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Transpersonal Psychology As a Scientific Field International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Volume 21 | Issue 1 Article 19 1-1-2002 Transpersonal Psychology as a Scientific ieldF Harris Friedman Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies Part of the Philosophy Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Friedman, H. (2002). Friedman, H. (2002). Transpersonal psychology as a scientific field. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 21(1), 175–187.. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 21 (1). http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2002.21.1.175 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This 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 Psychology as a Scientific Field Harris Friedman Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center San Francisco, California, USA The importance of the development of transpersonal psychology as a science is considered. Arguments from romanticism, scientism, and constructionism that challenge this possibility are countered. A distinction is drawn between the field of transpersonal psychology as a science and the broader area known as transpersonal studies that may legitimately use scientific or nonscientific methods. The concepts of transpersonal phenomena and transcendent noumena are delineated, the latter being seen as outside of the purview of science. The benefits of embracing a scientific approach are contrasted to a number of epistemological alternatives. The scientific approach is forwarded for its potential contribution towards providing a unifying paradigm for the discipline of psychology and for solving crucial problems in the world. I hope that this presentation challenges the reader to more deeply examine the role of science in transpersonal psychology. RANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY has never First, transpersonal psychology was clearly developed a coherent scientific frame of instituted as a field that was meant to be part of T reference, and despite numerous attempts the larger discipline of scientific psychology. The to adequately define it (e.g., Lajoie & Shapiro, major founders of transpersonal psychology were 1992; Walsh & Vaughan, 1993), still suffers from clearly invested in extending the rigorous scientific serious ambiguity regarding its scope and discipline of psychology beyond the conventional appropriate methodology. As a result, little boundaries of psychoanalytical, behavioral, and progress in understanding transpersonal humanistic psychology. Their purpose was not to psychological phenomena from a scientific abandon science, as exemplified by the statement perspective has occurred since the founding of in the first issue of the major publication which the field. In this paper, I consider the importance initially launched the field: "The Journal of of specifying transpersonal psychology as a Transpersonal Psychology is concerned with the scientific field and propose some strategies to publication of theoretical and applied research, further its progress as a science. original contributions, empirical papers, articles and studies in ..." (Sutich, 1969, p. 16). Thereafter, Reasons to Restrict the Field of a number of diverse content areas were listed, but Transpersonal Psychology to Science clearly a scientific agenda was presented.1 Second, since the discipline of psychology is HERE ARE three pragmatic reasons why the clearly identified as a science by the majority of T study of transpersonal psychology should be psychologists and also by society as a whole, the unambiguously restricted to scientific approaches. field of transpersonal psychology explicitly lays The International journal ofTranspersonaL Studies, 2002, Vol. 21, 175-187 175 © 2002 by Panigada P(esS claim through its name to be part of that scientific the field. I believe that the best hope for lasting discipline. Likewise, the rewards of scientific solutions to many of the grave problems faced by status accrue to transpersonal psychology humans, and the earth itself, at this time lies in through its association with psychology. For psychological rather than technical progress. For example, professional psychological services are example, although pressures of escalating provided in a context that is legitimized by overpopulation in third world nations could be various governments based on the rationale that eased through further attempts toward scientific standards are being used in such increasing agricultural output, as through practice. Legitimization entails specific benefits genetically enhanced crops, this type of solution to practitioners as provided through licensing is likely not to prove sustainable but only to laws. A practitioner operating outside the postpone overpopulation breaking points. scientific framework in providing applied services Psychological solutions, such as changing core offered through a professional psychology license attitudes toward reproduction that are currently would be perceived as violating this implicit embedded in religious belief systems, are likely contract. It is well established in law that to be more effective than technical solutions to psychologists who use approaches that are not these human-based problems. Furthermore, the scientifically justifiable can be sanctioned for type of psychological solutions required for these professional discipline such as loss of their crucial problems of contemporary adaptation, licenses to practice. There may also be civil both human and planetary, cannot be adequately penalties, enforced through malpractice action, addressed solely through the limited and even criminal penalties for a licensed conceptualizations offered by mainstream professional operating in a nonscientific fashion. psychology but require, instead, transpersonal Furthermore, if nonscientific approaches were to considerations. Only transpersonal psychology be allowed as a legitimate part of professional allows for innovative avenues in which scientific practice by applied transpersonal psychologists, approaches can address many of the most a situation of inequity would be created that pressing problems that threaten our very survival would discriminate against other practitioners, as a species and the survival of our planet. And, such as religious healers, who might use similar beyond mere deficit motivations, a scientific nonscientific methods yet not be allowed a transpersonal psychology is required for the comparable professional license and its privileges. optimum development of our human potential. (Even in academic and scholarly arenas, To throw away the unique promise offered by transpersonal psychologists enjoy benefits due to transpersonal psychology through rejecting the their attributed scientific status, such as in proper role of science in the field would be not receiving greater public acceptance as only irresponsible but tragic. authoritative experts.) Consequently, I argue that In summary, based on the historic roots of the to allow practices that are not scientifically based field, the ethical and legal implications of its within the field of transpersonal psychology is neither legally nor ethically defensible. connection with the discipline of scientific Third, and most importantly, I consider the psychology, and the importance of the field for development of a scientific transpersonal human survival and betterment, transpersonal psychology crucial for human survival and the psychology should be bound to a scientific betterment of life. Relegating the field to the commitment. Those who wish to abandon scientific collection and reportage of unscientific folk approaches to pursue their transpersonal work traditions presented in a journalistic fashion should be unfettered as long as they use a broader would at best be superfluous since such sources term, such as transpersonal studies, to describe are abundant and have little likelihood of their work. But those who elect to associate their helping humanity in any progressive way. If the work with the field of transpersonal psychology field is used to promulgate any specific religious need to be aware of the implications of their or spiritual folk traditions, under a falsely choice. In particular, those who disseminate their assumed scientific label, the deception could be own religious or spiritual beliefs through their damaging in many ways, including the possibility professional work should not present themselves of undermining further scientific development o~ as transpersonal psychologists. 17 6 The International journal ofTranspersonal Studies, 2002, vol. 21 Objections from Romanticism, comfortably serve, or exploit, their clients without Scientism, and Constructionism any accountability, at least until the regulators and litigators arrive. In addition, romanticism AVING ADVOCATED that transpersonal can lucratively be used to sell questionable H psychology be restricted to the realm of transpersonal works-witness the numerous science, I will focus the discussion now on directly ludicrous books and seminars marketed to a naive confronting the positions ofthose who are hostile public. It seems that including the terms spirit to the possibility of a scientific transpersonal
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