International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Volume 32 | Issue 2 Article 5 7-1-2013 Transpersonal Sociology: Origins, Development, and Theory Ryan Rominger Sofia University Harris L. Friedman University of Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies Part of the Philosophy Commons, Psychology Commons, Religion Commons, and the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Rominger, R., & Friedman, H. L. (2013). Rominger, R., & Freidman, H. (2013). Transpersonal sociology: Origins, development, and theory. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 32(2), 17–33.. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 32 (2). http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2013.32.2.17 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Special Topic Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Newsletters at Digital Commons @ CIIS. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Transpersonal Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CIIS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Transpersonal Sociology: Origins, Development, and Theory Ryan Rominger1 Harris Friedman Sofia University University of Florida Palo Alto, CA, USA Gainesville, FL, USA Transpersonal theory formally developed within psychology through the initial definition of the field in the publishing of the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. However, transpersonal sociology also developed with the Transpersonal Sociology Newsletter, which operated through the middle 1990s. Both disciplines have long histories, while one continues to flourish and the other, comparatively, is languishing. In order to encourage renewed interest in this important area of transpersonal studies, we discuss the history, and further define the field of transpersonal sociology, discuss practical applications of transpersonal sociology, and introduce research approaches that might be of benefit for transpersonal sociological researchers and practitioners. Keywords: Transpersonal, sociology ranspersonal studies involve many disciplines For example, in various religious and spiritual (Boucouvalas, 1999; Friedman, 2002; Friedman systems, transpersonal concerns are balanced between & Hartelius, 2013; Walsh & Vaughan, 1993), individual and community. Shamans alter consciousness Tdespite that it has been largely dominated by the discipline and visit alternate realities not just for their own benefit of psychology. Walsh and Vaughan stated, “Transpersonal but for the sake of their community (Krippner & disciplines are those disciplines that focus on the study of Friedman, 2009), while many different religious and transpersonal experiences and related phenomena. These spiritual traditions emphasize both (Friedman, Krippner, phenomena include the causes, effects and correlates of Riebel, & Johnson, 2010). In Buddhism, the Sangha or transpersonal experiences and development, as well as community of those who practice, constitutes one of the disciplines and practices inspired by them” (p. 203). this faith’s three pillars, co-equal to individual liberation One discipline especially complementary to psychology while, in Christianity, the Church as a collective body, is sociology. In essence, to be a human individual (i.e., as well as the salvation of individuals, is of crucial the focus of psychology) is also to be a part of a society importance. Likewise, in transpersonal psychology (i.e., the focus of sociology), and conversely human there is a growing awareness of the importance of social societies are comprised of individuals, such that neither engagement (Coder, DeYoung, & Friedman, 2014). As exists apart from the other. noted by Hunt (2010): For transpersonal studies to provide the most If spirituality is as social as it is individual, inclusive and holistic approach to the full range of the question arises, perhaps especially in the transpersonal phenomena, there has to be attention predominantly secular era, of how this human to its sociology, not just its psychology. Consequently, potential for a directly-felt numinosity could or we provide some basic approaches that might be would re-emerge as the potential inner face of an useful toward further developing a framework for outwardly globalizing world order. (p. 23) understanding and applying transpersonal sociology. As one of the key disciplines involved in the earliest stages Introduction to Basic Sociology of the transpersonal movement, it flourished for a brief ociology arose as an attempt to understand social facts, period, but then has since languished in comparison Swhich transcend the facts of biology and psychology to transpersonal psychology. Our hope is not to create and require a unique method (e.g., Durkheim, 1938). In a definitive statement of, but to encourage a renewal of this way, sociology is the science of societies, in contrast interest in, transpersonal sociology as an important, and to psychology as the science of the individual and biology maybe necessary, part of transpersonal studies. as the science of life. Just as psychology, although it TranspersonalInternational Journal Sociology of Transpersonal Studies, 32(2), 2013,International pp. 17-33 Journal of Transpersonal Studies 17 is based in biology, cannot be reduced to just biology, “we must ask for whom they are functional” (p. 21). so too sociology transcends individual psychology Thus, conflict theorists tend to focus on social action by looking at collectives that are not merely the sum initiatives, particularly those focused on disempowered of individuals as components but arise from a larger groups. Critique of conflict theory revolves around two interconnected matrix generated through individuals observations: first, they tend to ignore areas where there being embedded in a culture with many pre-givens, such is consensus around various socially accepted values and as languages and customs, that continually influence the behaviors; second, they tend to overlook institutionalized individual through social interactions. For Durkheim, means of avoiding struggle through consensus-building social facts were as real as individuals, having collective exercises, such as democratic elections. origins independent of individuals and with an existence The feminist perspective in sociological far exceeding that of individuals. If the literal meaning theory, also a macrosociological theory, is closely of transpersonal is taken seriously, referring to “beyond related to the conflict theory perspective, with the the person as an individual,” sociology as a discipline is added emphasis on androcentric attitudes, beliefs, and inherently transpersonal. In this regard, we agree with behaviors within cultures. Feminist perspectives also Moberg (2001) who concluded that, “all of sociology . point out the androcentric bias within sociological by its very nature involves transpersonal concerns” (p. theory and research, with feminist sociologists inviting 132). open dialogue regarding sex, gender, race, and class Sociology focuses on four main theoretical (Lindsay & Beach, 2002). According to these authors, perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory, feminist “consistent with conflict theory, feminist sociologists perspectives, and symbolic interactionism (Lindsey argue that structured social inequality . is supported & Beach, 2002). According to these authors, by ideologies accepted by both the privileged and the functionalism (also called structural-functionalism) is oppressed” (p. 24). A critique often raised against the a macrosociological perspective (i.e., looks at the big feminist perspective, in addition to those leveled at picture) that “interprets all social groups . as systems conflict theory in general, is the question whether whose parts are interdependent so that a change in feminist sociologists and their research can remain one element necessarily leads to changes in every other objective. However, feminist scholars tend to believe this element” (p. 19). Additionally, “each part exists for a critique a “smokescreen hiding male bias” (p. 24). reason, and if it fails to perform its appropriate function, The fourth sociological theory, symbolic the whole system works less effectively” (p. 19). One of interactionism, is the only microsociological theory the main tenets of such a system is to keep equilibrium, covered in our paper. Symbolic interactionism focuses on and any force that challenges that equilibrium is the individual’s response in face-to-face social settings, considered suspect. The main critique of functionalism and emphasizes that large social structures “are ultimately is that within each system are inherent power dynamics, nothing more than the creations of interacting people and with those in the majority or in power quelling the that they can, therefore, be changed” (Lindsay & Beach, challenges to the system posed by nondominant 2002, p. 23). According to these authors, the “meaning minority peoples or groups in an attempt to keep the of various aspects of social reality is not predetermined status quo. An additional challenge to functionalism is but is established through human action” (p. 23). The the claim that every system, to maintain health, must main critique of symbolic interactionists is that they change, especially in order to create new, more just, and “fail to acknowledge how difficult it is to change long- more effective systems. established social arrangements”