An Alternative Perspective...The Theory of Positive Disintegration

The Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD) by Kazimierz Dąbrowski describes a theory of personality development. Unlike mainstream psychology, Dąbrowski's theoretical framework views psychological tension and anxiety as necessary for growth. These "disintegrative" processes are therefore seen as "positive," whereas people who fail to go through positive disintegration may remain for their entire lives in a state of "primary integration." Advancing into disintegration and into the higher levels of development is predicated on having developmental potential, including overexcitabilities, and above-average reactions to stimuli. Unlike some other theories of development such as Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, it is not assumed that even a majority of people progress through all levels. TPD is not a theory of stages, and levels do not correlate with age.  Click anywhere in this sentence to continue reading...

Via Wikipedia

Brain Mind Lecture 6: Limbic System, Introductory Overview:

Amygdala, Hypothalamus, Hippocampus, Hallucinations, Memory, Emotion, Sexuality, Amnesia, Flashbacks, PTSD, Brain Mind Lecture 6, Rhawn Joseph,
Ph.D.



Via:  BrainMind.com

An Interesting Essay on Identity and Loneliness

We all derive identity from the world around us. As infants, we are just a jumble of diverse biological processes over which we have no authority, and our first task in life is to develop a coherent personality which “pulls together” this fragmented confusion. Our first sense of coherence comes from our unconscious identifications with the persons around us. Then, as older children, we look around and see what the world shows us. Some things in the world appeal to us more than others; that’s because some things purport to show us something about what’s missing in our own lives and to offer us some knowledge of what seems to be hidden from us. So, from all the things that appeal to us in the world, we create images of how we want to see ourselves, and then we set about making ourselves “seen” in the world so our images can be reflected back to us through the desire of others. Click anywhere in this sentence to continue reading...

Personality Theories

   Introduction
   Sigmund Freud
   Anna Freud
   Erik Erikson
   Carl Jung
   Otto Rank
   Alfred Adler
   Karen Horney
   Albert Ellis
   Erich Fromm
   B. F. Skinner
   Hans Eysenck and others
   Albert Bandura
   Gordon Allport
   George Kelly
   Snygg and Combs
   Abraham Maslow
   Carl Rogers
   Ludwig Binswanger
   Medard Boss
   Viktor Frankl
   Rollo May
   Jean Piaget
   Sociobiology
   Buddhist Psychology
   The Ultimate Theory of Personality
   Bibliography

This is an electronic textbook ("e-text") in Personality Theories. While it is copyrighted, you may download it or print it out without permission from the author, as long as the material is used only for personal or educational purposes, and the source is indicated.

Via:  Dr. C. George Boeree

How to Be Assertive Without Being Arrogant

...'Arrogance includes feelings of superiority, elitism, snobbery, or smugness. If you're experiencing any of these, you risk being rude to other people rather than making a genuine connection through assertive communication and active listening. It's more likely that your assertiveness will pertain to getting what you want but not to creating a reciprocal relationship with another person whom you consider to be beneath your level for whatever reason. That lack of genuineness undermines the whole point of assertive communications and means that it's time for a rethink of the insecurities or elitist attitudes that might have crept in unnoticed. Even the most practiced assertive communicators can have a weak moment when they fall by the wayside and need to rechart their course; no shame in that, just do it'. Continue reading by clicking anywhere in this sentence...


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Perspectives On...

Revising Your Life
 

If we do not challenge ourselves to think new thoughts and revise our past and present ideas, our personal world will begin to shrink. This is typical of aging and a sign that one is getting old, regardless of one’s age.


Every idea and thought we have is sufficient to our needs at the time that we first think them. But all is movement, everything is changing. And if we do not change our thoughts about ourselves and about life, we no longer have thoughts that support our continuous development and growth. In fact the old thoughts inhibit our natural growth processes, and block soul from manifesting its intelligence in the present moment. We thus block our natural creativity and intuition. This is like new wine in old wine skins, as the biblical image is presented. This spoils the new wine.


It is easy to recognize people who think and feel the same way as they have always done in their relationships. Their relationships do not change and they as people do not change through their relationships. These relationships can then become boring, stifling and unloving.


We need to continuously challenge ourselves to learn, to gain new perspectives, to enlarge our vision, to rediscover ourselves because we are different today than we were yesterday. And the changes that go on within us are not the changes of mood and emotion, but of the way soul is seeking to manifest itself in response to ever-changing need in our lives and in our relationships. Soul always responds to need, so as needs change then our response must also change if we are to allow soul its natural expression.

The fundamental relationship that we have is between personality and soul; this is our most important relationship. If we do not allow ourselves to be open and conscious of soul in our lives, we will get stuck in our lower mind and emotions, and not open ourselves to the heart, to intuition and to soul wisdom.

Via: The Soul Journey

Understanding Social Anxiety Disorder- Very Enlightening

What is Social Anxiety Disorder? Is it simply a severe form of shyness? Join Dr. Granet as he talks with leading expert, Dr. Murray Stein, about this disorder that affects approximately 5% of the general population. Find out the symptoms and latest treatments that are available.