversations while at the same time being vulnerable to rejection.
* Creativity and imagination:
Imaginative OEs nurture original ideas and artistic expression, but can also lead to daydreaming or social withdrawal.
* Physical expression:
Psychomotor OEs translate into bursts of energy, tension or, conversely, busy behavior that can be misunderstood.

Overexcitabilities as developmental opportunities

Dabrowski didn’t see these intensities as problems, but as building blocks for psychological growth. The inner tension created by OEs compels self-reflection, breaking through automatic patterns, and searching for authentic values. He called this process “positive disintegration.”

In this view, OEs form the raw material from which a deeper, more nuanced, and more conscious self can emerge. When gifted individuals learn to recognize, accept, and use their OEs constructively, space is created for growth in thought, feeling, and action. This, however, requires understanding environments and support that do not condemn these intensities, but instead see them as strengths.

Conclusion

Dabrowski’s Overexcitabilities offer a rich and nuanced lens for understanding the intensities of gifted individuals. Recognizing that virtually every gifted individual possesses all five OEs in a unique order and degree helps us appreciate diversity and provide tailored support.

By viewing OEs not as a burden but as a driver of personal growth, gifted individuals can navigate their complex inner world more confidently. In this way, the theory of positive disintegration becomes not only an explanation but also an invitation to develop an authentic and resilient self.