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Transpersonal psychology is a sub-field or school of psychology that integrates the spiritual and transcendent aspects of the human experience with the framework of modern psychology. It is also possible to define it as a "spiritual psychology". The transpersonal is defined as "experiences in which the sense of identity or self extends beyond (trans) the individual or personal to encompass wider aspects of humankind, life, psyche or cosmos".[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The term was first coined by psychologists such as Abraham Maslow and Victor Frankl who saw traditional psychology as inadequate to understand the full complexity of the human experience. In 1969, Maslow was among the people who announced transpersonal psychology as a "fourth force" in psychology, in order to distinguish it from the three other forces of psychology: psychoanalytic, behaviorist, and humanistic psychology.[2]

Concepts[edit | edit source]

Transpersonal psychology combines a variety of approaches in psychology, including behaviorism, cognitive psychology, and humanistic psychology, along with other disciplines such as Eastern philosophy, mysticism, and spirituality. It is not so much a distinct area of psychology as it is a perspective or orientation that can be applied to any other area.[3]

Criticism[edit | edit source]

Critics argue that transpersonal psychology's inclusion of spiritual and transcendent aspects of the human experience into the framework of modern psychology may lead to a lack of rigor and scientific validity. However, proponents of transpersonal psychology maintain that spiritual and transcendent experiences can be scientifically studied in an objective manner.[4]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Transpersonal psychology: The fourth force". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  2. "Transpersonal psychology: The fourth force". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  3. "Transpersonal psychology: The fourth force". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  4. "Transpersonal psychology: The fourth force". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
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