Transpersonal Psychology Review
September 1, 2008
Harald Walach
Narcissism appears in two forms: ego-inflation, characterized by pathological grandiosity, and the Moses complex, marked by excessive self-devaluation and low self-esteem. In groups, both manifest through the symbiotic relationship between charismatic leaders and worshipping followers. These represent subtle spiritual defense mechanisms that obstruct the genuine spiritual task of discovering and transcending one's true self. Due to its focus on spiritual and transcendent experiences, transpersonal psychology is especially prone to attracting individuals with narcissistic issues, and awareness of this tendency is important. Practical implications for the field are discussed.
Transpersonal Psychology Review
January 1, 2008
Tim Read
William James argues that ordinary waking consciousness is only one type among many potential forms of consciousness, which are separated from it by a thin barrier. These alternate states can be accessed through appropriate stimuli, revealing themselves fully when triggered. The text presents a philosophical claim about the nature of consciousness, suggesting that human experience is broader than rational awareness alone.
Transpersonal Psychology Review
January 1, 2008
Isabel Clarke
A theoretical paper argues that a cognitive science model called Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (ICS), which describes the mind as a balancing act between different processing levels and emphasizes the centrality of relationship, can be integrated with developments in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and other therapeutic modalities. The model's themes have contributed to the adoption of mindfulness in cognitive therapies, recognizing spirituality within mental health. The paper proposes a fundamental theory of spirituality based on a division within human experiencing, and considers its explanatory power for therapy, theory of mind, and the limits of science.
Transpersonal Psychology Review
January 1, 2007
Eileen Sheppard
Transpersonal Anthropology, a growing subfield of Social Anthropology, shares much with Transpersonal Psychology and can offer a broader view of human experience by drawing on non-Western peoples' concepts, philosophies, and ways of life. Social Anthropology's methodological self-critique has produced insights applicable across the social sciences, yet Transpersonal Anthropology may have narrowed its vision. The author proposes that the two disciplines can inform each other and offers an alternative model based on fieldwork studying transpersonal experiences within mild altered states of consciousness, both sacred and secular, as part of ordinary everyday streams of consciousness, along with the therapeutic effects of such states.
Transpersonal Psychology Review
January 1, 2007
Harald Walach
Transpersonal psychology often treats introspective reports as objective data, an approach criticized as Naïve Objectivism of Introspective Data (NOISED). This paper argues for a middle ground: taking inner experience seriously without naivety. Future transpersonal methodology must move from subjective to intersubjective experience, similar to how science treats outer-world data, but no equivalent method exists for inner experience. Simply accepting experience as data is insufficient. The solution is to develop a pragmatic catalogue of criteria for judging inner experiences, a future task for transpersonal epistemology. This requires a circular structure linking experience to tradition and testing it pragmatically. The paper develops how and why this should be done.
Transpersonal Psychology Review
January 1, 2007
Ho Law
A personal reflective account of attending the 10th Annual Section Conference of the Transpersonal Psychology Section, focusing on Jessica Bockler's workshop about 100 years of transpersonal psychology. Using Gibb's six-stage model embedded within Kolb's learning cycle, the author draws out common threads in transpersonal aspects that resonate across diverse practices including arts, drama, film, performance, songs, fiction, and poetry. The reflection discovers that social and asocial intentions from participating in ritual performance may be symbolically represented as vertical and horizontal orientations within the learning cycle. The conclusion reflects further on surprises encountered during the analysis.
Transpersonal Psychology Review
January 1, 2007
Toni Brennan
The paper examines Rudolf Steiner's philosophy, Anthroposophy, and its connections to Transpersonal Psychology. Steiner held that the cosmos is reflected within each individual, who can access a spiritual dimension. This unifying principle underlies practical applications like education, art, architecture, medicine, and agriculture. The author identifies areas where Steiner's thought aligns with Abraham Maslow's later ideas about human nature and spiritual growth.