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William Tillier
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Revised September 2, 2000.

Issues arose between Dr. Dabrowski and Dr. Michael Piechowski over the publication of the 1977 Dabor books. These issues have created ongoing confusion. My goal in posting this web page is to provide a summary of how confusion arose. This material highlights the conceptual differences (titles and text) and other issues (authorship and preface) involved.

I recognize and appreciate the contributions that Dr. Piechowski has made to Dr. Dabrowski's work. However, where these two authors differ in their interpretation of issues, it is important to differentiate their approaches, especially for those who are involved in detailed study of Dabrowski's theory. I have carefully checked all of this information and it is all factually correct to the best of my knowledge (where I offer opinion, I note it so). Dr. Piechowski has reviewed this information and I have incorporated several changes suggested by Dr. Piechowski.

1). The publication lineage of the 1977 books:

-The first manuscript for the books was reproduced and bound in one volume by the University of Alberta (Dabrowski, 1970).

-In 1972, Volume 2 was expanded and reproduced and bound as a manuscript by the University of Alberta. (Dabrowski and Piechowski, 1972).

-In 1974, Volume 1 was expanded and reproduced and bound as a manuscript by the University of Alberta. (Dabrowski, 1974).

-The 1972 and 1974 manuscripts were edited by Piechowski while Dabrowski was in Poland and submitted to Dabor Publishers to produce the 1977 books.

2). Differences:

A). Titles: A glance at the references will show that the 1972 and 1974 manuscript titles were changed for the 1977 books as follows:

Volume I: Original title: Multilevelness of Emotional and Instinctive Functions Vol. I: Theory and Description of Levels of Behavior.

Changed to: Theory of Levels of Emotional Development: Volume 1 - Multilevelness And Positive Disintegration.

Volume 2: Original title: Multilevelness of Instinctive and Emotional Functions Vol. 2: Types and Levels of Development.

Changed to: Theory of Levels of Emotional Development: Volume 2 - From Primary Integration To Self-Actualization.

These changes had two major effects: One: The phrase "Dabrowski's Theory of Emotional Development" was subsequently popularized by Dr. Piechowski in his works and lectures. This was a major issue for Dr. Dabrowski as he felt the title change narrowed the scope of his theory and altered its focus away from positive disintegration and from personality development. Dabrowski rejected the revised title. Dabrowski told me and also a number of other people this.

The result of these changes has been confusion about what Dabrowski's theory is called: Other authors have subsequently referred to "Dabrowski's Theory of Emotional Development" as the title of the theory, for example, Silverman (1993a, 1993b). Some authors now use both titles, for example, Piirto (1997, p. 7) says "the Dabrowski Theory of Positive Disintegration (as it is called in Canada, or of Emotional Development, as it is called in the United States)."

Second: the revised subtitle of volume 2 implies that the goal of development is self-actualization. Dabrowski was very opposed to equating self-actualization with his higher levels and thus he strongly rejected this subtitle and he told many people this, including me.

B). Text: My understanding is that Dr. Piechowski inserted material on self-actualization and Maslow to chapter 8 (the case study of Saint-Exupéry), Volume 2 of 1977. This material equates Dabrowski's levels with self-actualization. This chapter later formed the basis of an article (Piechowski, 1978). Dabrowski made it very clear that he rejected equating Maslow's theory of self-actualization with his own and that he objected to this material. In my opinion, this represents a major conceptual disagreement between the two authors.

- There are a number of other minor differences in the text. In my opinion, a direct comparison best serves the interested reader.

C). Data: It should be noted for research purposes the data presented in the original manuscripts is more comprehensive but that the data presented in the 1977 works is more accurate (several mistakes in calculation were corrected but several data points are omitted). This information came from Dr. Piechowski.

D). Preface: The preface of the 1977 books was originally written by Dabrowski for a journal article of Piechowski's and was previously published (Piechowski, 1975). It therefore does not endorse the 1977 books (as one would assume).

E). Authorship:

-I am following APA citation guidelines.

-The 1974 manuscript (Volume 1), was published as a work by Dabrowski (no other names appear on the manuscript).
--Volume 1 of the 1977 book was published as Dabrowski with Piechowski. Piechowski was also listed as the author of chapters 1, 2, 3, 5 and as coauthor of chapter 6.

-The 1972 manuscript (Volume 2), was published as coauthored by Dabrowski and Piechowski (with the assistance of Dexter Amend and Marlene King).
--Volume 2 of the 1977 book was published as coauthored by Dabrowski and Piechowski (with the assistance of Dexter Amend and Marlene King).

3). Dabrowski's reaction:

-Dabrowski would not acknowledge the 1977 books after they were published and asked several people (including me) to help in republishing the original manuscripts.

-As per Dr. Dabrowski's wishes, a reprinting of the original titles and text of the 1972 / 1974 manuscripts was done in 1996, in Poland, by Mrs. Dabrowski (Dabrowski, 1996).
-The 1996 reprinting bound both volumes into one book (now listed as part 1 and part 2). Dabrowski was listed as author of parts 1 and 2. Piechowski was listed as an "assistant" on part 2 (along with Dexter Amend and Marlene King).

-An errata from the publisher has been circulated to correct the citation of part 2 to reflect the 1972 manuscript (indicating Piechowski as the co-author of part 2).

Dr. Piechowski has indicated that he believes that the authorship citations of the 1974 manuscript and of the 1996 book (part 1) are inaccurate and that the correct citation of his role appears in the 1977 book (Volume 1). I have asked Dr. Piechowski to supply an errata for Volume 1 so that I can reflect a second, proper errata on this web page.

At this point, in my opinion, the 1996 work with the authorship errata for part 2 should now be seen as Dabrowski's last work. The 1977 volumes remain important resources to establish a context for Piechowski's contributions.

4). Dabrowski's and Piechowski's positions on self-actualization: Dabrowski said that he felt his theory went well beyond Maslow's idea of self-actualization and he consistently rejected linking his higher levels with Maslow's. However, in Dabrowski & Piechowski (1977, p. 218) [Volume 2], it says "Self-actualizing people are the psychologically healthy, par excellence (Maslow, 1950, 1970). They constitute the ideal norm of psychological health . . . ." The paragraph then goes on: "Self-actualization, as a psychological norm suggested by Maslow, now finds support in the framework of the theory of positive disintegration as an attribute of level IV structure. (Dabrowski & Piechowski, 1977, pps 218-219). It further goes on, "Level IV, or SA, requires a . . . " (Dabrowski & Piechowski, 1977, p. 219).

Piechowski has most clearly explained his position on the topic in this quote: "Maslow's self-actualizing person fits Level IV; the self-actualized person--the enlightened one--fits Level V" and that "the early stages of self-actualization . . . correspond to Level III growth process" (Piechowski, 1991, p. 20).

References:

Dabrowski, K. (1970). Multilevelness of Instinctive and Emotional Functions. Edmonton: Department of Psychology, University of Alberta.

Dabrowski, K. (1974). Multilevelness of Emotional and Instinctive Functions Vol. I: Theory and Description of Levels of Behavior. Edmonton: Department of Psychology, University of Alberta.

Dabrowski, K. with Piechowski, M. M. (1977). Theory of Levels of Emotional Development: Volume 1 - Multilevelness And Positive Disintegration. Oceanside, New York: Dabor Science Publications.

Dabrowski, K. (1996). Multilevelness of emotional and instinctive functions. Lublin, Poland: Towarzystwo Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego.

Dabrowski, K., & Piechowski, M. (1972). Multilevelness of Instinctive and Emotional Functions Vol. 2: Types and Levels of Development. Edmonton: Department of Psychology, University of Alberta.

Dabrowski, K. & Piechowski, M. M. (1977). Theory of Levels of Emotional Development: Volume 2 - From Primary Integration To Self-Actualization. Oceanside, New York: Dabor Science Publications.

Piechowski, M. M. (1975). A theoretical and empirical approach to the study of development. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 92, 231-297.

Piechowski, M. M. (1978). Self-actualization as a developmental structure: A profile of Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 97, 181-242.

Piechowski, M. M. (1991). [Invited commentary.] Characteristics of the self-actualized person: Visions from the east and west. Counseling and Values, 36, 19-20.

Piirto, J. (1997, November). Twelve issues: Implications of post-modern curriculum theory for the education of the talented. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Association for Gifted Children Conference, Little Rock, AR. [On-line]. Available: http://www.ashland.edu/~jpiirto/public/postmodweb.html (Dr. Piirto also has a textbook out on the theme, Talented Children And Adults: Their Development And Education, 2nd edition, 1998 Toronto: Prentice-Hall. I have not referenced it here as I have not seen it.)

Silverman, L. K. (Ed.). (1993a). Counseling the gifted and talented. Denver: Love Publishing.

Silverman, L. K. (1993b). Counseling needs of the gifted. In K. Heller, F. Monks & A. H. Passow (Eds.), The international handbook of research and development of giftedness and talent (pp. 631-647). Oxford, England: Pergamon Press.

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