RHODES, DANIEL, Ph.D. An Anarchist Psychotherapy: Ecopsychology and a Pedagogy of Life. (2008) Directed by Glenn M. Hudak. 205 pp. Drawing from my background in education and psychotherapy, I reflect on how both of these fields are heavily influenced by developmental and behavioral psychology. Today’s psychological model is influenced by a western scientific theory that is reductionist and views the natural world and those in it as commodities to be dissected, segmented and studied. I trace the evolution of this western scientific model and reflect on how it has shaped contemporary psychology. Once psychology has adopted this western scientific model as the only model, it demands that both education and psychotherapy view those with whom they work as commodities. This model is hierarchical, patriarchal and linear in its approach, which rejects the individual’s needs and desires to be independent and autonomous. During this process I intimate an alternative scientific model. The scientific model that I postulate is more inclusive and views the natural world and those living in it as organic and interconnected. I draw from an array of philosophical ideas ranging from Eastern philosophies such as Taoism and Buddhism to western philosophical ideas such as anarchism and Marxism. Anarchism and Marxism strongly critique western capitalist endeavors. Both are models of critical theory that challenge the hierarchical aspects of western psychology. I also look at ideas of ecofeminism and its critique of Neoliberalism and globalization, which is promoted by the western scientific model as a way to support the exploitation of Third World countries by transnational corporations and agribusinesses. Ecofeminism is a strong critic of the patriarchal structure of western science and western psychology. I will then reflect on the ideas of religion and spirituality that are more ecological and “engaging;” or what I call ecospirituality. This ecospirituality places strong emphasis on the ideas of contemplation, dialogue and community building, which provides an alternative to the linear thinking in western psychology and science. Ultimately psychotherapy and education need to become an intellectual endeavor and educators and psychotherapists need to become “cultural workers.” Through this process there will be an embracing of radical democracy, communalism and ecological consciousness. In this dissertation I suggest that western psychology should shift from its developmental and behavioral influences with its reliance on a western reductionist scientific view to what Theodore Roszak calls an ecopsychology. This ecopsychology is inclusive, and therefore views the individual and the natural world as more than a commodity and becomes a pedagogy of life. AN ANARCHIST PSYCHOTHERAPY: ECOPSYCHOLOGY AND A PEDAGOGY OF LIFE by Daniel Rhodes A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate School at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Greensboro 2008 Approved by _________________________________ Committee Chair To Cecil, Carolyn, Betty & Laura ii APPROVAL PAGE This dissertation has been approved by the following committee of the Faculty of The Graduate School at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Committee Chair Committee Members Date of Acceptance by Committee Date of Final Oral Examination iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to begin by acknowledging my committee chair and advisor, Dr. Glenn Hudak. Dr. Hudak has become a dear friend and mentor and provided a great amount of support for me during this endeavor. I also want to thank Dr. Leila Villaverde, committee member and advisor for my graduate certificate in Women and Gender Studies, for her support in both my graduate certificate and my dissertation. I also could not have done this without the support and assistance of my other committee members, Dr. Bill Hamilton, Dr. Svi Shapiro and Dr. Charles P. Gause, all of whom brought very unique perspective to both my studies and my work on this dissertation. To all of them I give many bows and many thanks. I also want to thank my very supportive family. My life partner Laura Mrosla who has supported me through all my endeavors (including my periodic stays at Buddhist temples). To my uncle Cecil Allen, I only wish he could be here to share this with me. I want to thank my aunt Carolyn Allen and my mother Betty Rhodes. I also want to acknowledge my brother Randy Williams, who has read this dissertation over numerous times as well as other writings and has given great feedback and suggestions throughout. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................1 The Journey ..................................................................................................1 Methodology ..............................................................................................25 Chapter Summaries ....................................................................................30 II. A PSYCHOLOGY OF ANARCHISM ...............................................................36 Who is Watching Me? ...............................................................................36 Panopticon..................................................................................................41 Panopticon and Social Sciences .................................................................44 Paranoid and Delusional ............................................................................47 Incorporating Science ................................................................................49 Evolving Science .......................................................................................53 A Psychology of Anarchism ......................................................................58 Freedom .....................................................................................................61 Alienation ...................................................................................................64 Re-connecting and Ecopsychology ............................................................68 III. ECOPSYCHOLOGY ..........................................................................................70 The Beats Man…The Beats .......................................................................70 Ecopsychology ...........................................................................................77 Taoist and Buddhist Influence ...................................................................80 Spiritual and Mystical Component ........................................................... 83 Connection ☯ Balance ...............................................................................90 Wu Wei .......................................................................................................95 IV. GLOBALIZATION AND ECOFEMINISM ......................................................99 Globalization ..............................................................................................99 Ecofeminism and Globalization ...............................................................108 Ecofeminism and Feminism ....................................................................112 Ecofeminism and Male Patriarchy ...........................................................120 Ecofeminism and Western Environmentalism.........................................123 Critiques of Ecofeminism and Spirituality ..............................................126 v Page V. ECOSPIRITUALITY .......................................................................................130 Irrational Mysticism? ...............................................................................130 Fascist Ecology ........................................................................................132 Nanda and the Principle of Deduction for Justification ...........................133 Nazis, Science and Fanaticism .................................................................134 Centrism vs. Radicalism ..........................................................................137 Ecoterrorism .............................................................................................139 Secularism vs. Spirituality .......................................................................142 Fast Food Spirituality ...............................................................................145 Engaged Buddhism ..................................................................................150 Engaged Spirituality.................................................................................152 Engaged Pedagogy ...................................................................................153 Engaged Communities .............................................................................155 Ecospirituality ..........................................................................................158 Working towards Synthesis .....................................................................159 VI. CONCLUSIONS...............................................................................................163 Intellectual Contemplation .......................................................................163 Client Centered and Productive ...............................................................169 Panoptic Psychotherapy ...........................................................................171