Erich Neumann and the transpersonal as the “Ground of Being.” Jungian analyst Erich Neumann in his 1954 book on The Origins and History of Consciousness used the word “transpersonal” to describe the depth psychology that studies what he considers the deepest layer of the unconscious – the transpersonal unconscious - that is largely independent of individualized ego consciousness and yet is the psychic layer from which the ego is derived, upon which it is based, by which it is nourished, and without which it cannot exist (Neumann, 1954).
Transpersonal Psychology: After the Founding
The passing of Abraham Maslow. In 1969, Maslow was elected president of the American Psychological Association (APA). Maslow’s election as president of APA indicated the recognition by the 70,000-member organization of the influence of humanistic theory. Maslow’s election also provided an extraordinary opportunity for the ideas behind transpersonal psychology to assert themselves throughout the discipline. Tragically, Abe Maslow died the following year in June 1970 at the age of 62, of a second heart attack, before his vision of transpersonal psychology could be further developed beyond the tentative outline he presented in his book The Farther Reaches of Human Nature published posthumously by his wife Bertha Maslow in 1971. In a 1976 article after reflecting upon the death of his close friend, Abraham Maslow, Anthony Sutich wrote:
Both humanistic and transpersonal psychology had reached the point at which they were already independent, evolving, self-developing orientations and that given mutual cooperation their long-run influence would be incalculable” (Sutich, 1976, p. 18)
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The crossing over of Anthony Sutich. On April 10, 1976, one day after receiving his doctoral degree having completed his dissertation on “The Founding of Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology: A Personal Account,” Anthony J. Sutich died (Vich, 1976).
The next generation of transpersonal psychologists. With Abraham Maslow’s death in June 1970 and Anthony Sutich’s passing in 1976, the transpersonal movement in the later 1970’s passed to younger professionals, including
William Braud who works to develop transpersonal research methods of inquiry emphasizing intuition, empathy, and self-awareness.
Ram Dass, formerly Richard Alpert and student of Timothy Leary, who speaks to the older generation of transpersonalists about aging and how to live in the light of death.
James Fadiman and Robert Frager who wrote the first textbook in personality theory to include a section on transpersonal psychology.
Daniel Goleman, Buddhist meditator and writer for the NY times whose book on “Emotional Intelligence” promotes affective education and the integration of intellect and emotion.
Christina and Stanislav Grof, who did pioneering LSD research to discover deeper realms of the unconscious and address spiritual emergencies.
Jorge Ferrer and Richard Tarnas, who offer evocative postmodernist criticisms of modern transpersonal theory.
Jack Kornfield, Buddhist meditator who promotes mindfulness as a way of being in the world.
Charles Tart, interested in the parapsychology of spirituality.
Frances Vaughn, psychotherapist who writes on intuition, therapy, and holistic personality development.
Roger Walsh, transpersonal psychiatrist who has successfully promoted transpersonal psychology in the popular culture.
John Welwood, transpersonal psychotherapist interested in love and relationships.
Ken Wilber, prolific writer who has emerged as a spokesperson for a transpersonal “integral” psychology and the “structures of consciousness” paradigm.
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The history of transpersonal psychology since 1970. Eugene Taylor (1999, p. 280) describes the history of transpersonal psychology after 1970.
Since the 1970’s, transpersonal psychology, like the humanistic movement that preceded it, has splintered into three different groups…. One, represented by Grof’s ideas, believes that transcendence can occur only in the presence of an altered state of consciousness. This group generates conceptual models of nonordinary states of consciousness…. The second group, led by Wilber, includes those who attempt to map inner states of consciousness. Self-consciously identifying himself with the monistic and perennial philosophy of Aldous Huxley, Wilber…finds that all expressions of the highest state of consciousness in each tradition are the same… [with] psychopathic states occur at the bottom, normal waking realities in the middle, and meditative states of higher consciousness at the top...The third and, by far, the largest segment of the transpersonal movement has no identifiable standard-bearer…. [and] sees self-actualization as getting up and going to work in the morning…Higher consciousness consists of sweeping the floor, doing the dishes, and raking the leaves. Enlightenment is doing whatever we are supposed to be doing at this minute. It is not a preconceived thing; it is not an altered state of consciousness…It is simply the philosophy of the profound, which is to be discovered most clearly in the mundane. (Taylor, 1999, p. 280)
The Academic, scientific and professional status of transpersonal psychology. Since its emergence out of humanistic psychology in the 1960’s, transpersonal psychology or what Abraham Maslow referred to as the fourth force of psychology has developed into a full-fledged academic, scientific, and professional discipline [A Guide to the Transpersonal Internet can be found at www.internetguides.com].
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Schools and programs. In recognition of the validity and significance of transformative or spiritual experiences and behavior as a legitimate field of study, numerous colleges and universities across the United States have instituted academic courses and degree-granting programs in the field of transpersonal studies, including the
Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (www.itp.edu)
John F. Kennedy University (www.jfku.edu)
Saybrook Graduate Institute (www.saybrook.edu)
California Institute of Integral Psychology (www.ciis.edu)
Naropa Institute (www.naropa.edu).
International studies. Academic programs in transpersonal studies are also offered in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland. The Association for Transpersonal Psychology identifies over 60 degree-granting institutions (and over 50 non-degree granting programs) offering graduate and undergraduate courses in transpersonal psychology, and allied areas in their 2002 Listing of Schools and Programs. A partial listing of schools and programs in transpersonal psychology can be found at www.atpweb.org/public.
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