Transpersonal Psychology: Trends in Empirical Research and Diversity During the First Five Decades of the Field

An analysis of articles published in the two main transpersonal psychology journals over the field's first five decades shows that empirical research has played a small but gradually increasing role in the literature. Gender diversity has improved from early dominance by male authors in North America, though gender imbalance remains greater in transpersonal psychology than in psychology overall. International authorship has grown but has not kept pace with the growth of North American authorship.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Prior research on the role of empirical research in transpersonal psychology is updated, along with trends in gender diversity and geographical distribution of authorships. Data was compiled from a review of articles published in the two main journals of the field, The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology and the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, over the first five decades of the field. Based on these records of the field's published work, it appears that empirical research has played a small though gradually growing role in the literature, and that there has been substantive correction from early skews toward male authorship in North America. Despite this, gender imbalance remains somewhat greater in the transpersonal field than within the broader field of psychology. While there is continued growth of international authorship, it has not kept pace with growth in North American authorship.