Humanistic psychology, as with any paradigm, is defined by its position with respect to matters of content, method, and approach. This article reviews how the humanistic paradigm defined itself in these respects in its founding generation and then looks ahead to the question of its relevance for the future. It demonstrates that the humanistic vision is historically one of holism. Furthermore, this holistic vision is precisely what is most needed to resolve crucial issues of the next generation, including globalization, health, ecology, and spirituality. By fulfilling its own potential as holistic psychology, the humanistic paradigm can continue to flourish by providing a time-less vision to a world in timely need of it.
As with most complex human endeavors, the history of APA Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) has many facets and lends itself to many narratives and interpretations. Presented here is one version, resulting from the input of three authors and many other people. Our audience may wish to read between the lines or project onto the text other versions. In humanistic psychology, in writing the division's history, and indeed in psychology itself, there are always texts and subtexts and multiple "stories" and interpretations. Right and left brains play their parts in the making of history and in the recording and interpretation of it. Other fascinating chapters besides this one could be written about the people involved in this division] the intellectual and interpersonal currents, and the creative, socially responsible, and sometimes spontaneous and chaotic events that underlay this history.
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