Some history of humanistic psychology

Abstract

This article arose out of a request to say something about humanistic psychology for a conference on positive psychology which was held in England in 2002. I wanted to say that whatever positive psychology had to offer, we got there first. So this is perhaps a quite partisan piece, and of course it says very little about positive psychology.

But now it has a further purpose, which is to tell Americans a bit about Europe and what happened there. Most Americans, as we are all aware, don't know much about Europe, and many do not want to know. Hopefully, humanistic psychologists are not in the latter category. So what we have here is a bit of a mixture, and I hope it is not too incoherent.     

Some targets for mathematical psychology

Concern among mathematical psychologists regarding the present status of the discipline arises from two sources. One is the growing disparity between the rapid development of mathematical psychology as an adjunct to research and the slower and more uncertain progress toward a cumulative body of theory. The other is the problem of adjusting to the encroachment of computers and computer simulation models into the traditional province of mathematical methods. It appears that these problems might be alleviated by recognition of the complementary aspects of mathematical and computer simulation approaches to psychological theory and by a shift of emphasis from tactics to strategy in the construction and evaluation of models of both types.     

Some implications of computer networks for psychology

Computer networking as a subject of psychological research has varied facets, including the social psychology of scientists, the role of group “labeling” practices, and the paradigm development process, as well as the definitions of software, hardware, and communication systems and interfaces that fit the research styles, aspirations, and work habits specific to psychologists.     

Some aspects of the psychoanalytic psychology of physicians

An earlier publication ( Halpert, 1994 ) dealt with patients' magical expectations of physicians. In this presentation, aspects of physicians' expectations of themselves as doctors will be explored. This exploration will include material from the history of medicine, a series of interviews with non-patients and the analyses of two physicians. One element in the psychology of physicians not previously appreciated that can be drawn out of this material is the role and importance of knowledge and knowing and their relation to illness, death, rescue fantasies and reality in the psychology of physians.     

Cross-cultural psychology: Some accomplishments and challenges

The development of cross-cultural psychology over the past 40 years is briefly reviewed. Cross-cultural psychologists have focused on differences between populations, explanations based on individualism-collectivism and reduction of explanations to the individual-level of analysis. Cultural variations have been incompletely sampled, with an excessive focus on North America and East Asia. However, the cross-cultural approach is compatible with the perspective of cultural psychologists because in both traditions there has been a focus both on mechanisms of cultural stability and of cultural change. Promising new developments are identified, including classifications of a broader range of cultures based on communication behaviors, contrasting ways of satisfying identity motives in individualistic and collectivist cultures, and the use of experimental cultural primes for theory testing within bicultural populations.     

Some comments on the future of analytical psychology

We… have to follow the difficult way of our own experiences, produce our own reactions, and assimilate our own sufferings and realizations. Only then will the truth that we bring to manifestation be… our own flesh and blood… We cannot borrow God… Divinity must descend… into the matter of our own existence and participate in this peculiar life-process. —Heinrich Zimmer, Philosophies of India

The goal of Eastern religious practice is the same as that of Western mysticism: the shifting of the centre of gravity from the ego to the self. —C.G. Jung, Collected Works, Vol. II     

Some foundations and directions for applied developmental psychology

Applied developmental psychology (ADP) is an “umbrella” discipline which includes a range of psychological sciences and professions committed to use of the data base and methods of developmental psychology to address problems in education, health, human services and public policy. ADP emerges now as a manifestation of increasing recognition of the limits of developmental psychology's traditional models and paradigms, increasing recognition of our appropriate role in social problem-solving and public policy formation and an employment market which reflects these awarenesses. Consideration of clinical psychology as an ADP provides examples of synergies and distinctions helpful in defining ADP. The “linkage” concept inherent in a “scientist-practitioner” model is emphasized as a key in this definition and as a basis for designing appropriate doctoral training programs in ADP.     

Cognitive psychology and modern physics: Some analogies

Abstract

Patterns in physics and psychology are often related. This paper examines such relations on two levels. First, a survey is made of the various possible relations between physics and psychology and, secondly, a series of analogies between patterns in modern physics and cognition is presented. The analogies pertain both to the theory of relativity (both special and general) and to quantum mechanics. While the different analogies noted are argued for independently from one another, together they do present some unified patterns. It is argued that the analogies may be useful in opening up avenues for new conceptual bameworks in psychology. In particular, they are linked to a possible critique of the representational view of mind.