Reclaiming Humanistic Psychology From Modernity: Problems and Solutions

Abstract

This article begins as a lamentation over the historical demise of humanistic psychology programs in the United States and considers the critiques and alternatives to the humanistic tradition proposed during such transitions. The article isolates the core elements of the premodern humanistic tradition, outlines the central features of the cultural trend referred to as modernity, and shows how modernity has provided the fuel for most of the major critiques of and alternatives to the humanistic tradition. The article then shows how modernity has even influenced the way that humanistic psychology has appropriated its own premodern tradition. The article concludes with six concrete suggestions for reclaiming humanistic psychology from modernity hopefully setting it on a sounder, more valid, and potentially more effective course for the future.

Unifying Liberation Psychology and Humanistic Values to Promote Social Justice in Counseling

“…Scientization of psychology, in particular, is critiqued by both humanistic and liberation psychologists to result in a pathologized, deterministic, and mechanistic view of human behavior (Elkins, ; Garrison, ; Watkins & Shulman, ). Alternatively, both humanistic and liberation psychology see humans as good‐natured with potential, as those who are “becoming,” “becoming more,” or striving for the greater good (Dillon, ; Martín‐Baró, ). Humanistic and liberation psychologists may take a strength‐based approach to practice, as they each emphasize strengths and virtues of people in the goal toward fostering greater consciousness or awareness, agency, and action (Tate, Rivera, Brown, & Skaistis, ).…”

“…Although Dillon () argued that the philosophical underpinnings of humanism contain a political element, they have not been explicitly described in the humanistic psychology and psychotherapy literature. Humanism and current thought may be bound by the general ideology within traditional psychology as a whole, which maintains a status quo individualistic perspective versus inclusion of sociopolitical influence on human behavior (Prilleltensky, ).…”

“…They have impacted the worldviews of not only helping professions in Western societies, but also professionals of other countries around the globe. However, dissatisfaction among Western and non‐Western psychologists led to critiques stemming from traditional psychology's “scientization” of the human experience (Dillon, ; Elkins, ; O'Hara, ; Watkins & Shulman, ). These critiques centered primarily on traditional counseling models' neglect of the connection between self and environment, how context influences clients' perception of reality, and how clients make meaning of the world.…”

The Challenges of New Biopsychosocialities: Hearing Voices, Trauma, Epigenetics and Mediated Perception

“…The book provides both a broad historical sweep, whilst drawing on cross-cultural research and transcultural psychiatry, contemporary neuroscientific and biopsychological approaches, including considering the significance and challenges of epigenetics, phenomenology, more clinically based psychosocial models and Vygotskian influenced cognitive psychology (to name just some of the areas). At the same time there is careful consideration of the voices of experts by experience and the issues that they raise (see Dillon and May, 2002). It is presented as a work of integration, or what is also termed a 'joined-up' approach.…”

Should We Be Writing Essays Instead of Articles? A Psychotherapist’s Reflection on Montaigne’s Marvelous Invention

“…There have been calls in this journal and elsewhere for a return to a liberal arts education for a humanistic psychology to withstand the grasp of modernity’s scientistic reach. Both Dillon (2008) and Graumann (1981) advocate a return to the early humanistic texts in order to reclaim some of the content and vision of the premodern humanistic tradition. These texts include Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, classical Greek and Roman philosophy, and the works of the humanist writers of the medieval Renaissance.…”