Rising to the occasion: New persons for new times

Abstract

Estudos de Psicologia I Campinas I 34(4) I 454-466 I outubro -dezembro 2017 M. O'HARA 454 HEALTH-RELATED PARENTING INTERVENTIONS Estudos de Psicologia I Campinas I 34(4) I 454-466 I outubro -dezembro 2017 AbstractGlobal problems are accelerating to the point where they are challenging civilization. The author reflects on how early mentors in Biological and Psychological science modeled a new paradigm for their inquiry that included subject-subject participation, qualitative methods, a wider range of accepted evidence and the ability to indwell in a state of "not knowing" and letting coherence emerge. Such an approach not only leads to new knowledge but also develops capacities and competencies in the researcher that are more adequate for understanding complex and seemingly intractable crises of global the 21st century. The author identifies three levels of crisis occurring simultaneously: conceptual, cultural and existential which undermine coherence at personal and societal levels. When societies destabilize doubt and uncertainty rise producing the possible responses of defensiveness, anarchy and transformation. To optimize the possibility of transformation a new kind of psychology is needed that is better adapted to current conditions. Persons of Tomorrow, a term coined by humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers during the upheavals of the 1960s, have the consciousness and capacities to address these crises in creative and transformative ways. The non-profit International Futures Forum has developed theory, pedagogy and social practices to facilitate transformative innovation. Case examples of its and others' transformative projects are described and linked to the urgent need to develop and to practice as Persons of Tomorrow.

Creativity and innovation: Skills for the 21st Century

“…The creative person, according to a humanistic perspective, has the consciousness and the abilities to address crisis in transformative ways (O'Hara, 2017). Therefore, the creative person can be understood as being in a process to reach selfactualization and to develop characteristics that are related to mental health, such as subjective well-being, resilience, optimism, quality of life, and other aspects emphasized by positive psychology (Wechsler, Oliveira, & Suarez, 2015).…”

Creativity, Innovation and Shariah Compliance by the Malay Middle Class Women Entrepreneurs in Muslimah Fashion Industry in Selangor, Malaysia

“…According to a humanistic viewpoint, the creative person has the awareness and skills necessary to respond to catastrophe in transforming ways [12,13]. As a result, the creative person can be seen as someone who is working towards self-actualization and acquiring traits that are connected to mental health, such as subjective wellbeing, resilience, optimism, quality of life, and other elements stressed by positive psychology [12].…”

Escala de Perfil Criativo: Construção de Instrumento e Estudos Psicométricos

“…As características da pessoa criativa, por sua vez, são enfocadas sob diferentes aspectos teóricos. Por exemplo, na perspectiva humanista, a pessoa criativa é entendida como estando em um processo para alcançar a autorrealização e desenvolver características que estão relacionadas à saúde mental, tais como resiliência, otimismo, abertura às experiências, persistência, sentido de destino criativo (O'Hara, 2017;Wechsler, Oliveira e Suarez, 2015). Por sua vez, na concepção da Psicologia Social, segundo Amabile (1996), a criatividade seria decorrente da interface entre a motivação intrínseca, processos criativos e área de conhecimento específico.…”