ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the aspects of Dabrowski's theory that have been the most influential in the field of gifted education, starting with the notion of developmental potential, which can be seen as the catalyst that helps move individuals through the levels of personality development. Overexcitabilities result in more pronounced experiences, which lead to disintegration and, consequently, movement through Dabrowski's levels of personality development. Temperament involves individual differences in behavioral styles, emotions, and characteristic ways of responding to others and the environment. According to Shiner et al., “temperament traits are early emerging basic dispositions in the domains of activity, affectivity, attention, and self-regulation, and these dispositions are the product of complex interactions among genetic, biological, and environmental factors across time”. Similar to temperament, personality can be described as a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Personality is relatively consistent throughout adolescence and adulthood.
