Levels of personality development

Abstract

Dabrowski's Theory of Emotional Development provides a basis for understanding potential for higher level development in gifted children and adults. Dabrowski proposed five levels of development, each with a unique personality organization. In this article, a new coding system for assessing levels is presented, based on categories that reflect feelings toward values, self and others. Examples from actual data are provided to illustrate these categories. The results of a study to test the reliability of this coding system are discussed, along with implications for counseling gifted adolescents, based on this model.