Dabrowski’s Overexcitabilities

By: Sammi Caillouet

Are you over-excitable???

Dabrowski’s Concept: A Polish psychologist by the name of

Kazimierz Dąbrowski came up with a concept to help understand the social and emotional development of gifted students.

Dabrowski claimed that…Some people were more excitable than others

and their reactions made them appear to be more intense than others

He found this to be especially true in gifted individuals

He concluded that these excitabilities could be categorized in 5 areas

Dabrowski’s 5 Areas of Overexcitabity: Psychomotor Overexcitability

Sensual Overexcitability

Intellectual Overexcitability

Imaginational Overexcitability

Emotional Overexcitability

Psychomotor Overexcitability

These people tend to have a surplus of energy. They may seem as if they are unable to contain their energy and this can sometimes be misdiagnosed as ADHD.

Characteristics to look for:Needs movementCompulsive talkingNervous ticksExtra energy that can sometimes be mistaken

for ADHDRapid speech and use of hand gesturesMay be impulsive SleeplessnessCompulsive organizing

Sensual OverexcitabilityPeople who are sensually overexcitable tend

to have heightened awareness of the senses. They are drawn to things that are aesthetically pleasing and may tend to overindulge .

Characteristics to look for:Very sensitive to good/bad smells and loud

noisesSensitivity to bright or harsh lightsDeep appreciation of beauty such as a

beautiful work of art, sunset, a good book, or a piece of music that brings a deep emotional response

Has an aversion to the feel of some materialsCraves comfortMay overindulge in things like food or

shopping spreesEnjoys being the center of attention

Intellectual OverexcitabilityThis is the most commonly recognized

overexcitability in gifted children. These people have a need for knowledge. They are very inquisitive and want to know how and why things are the way they are.

Characteristics to look for:Ability to concentrate for a long period of

time on a topic of interestConstantly questioningVoracious readerThinks theoretically and analyticallyGood problem solverSometimes gets in trouble at school for

challenging the teacher’s thinkingLoves learning

Imaginational OverexcitabilityThese people tend to have very vivid

imaginations. They think visually and tend to daydream often. They live in a fantasy world and may be thought of as “spacey”.

Characteristics to look for:Good sense of humorTend to remember dreamsVery creativeMay have imaginary friendsBelieve in magic Love metaphorsThinks in picturesFear of the unknownMay imagine the worst case scenario

Emotional OverexcitabiityThese people are very emotionally sensitive.

They feel their emotions very intensely. They tend to have higher highs and lower lows than most and they form very deep connections to others.

Characteristics to look for:AnxietyA heightened sense of right and wrong and a

demand for justiceNeed for securityForm strong attachmentsSensitive to the feelings of othersMay tend to be depressed or lonelyDifficulty adjusting to new environments or

situationsFeelings of inadequacy or inferiority

Some Helpful Tips

While overexcitability can be exciting and make life more fun, they can also lead to frustration and challenges in daily life.

Tips for Dealing with Overexcitability Allow time for your child to express his or her

overexcitability in a safe environment. For example, make time for physical activity or daydreaming.

Educate your child and others involved in your child's life on overexcitabilities.

Encourage your child to focus on his or her strengths and to use his or her overexcitabilities to an advantage.

—Anne N. Rinn, PhD

Tips for Dealing with OverexcitabilityTeach your child skills to manage his or her

overexcitabilities effectively. For example, teach your child emotion regulation techniques (e.g., deep breathing exercises for dealing with stress or anger) or how to effectively cope with offensive stimuli (e.g., politely declining a certain food or avoiding certain smells).

Emphasize your child's differences as a positive and not a negative. Help your child to understand that being different is okay. We are all unique beings and should be celebrated as such

—Anne N. Rinn, PhD

If you would like further information on OE’s or other topics pertaining to gifted children please check out the websites listed below .

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/living_with_oes.htm -This website has many informative articles, book suggestions, and even advice for parenting gifted children. It is a very comprehensive website that should prove to be useful to parents of gifted children

http://www.stephanietolan.com/dabrowskis.htm -This website gives specific information on Dabrowski and his concept of overexcitabilities

http://www.nagc.org/ - This is the website for the National Association of Gifted Children. There are many helpful articles on a variety of topics concerning gifted children

Follow-UpNow that you have been introduced to some

new information about Overexcitability, you may like to see how it applies to your family

Please complete the Overexcitability quiz that I have given to your child and see which of these categories best describes him/her. You may even learn a little something about yourself too!

Remember that you may fit in more than one of these categories.