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{{Short description|School of psychology}}
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Issues considered in transpersonal psychology include spiritual [[Human Potential Movement|self-development]], self beyond the ego, [[peak experience]]s, [[mysticism|mystical experiences]], [[trance|systemic trance]], [[Spiritual crisis|spiritual crises]], spiritual evolution, [[religious conversion]], [[altered states of consciousness]], spiritual practices, and other sublime and/or unusually expanded experiences of living. The discipline attempts to describe and integrate spiritual experience within modern psychological theory and to formulate new theory to encompass such experience. The Transpersonal Psychology Day is celebrated on February 27th.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://conferenceindex.org/event/transpersonal-psychology-day-2022-february-palo-alto-us/|title=Transpersonal Psychology Day|language=en-US|access-date=2021-11-28}}</ref>
Issues considered in transpersonal psychology include spiritual [[Human Potential Movement|self-development]], self beyond the ego, [[peak experience]]s, [[mysticism|mystical experiences]], [[trance|systemic trance]], [[Spiritual crisis|spiritual crises]], spiritual evolution, [[religious conversion]], [[altered states of consciousness]], spiritual practices, and other sublime and/or unusually expanded experiences of living. The discipline attempts to describe and integrate spiritual experience within modern psychological theory and to formulate new theory to encompass such experience. The Transpersonal Psychology Day is celebrated on February 27th.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://conferenceindex.org/event/transpersonal-psychology-day-2022-february-palo-alto-us/|title=Transpersonal Psychology Day|language=en-US|access-date=2021-11-28}}</ref>


==Definition==
== Origins ==
In 1968 Maslow was among the people who announced transpersonal psychology as a "fourth force" in psychology,<ref name="Chinen 1996">Chinen, Allan B. ''The emergence of Transpersonal psychiatry''. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books</ref> in order to separate it from [[Humanistic psychology]]. Early use of the term "transpersonal" can also be credited to [[Stanislav Grof]] and [[Anthony Sutich]]. At this time, in 1967–68, Maslow was in close dialogue with both Grof and Sutich regarding the name and orientation of the new field.<ref name="Vich 1988">Vich, M.A. (1988) "Some historical sources of the term "transpersonal". ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 20 (2) 107-110</ref> According to Powers<ref name="Powers 2005">Powers, Robin. Counseling and Spirituality: A Historical Review. ''Counseling and Values'', Apr 2005, Vol.49(3), pp.217-225</ref> the term "transpersonal" starts to show up in academic journals from 1970 and onwards.

Lajoie and Shapiro<ref name="Lajoie and Shapiro, 1992">Lajoie, D. H. & Shapiro, S. I. "Definitions of transpersonal psychology: The first twenty-three years". ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', Vol. 24, 1992</ref> reviewed forty definitions of transpersonal psychology that had appeared in academic literature over the period from 1968 to 1991. They found that five key themes in particular featured prominently in these definitions: ''states of consciousness''; ''higher or ultimate potential''; ''beyond the ego or personal self''; ''transcendence''; and ''the spiritual''. Based upon this study the authors proposed the following definition of transpersonal psychology: "Transpersonal Psychology is concerned with the study of humanity's highest potential, and with the recognition, understanding, and realization of unitive, spiritual, and transcendent states of consciousness."

In a review of previous definitions Walsh and Vaughan<ref name="Walsh & Vaughan 1993"/> suggested that transpersonal psychology is an "area of psychology that focuses on the study of transpersonal experiences and related phenomena. These phenomena include the causes, effects and correlates of transpersonal experiences and development, as well as the disciplines and practices inspired by them." They have also criticised many definitions of transpersonal psychology for carrying implicit assumptions, or presuppositions, that may not necessarily define the field as a whole.{{ref|a|Note a}}

Hartelius, Caplan and Rardin<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007">Hartelius, Glenn; Caplan, Mariana; Rardin, Mary Anne. "Transpersonal Psychology: Defining the Past, Divining the Future". ''The Humanistic Psychologist'', 35(2), 1–26, 2007</ref> conducted a retrospective analysis of definitions of transpersonal psychology. They found three dominant themes that define the field: ''beyond-ego psychology'', ''integrative/holistic psychology'', and ''psychology of transformation''. Analysis suggested that the field has moved from the study of alternative states of consciousness to a more expanded view of human wholeness and transformation.

Caplan (2009: p.&nbsp;231) conveys the genesis of the discipline, states its mandate and ventures a definition:

{{blockquote|Although transpersonal psychology is relatively new as a formal discipline, beginning with the publication of ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'' in 1969 and the founding of the Association for Transpersonal Psychology in 1971, it draws upon ancient mystical knowledge that comes from multiple traditions. Transpersonal psychologists attempt to integrate timeless wisdom with modern Western psychology and translate spiritual principles into scientifically grounded, contemporary language. Transpersonal psychology addresses the full spectrum of human psychospiritual development&nbsp;– from our deepest wounds and needs, to the existential crisis of the human being, to the most transcendent capacities of our consciousness.<ref>{{cite book|last=Caplan|first=Mariana|year=2009|title=Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path|publisher=Sounds True|isbn=978-1591797326|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cDX8zNEbUXoC|access-date=5 May 2010|page=231}}</ref>}}

Authors close to the field has defined Transpersonal psychology as the fourth force in psychology, emerging from the third force of [[Humanistic psychology]].<ref>Hastings, A. (1999). Transpersonal psychology: The fourth force. In D. Moss (Ed.), Humanistic and transpersonal psychology: A historical and biographical sourcebook (pp. 192–208). Greenwood Press/Greenwood Publishing Group</ref> The perspectives of [[holism]] and unity are central to the worldview of transpersonal psychology.<ref name="Davis 2003">Davis, John. "An overview of transpersonal psychology." ''The Humanistic Psychologist'', 31:2-3, 6-21, 2003</ref>

==Development of the field==

===Origins===

The thinkers who have set the stage for transpersonal studies are [[William James]], [[Carl Jung]], [[Roberto Assagioli]], [[Abraham Maslow]] and [[Stanislav Grof]].<ref name="Miller 1998">Miller, John J. "Book review: Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology." ''Psychiatric Services'' April 01, 1998</ref><ref name="Davis 2003"/><ref name="Scotton 1996">Scotton, Bruce W. "The Contribution of C.G. Jung to Transpersonal Psychiatry". In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) ''Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology''. New York: Basic Books</ref><ref name="Battista 1996">Battista, John. "Abraham Maslow and Roberto Assagioli: Pioneers of Transpersonal Psychology". In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) ''Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology''. New York: Basic Books</ref><ref name="Parsons 2003">Parsons, William B. Book Reviews: Revisioning Transpersonal Theory. A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality (Book). ''Journal of Religion'', 00224189, Oct. 2003, Vol.83, Issue 4.</ref> More recent attention has brought to light transpersonal aspects of [[Jean Piaget]]'s untranslated French works, and argued that Piaget's transpersonal experiences and theoretical interests were a major motivation for Piaget's psychological research.<ref name="Dale 2014">Dale, E. (2014) "Spiritual consciousness in the age of quantity: The strange case of Jean Piaget's mysticism". ''Journal of Consciousness Studies'', 21 (5-6) 97-117</ref> A review by Vich<ref name="Vich 1988">Vich, M.A. (1988) "Some historical sources of the term "transpersonal". ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 20 (2) 107-110</ref> suggests that the earliest usage of the term "transpersonal" can be found in lecture notes which William James had prepared for a semester at [[Harvard University]] in 1905–06. The meaning then, different from today's usage, was in the context of James' [[radical empiricism]], in which there exists an intimate relation between a perceiving subject and a perceived object, recognizing that all objects are dependent on being perceived by someone.<ref>{{cite book |author= Taylor, E. |editor1=Scotton, B.W. |editor2=Chinen, A.B. |editor3=Battista, J.R. |title= Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology |edition= 1 |date=May 1996 |orig-year= 1996 |publisher= Basic Books |location= New York |isbn= 978-0465095308 |chapter= William James and transpersonal psychiatry |page= 26}}</ref> Commentators<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman">Elmer, Lori D., MacDonald, Douglas A. & Friedman, Harris L. "Transpersonal psychology, physical health, and mental health: Theory, research, and practice". ''The Humanistic Psychologist'', 31:2-3, 159-181, 2003</ref> also mention the [[psychedelia|psychedelic]] movement, the psychological study of religion, [[parapsychology]], and the interest in Eastern spiritual systems and practices, as influences that shaped the early field of transpersonal psychology.

Another important figure in the establishment of transpersonal psychology was [[Abraham Maslow]], who had already published work regarding human peak experiences. Maslow is credited for having presented the outline of a fourth-force psychology, named transhumanistic psychology, in a lecture entitled "The Farther Reaches of Human Nature" in 1967.<ref name="Judy 1994">Judy, Dwight. "Transpersonal psychology: Coming of age." ''ReVision''. Winter 94, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p99. 2p.</ref> In 1968 Maslow was among the people who announced transpersonal psychology as a "fourth force" in psychology,<ref name="Chinen 1996">Chinen, Allan B. ''The emergence of Transpersonal psychiatry''. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books</ref> in order to separate it from [[Humanistic psychology]]. Early use of the term "transpersonal" can also be credited to [[Stanislav Grof]] and [[Anthony Sutich]]. At this time, in 1967–68, Maslow was in close dialogue with both Grof and Sutich regarding the name and orientation of the new field.<ref name="Vich 1988"/> According to Powers<ref name="Powers 2005">Powers, Robin. Counseling and Spirituality: A Historical Review. ''Counseling and Values'', Apr 2005, Vol.49(3), pp.217-225</ref> the term "transpersonal" starts to show up in academic journals from 1970 and onwards.


Both Humanistic and Transpersonal psychology have been associated with the [[Human Potential Movement]], a growth center for alternative therapies and philosophies that grew out of the counter-culture of the 1960s at places like [[Esalen Institute|Esalen]], California.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000">Aanstoos, C., Serlin, I., & Greening, T. (2000). ''History of Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) of the American Psychological Association''. In D. Dewsbury (Ed.), "Unification through Division: Histories of the divisions of the American Psychological Association", Vol. V. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.</ref><ref name="Leonard 1992">Leonard, G. How to Have an Extraordinary Life. ''Psychology Today'', May 01, 1992 (reviewed June 20, 2012)</ref><ref name="Tarnas 2001">Tarnas, Richard. A New Birth In Freedom. A Review of Jorge Ferrer's Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality. ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2001, Vol. 33, No. I</ref><ref name="Taylor 1999">Taylor, Eugene. An Intellectual Renaissance of Humanistic Psychology. ''Journal of Humanistic Psychology'', Vol. 39, No. 2, Spring 1999 p.p 7-25</ref><ref name="Greyson 1993">Greyson, Bruce. (Book review) The Future of the Body: Explorations into the Further Evolution of Human Nature. ''The New England Journal of Medicine'', Volume 328:216, Number 3, 1993</ref>
Both Humanistic and Transpersonal psychology have been associated with the [[Human Potential Movement]], a growth center for alternative therapies and philosophies that grew out of the counter-culture of the 1960s at places like [[Esalen Institute|Esalen]], California.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000">Aanstoos, C., Serlin, I., & Greening, T. (2000). ''History of Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) of the American Psychological Association''. In D. Dewsbury (Ed.), "Unification through Division: Histories of the divisions of the American Psychological Association", Vol. V. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.</ref><ref name="Leonard 1992">Leonard, G. How to Have an Extraordinary Life. ''Psychology Today'', May 01, 1992 (reviewed June 20, 2012)</ref><ref name="Tarnas 2001">Tarnas, Richard. A New Birth In Freedom. A Review of Jorge Ferrer's Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality. ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2001, Vol. 33, No. I</ref><ref name="Taylor 1999">Taylor, Eugene. An Intellectual Renaissance of Humanistic Psychology. ''Journal of Humanistic Psychology'', Vol. 39, No. 2, Spring 1999 p.p 7-25</ref><ref name="Greyson 1993">Greyson, Bruce. (Book review) The Future of the Body: Explorations into the Further Evolution of Human Nature. ''The New England Journal of Medicine'', Volume 328:216, Number 3, 1993</ref>
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===Formative period===
===Formative period===


Gradually, during the 1960s, the term "transpersonal" was associated with a distinct school of psychology within the humanistic psychology movement.<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> In 1969, Abraham Maslow, Stanislav Grof and Anthony Sutich were among the initiators behind the publication of the first issue of the ''[[Journal of Transpersonal Psychology]]'', the leading academic journal in the field.<ref name="Judy 1994"/><ref name="Chinen 1996"/><ref name="Taylor 1992"/> During the next decade significant establishments took place under the banner of transpersonal psychology. The Association for Transpersonal Psychology was established in 1972.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/> An international initiative, The International Transpersonal Psychology Association, was founded by Stanislav Grof, and held its first conference in Iceland in 1973.<ref name="Taylor 1992"/> This was soon to be followed by the founding of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, a graduate training center, in 1975 .<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/><ref name="SF Chronicle 2014">PRWeb (Press release). Founder Bob Frager Returns to Sofia University. ''San Francisco Chronicle'', published online Tuesday, July 15, 2014.</ref> The institute was founded by [[Robert Frager]] and [[James Fadiman]]<ref name="SF Chronicle 2014"/><ref name="PRWEB 2012">PRWEB Press release. ''Sofia University Announces Inauguration of First President, Neal King Ph.D.'' Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) September 18, 2012</ref> in response to the academic climate of the 1970s, and included transpersonal and spiritual approaches to psychology.<ref name="SF Chronicle 2014"/> Soon other institutions, with transpersonal psychology programs, followed. Among these were Saybrook Graduate School, the California Institute of Asian Studies (now California Institute of Integral Studies), JFK University, and Naropa.<ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005">Lukoff, David; Lu, Francis. ''A transpersonal-integrative approach to spiritually oriented psychotherapy''. In Sperry, Len (Ed); Shafranske, Edward P. (Ed), (2005). Spiritually oriented psychotherapy., (pp. 177-205). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association, ix, 368 pp.</ref>
Gradually, during the 1960s, the term "transpersonal" was associated with a distinct school of psychology within the humanistic psychology movement.<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> In 1969, Abraham Maslow, Stanislav Grof and Anthony Sutich were among the initiators behind the publication of the first issue of the ''[[Journal of Transpersonal Psychology]]''.<ref name="Judy 1994">Judy, Dwight. "Transpersonal psychology: Coming of age." ''ReVision''. Winter 94, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p99. 2p.</ref><ref name="Chinen 1996"/><ref name="Taylor 1992">Taylor, Eugene. Transpersonal Psychology: Its several Virtues. ''The Humanistic Psychologist'', Vol. 20, Nos. 2 and 3, pp. 285-300, 1992.</ref> The Association for Transpersonal Psychology was established in 1972,<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/> the International Transpersonal Psychology Association in 1973,<ref name="Taylor 1992"/> and the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in 1975 .<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/><ref name="SF Chronicle 2014">PRWeb (Press release). Founder Bob Frager Returns to Sofia University. ''San Francisco Chronicle'', published online Tuesday, July 15, 2014.</ref> The institute was founded by [[Robert Frager]] and [[James Fadiman]]<ref name="SF Chronicle 2014"/><ref name="PRWEB 2012">PRWEB Press release. ''Sofia University Announces Inauguration of First President, Neal King Ph.D.'' Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) September 18, 2012</ref> in response to the academic climate that was hostile to such ideas.<ref name="SF Chronicle 2014"/> Soon other institutions begain offering curricula in transpersonal psychology including [[Saybrook Graduate School]], the California Institute of Asian Studies (now [[California Institute of Integral Studies]]), [[JFK University]], and [[Naropa University|Naropa]].<ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005">Lukoff, David; Lu, Francis. ''A transpersonal-integrative approach to spiritually oriented psychotherapy''. In Sperry, Len (Ed); Shafranske, Edward P. (Ed), (2005). Spiritually oriented psychotherapy., (pp. 177-205). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association, ix, 368 pp.</ref> Other proponents of transpersonal psychology included [[Ram Dass]], a popular Guru; Elmer and Alyce Green who were affiliated with the [[Menninger Foundation]];<ref name="Taylor 1992" /> and [[Ken Wilber]].<ref name="Taylor 1992" /><ref name="Adams 2002">Adams, George (2002) A Theistic Perspective on Ken Wilber's Transpersonal Psychology, ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', 17:2, 165-179, DOI:10.1080/13537900220125163</ref><ref name="Miller 1998">Miller, John J. "Book review: Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology." ''Psychiatric Services'' April 01, 1998</ref> Since the 1990s, Ken Wilber had been distancing himself from the label of "transpersonal", in favour of the label of "integral", since the mid-1990s. In 1998 he formed [[Integral Institute]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://integralinstitute.org/history.htm |url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2022 |website=Integral Institute}}</ref>


An early preoccupation of those interested in transpersonal psychology was [[meditation]] and [[altered states of consciousness]] including those induced from [[Psychedelic drug|psychedelic drugs]].<ref name="Fadiman et al 2018">Fadiman, James; Judy, Dwight; Lukoff, David and Sovatsky, Stuart. 50TH Anniversary Reflections From (a few) of the Past Presidents of the Association for Transpersonal Psychology. ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2018, Vol. 50, No. 1</ref><ref name="Freeman 2006">Freeman, Anthony. A Daniel Come To Judgement? Dennett and the Revisioning of Transpersonal Theory. ''Journal of Consciousness Studies'', 13, No. 3, 2006, pp. 95–109</ref>
The period of the 1960's and 1970s introduced the collective of individuals known as the founders of the field of Transpersonal psychology. Among the founders we find: Ram Dass, James Fadiman, Robert Frager, Stanislav Grof, Stanley Krippner, Ralph Metzner, Claudio Naranjo, Huston Smith, Charles Tart, Frances Vaughan, Miles Vich, Roger Walsh, Michael Washburn, John Welwood and Ken Wilber. In this period the field developed through the contributions of these profiles, and other names such as, Alyce Green, Elmer Green and Daniel Goleman.<ref name="Ruzek 2007">Ruzek, Nicole. Transpersonal Psychology in Context: Perspectives from its founders and Historians of American Psychology. ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2007, Vol. 39, No. 2</ref><ref name="Taylor 1992">Taylor, Eugene. Transpersonal Psychology: Its several Virtues. ''The Humanistic Psychologist'', Vol. 20, Nos. 2 and 3, pp. 285-300, 1992.</ref><ref name="Braud Anderson 2011">Braud, William & Anderson, Rosemarie (2011). Transforming Self and Others through Research. Albany: State University of New York Press</ref>


In the early 1980s a group within [[American Psychological Association|APA]] division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) argued in favor of establishing transpersonal psychology as a separate division within the framework of the ''American Psychological Association''. A petition was presented to the APA Council in 1984, but was turned down. A new initiative was made in 1985, but it failed to win the majority of votes in the council. In 1986 the petition was presented for a third and final time, but was withdrawn by the executive board of Division 32.<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007">Hartelius, Glenn; Caplan, Mariana; Rardin, Mary Anne. "Transpersonal Psychology: Defining the Past, Divining the Future". ''The Humanistic Psychologist'', 35(2), 1–26, 2007</ref><ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000" /> The interest group later re-formed as the Transpersonal Psychology Interest Group (TPIG), and continued to promote transpersonal issues in collaboration with Division 32.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000" />
The new profiles gradually emerged at the center of activity. Frances Vaughan and John Wellwood had their background in psychotherapy, Roger Walsh was a physician, Huston Smith and Charles Tart had their background in the university system, Daniel Goleman was a science writer for the New York Times, Ram Dass was a popular Guru, and Elmer and Alyce Green were affiliated with the [[Menninger Foundation]].<ref name="Taylor 1992"/> Another early profile, Ken Wilber, surfaced as a leading figure and a major theoretician of the field.<ref name="Taylor 1992"/><ref name="Adams 2002">Adams, George (2002) A Theistic Perspective on Ken Wilber's Transpersonal Psychology, ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', 17:2, 165-179, DOI:10.1080/13537900220125163</ref><ref name="Miller 1998"/> A different contributor to the field, Michael Washburn, was drawing on the insights of Jungian depth psychology.<ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009">Sharma, Pulkit; Charak, Ruby & Sharma, Vibha. "Contemporary Perspectives on Spirituality and Mental Health". ''Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine''. 2009 Jan-Jun; 31(1): 16–23.</ref> According to Smith,<ref name="Smith 1995">Smith, Elizabeth D. Addressing the Psychospiritual Distress of Death as Reality: A Transpersonal Approach. ''Social Work''. May95, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p402-413.</ref> Wilber and Washburn delivered the main transpersonal models of development of this period, Wilber in 1977 and Washburn in 1988. An early preoccupation of the field was with the study of meditation. Among the authors that brought attention to this topic was Ram Dass, Daniel Goleman and Roger Walsh.<ref name="Fadiman et al 2018">Fadiman, James; Judy, Dwight; Lukoff, David and Sovatsky, Stuart. 50TH Anniversary Reflections From (a few) of the Past Presidents of the Association for Transpersonal Psychology. ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2018, Vol. 50, No. 1</ref> Another early interest for Transpersonal psychology was the topic of altered states of consciousness. Among the authors who brought attention to this topic was Charles Tart.<ref name="Freeman 2006">Freeman, Anthony. A Daniel Come To Judgement? Dennett and the Revisioning of Transpersonal Theory. ''Journal of Consciousness Studies'', 13, No. 3, 2006, pp. 95–109</ref>


The 1980s were characterized by the work of Stanislav and Christina Grof, and their concept of ''spiritual emergence'' and ''spiritual emergencies''.<ref name="Turner et al., 1995">Turner, Robert P.; Lukoff, David; Barnhouse, Ruth Tiffany & Lu Francis G. "Religious or spiritual problem. A culturally sensitive diagnostic category in the DSM-IV". ''Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease'', Jul;183(7):435-44, 1995</ref><ref name="Grof & Grof 1989">Grof, Stanislav & Grof, Christina (Eds.) (1989) ''Spiritual emergency: When personal transformation becomes a crisis''. Los Angeles: Tarcher.</ref><ref name="Horrigan 2000">Horrigan, Bonnie. David Lukoff, The importance of spirituality in mental health. ''Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine'', 6.6 (Nov 2000): 80-7.</ref> The period also reflected initiatives at the organizational level. In the early 1980s a group within APA division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) argued in favor of establishing transpersonal psychology as a separate division within the framework of the ''American Psychological Association''. A petition was presented to the APA Council in 1984, but was turned down. A new initiative was made in 1985, but it failed to win the majority of votes in the council. In 1986 the petition was presented for a third and final time, but was withdrawn by the executive board of Division 32.<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/><ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/> The interest group later re-formed as the Transpersonal Psychology Interest Group (TPIG), and continued to promote transpersonal issues in collaboration with Division 32.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/>
Proponents of transpersonal psychology were behind the proposal for a new diagnostic category to be included in the DSM-manual of the [[American Psychiatric Association]]. The category was called "Psychoreligious or psychospiritual problem" and was approved by the Task Force on [[DSM-IV]] in 1993, after changing its name to ''Religious or spiritual problem''.<ref name="Turner et al., 1995">Turner, Robert P.; Lukoff, David; Barnhouse, Ruth Tiffany & Lu Francis G. "Religious or spiritual problem. A culturally sensitive diagnostic category in the DSM-IV". ''Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease'', Jul;183(7):435-44, 1995</ref><ref name="Lukoff, Lu & Turner 1992">Lukoff D, Lu F, Turner R. Toward a more culturally sensitive DSM-IV. Psychoreligious and psychospiritual problems. ''Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease'', 1992;180(11):673–682.</ref><ref name="Chinen 1996" /><ref name="Fadiman et al 2018" /> Concurrently, there was an increase in membership for the ''Association for Transpersonal Psychology'', stabilizing at approximately 3000 members in the early nineties.<ref name="Chinen 1996" /> In 1996 the ''British Psychological Society'' (the UK professional body equivalent to the APA) established a Transpersonal Psychology Section.<ref name="Fontana Slack Treacy 2005">Fontana, David; Slack, Ingrid & Treacy, Martin, Eds. (2005) ''Transpersonal Psychology: Meaning and Developments''. ''Transpersonal Psychology Review'' (Special Issue). Leicester: British Psychological Society</ref><ref name="Daniels & McNutt 1997">Daniels, Michael & McNutt, Brendan. "Questioning the Role of Transpersonal Psychology". ''Transpersonal Psychology Review'', Vol. 1, No. 4, 4-9. (1997) [Preprint Version]</ref>


In 2007 the ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'' and the ''International Journal of Transpersonal Studies'' were accepted for indexing in [[PsycINFO]], the journal database of the American Psychological Association. However, that same year, Ruzek,<ref name="Ruzek 2007">Ruzek, Nicole. Transpersonal Psychology in Context: Perspectives from its founders and Historians of American Psychology. ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2007, Vol. 39, No. 2</ref> who conducted interviews with founders of Transpersonal Psychology, as well as historians of American psychology, noted that the "American Psychological Association (APA) and most academic institutions have not yet recognized transpersonal psychology as an approved area of study; transpersonal psychology is rarely mentioned in mainstream academic journals or textbooks; and relatively few American academicians identify themselves as practitioners of transpersonal psychology. Furthermore, transpersonal psychology is scarcely mentioned, if at all, in history or introductory psychology texts".
The 1990s introduced new profiles who contributed insights to the field. Among these authors we find Brant Cortright, [[Stuart Sovatsky]], [[David Lukoff]], Robert P. Turner and Francis Lu. Cortright<ref name="Cortright 1997">Cortright, Brant. (1997) ''Psychotherapy and spirit: Theory and practice in transpersonal psychotherapy''. Albany, NY, US: State University of New York Press. xii 257 pp. (SUNY series in the philosophy of psychology.)</ref> and Sovatsky<ref name="Sovatsky, Stuart 1998">Sovatsky, Stuart (1998) ''Words from the Soul : Time, East/West Spirituality, and Psychotherapeutic Narrative''. New York: State University of New York Press (SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)</ref> made contributions to transpersonal psychotherapy. Both authors published their primary work as part of the SUNY-series.{{ref|b|Note b}} Lukoff, Turner and Lu, writers in the clinical field, were the authors behind the proposal for a new diagnostic category to be included in the DSM-manual of the [[American Psychiatric Association]]. The category was called "Psychoreligious or psychospiritual problem" and was approved by the Task Force on [[DSM-IV]] in 1993, after changing its name to ''Religious or spiritual problem''.<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Lukoff, Lu & Turner 1992">Lukoff D, Lu F, Turner R. Toward a more culturally sensitive DSM-IV. Psychoreligious and psychospiritual problems. ''Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease'', 1992;180(11):673–682.</ref><ref name="Chinen 1996"/><ref name="Fadiman et al 2018"/>


In 2012 the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology announced that it was changing its name to [[Institute of Transpersonal Psychology|Sofia University]] with an expanded graduate program featuring computer science and business.<ref name="PRweb 2012">Press release: "Institute of Transpersonal Psychology Becomes Sofia University. New Name Brings Broader Mission, Expanded Campus and New Programs". Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB), published online July 16, 2012</ref> In 2016, the [[California Institute of Integral Studies]] launched an online PhD degree in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, founded and chaired by Glenn Hartelius, including [[Jorge Ferrer]] on its faculty, and sponsoring publication of the [[International Journal of Transpersonal Studies]].
While Wilber has been considered an influential writer and theoretician in the field of transpersonal psychology, his departure from the field was becoming more obvious during the decade of the 1990s. Although the date of his departure is unclear,<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/> Freeman<ref name="Freeman 2006"/> notes that Wilber had been distancing himself from the label of "transpersonal", in favour of the label of "integral", since the mid-1990s. In 1998 he formed [[Integral Institute]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://integralinstitute.org/history.htm |url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2022 |website=Integral Institute}}</ref>

On the organizational side the decade was marked by a steady increase in membership for the ''Association for Transpersonal Psychology'', stabilizing at approximately 3000 members in the early nineties.<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> In 1996 the ''British Psychological Society'' (the UK professional body equivalent to the APA) established a Transpersonal Psychology Section. It was co-founded by David Fontana, Ingrid Slack and Martin Treacy and was, according to Fontana, "the first Section of its kind in a Western scientific society".<ref name="Fontana Slack Treacy 2005">Fontana, David; Slack, Ingrid & Treacy, Martin, Eds. (2005) ''Transpersonal Psychology: Meaning and Developments''. ''Transpersonal Psychology Review'' (Special Issue). Leicester: British Psychological Society</ref><ref name="Daniels & McNutt 1997">Daniels, Michael & McNutt, Brendan. "Questioning the Role of Transpersonal Psychology". ''Transpersonal Psychology Review'', Vol. 1, No. 4, 4-9. (1997) [Preprint Version]</ref> In the second half of the decade commentators remarked that the field of transpersonal psychology had grown steadily<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> and rapidly.<ref name="Miller 1998"/>

===Later developments===
The beginning of the 2000s was marked by the revisionary project of [[Jorge Ferrer]], which is considered to be an important contribution to the field.<ref name="Rowan 2008">Rowan, John. "The transpersonal in psychology, psychotherapy and counselling" (book review). ''Therapy Today'', June 2008, Vol. 19 Issue 5, p46-46. 3/5p. 1</ref> His main publication from this era, ''Revisioning Transpersonal Theory - A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality'' (2001),<ref name="Ferrer 2001">Ferrer, Jorge N. (2001) ''Revisioning Transpersonal Theory. A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality''. New York: State University of New York Press (SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)</ref> was part of the ''SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology''.

In 2007 the ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'' and the ''International Journal of Transpersonal Studies'' were accepted for indexing in [[PsycINFO]], the journal database of the American Psychological Association. However, that same year, Ruzek,<ref name="Ruzek 2007"/> who conducted interviews with founders of Transpersonal Psychology, as well as historians of American psychology, noted that the "American Psychological Association (APA) and most academic institutions have not yet recognized transpersonal psychology as an approved area of study; transpersonal psychology is rarely mentioned in mainstream academic journals or textbooks; and relatively few American academicians identify themselves as practitioners of transpersonal psychology. Furthermore, transpersonal psychology is scarcely mentioned, if at all, in history or introductory psychology texts".

In 2012 the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology announced that it was changing its name to [[Institute of Transpersonal Psychology|Sofia University]], a change that included a new profile in the academic landscape, with an expanded graduate program featuring computer science and business.<ref name="PRweb 2012">Press release: "Institute of Transpersonal Psychology Becomes Sofia University. New Name Brings Broader Mission, Expanded Campus and New Programs". Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB), published online July 16, 2012</ref> In 2016, the [[California Institute of Integral Studies]] launched an online PhD degree in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, founded and chaired by Glenn Hartelius, including [[Jorge Ferrer]] on its faculty, and sponsoring publication of the [[International Journal of Transpersonal Studies]].


==Branches and related fields==
==Branches and related fields==
Other transpersonal disciplines, such as [[transpersonal anthropology]] and [[transpersonal business studies]], are listed as [[transpersonal disciplines]].
Several psychological schools, or branches, have influenced the field of transpersonal psychology. Among these schools we find the [[Analytical psychology]] of [[Carl Jung]],<ref name="Miller 1998"/><ref name="Scotton 1996"/><ref name="Cortright 1997"/> the [[psychosynthesis]] of [[Roberto Assagioli]],<ref name="Miller 1998"/><ref name="Battista 1996"/> and the [[humanistic psychology]] of [[Abraham Maslow]].<ref name="Miller 1998"/><ref name="Battista 1996"/> There is a strong connection between the transpersonal and the humanistic approaches to psychology, as indicated by the sourcebook of Donald Moss.<ref name="Travis 2001">Travis, Terry A. Book Forum: Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology: A Historical and Biographical Sourcebook. ''Am J Psychiatry'' 2001;158:667-a-668.</ref><ref name="DeCarvalho 2003">DeCarvalho, Roy J. "Book Reviews: Donald Moss (Ed.). Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology: A Historical and Biographical Sourcebook". ''Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences'', Vol. 39(1), 93–94 Winter 2003</ref> Although transpersonal psychology is considered to have started off within,<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/> or developed from [[humanistic psychology]], many of its interests, such as spirituality and modes of consciousness, extend beyond the areas of interest discussed by humanistic theory.<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> According to writers in the field<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> transpersonal psychology advocates for an expanded, spiritual, view of physical and mental health that is not necessarily addressed by humanistic psychology.


Other fields of study, that are related to transpersonal psychology, include [[near-death studies]] and [[parapsychology]].
Other transpersonal disciplines, such as [[transpersonal anthropology]] and [[transpersonal business studies]], are listed as [[transpersonal disciplines]]. Transpersonal art is one of the disciplines considered by Boucovolas,<ref>Boucovolas, M. (1999). "Following the movement: from transpersonal psychology to a multidisciplinary transpersonal orientation". ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 31 (1) 27-39</ref> in listing how transpersonal psychology may relate to other areas of transpersonal study. In writing about transpersonal art, Boucovolas begins by noting how, according to Breccia and also to the definitions employed by the International Transpersonal Association in 1971, transpersonal art may be understood as art work which draws upon important themes beyond the individual self, such as the transpersonal consciousness. This makes transpersonal art criticism germane to mystical approaches to [[creativity]]. Transpersonal art criticism, as Boucovolas notes, can be considered that which claims conventional art criticism has been too committed to stressing rational dimensions of art and has subsequently said little on art's spiritual dimensions, or as that which holds art work has a meaning beyond the individual person. Certain aspects of the psychology of [[Carl Jung]], as well as movements such as [[music therapy]] and [[art therapy]], may also relate to the field. Boucovolas' paper cites Breccia (1971) as an early example of transpersonal art, and claims that at the time his article appeared, integral theorist [[Ken Wilber]] had made recent contributions to the field. More recently, the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, in 2005, Volume 37, launched a special edition devoted to the media, which contained articles on film criticism that can be related to this field.

Other fields of study, that are related to transpersonal psychology, include [[near-death studies]] and [[parapsychology]]. The major findings of near-death studies are represented in the ''Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology'',<ref name="Scotton, Chinen and Battista 1996">Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) ''Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology''. New York: Basic Books</ref> and in ''The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology''.<ref name="Rowan 2014">Rowan, John. "The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology" (Book Review). ''ACPNL Magazine'', Issue 75 March 2014. The Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists in North London</ref> The near-death experience is also discussed in relation to other transpersonal and spiritual categories.<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/> The major findings of [[parapsychology]] are also represented in the ''Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology'',<ref name="Scotton, Chinen and Battista 1996"/> and in ''The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology''.<ref name="Rowan 2014"/>

Dr. William J. Barry established transpersonal psychology as a valid action research method in the field of education through his Ph.D. thesis and development of Transformational Quality (TQ) Theory.<ref>Barry, W. J. (2012). Challenging the Status Quo Meaning of Educational Quality: Introducing Transformational Quality (TQ) Theory©. ''Educational Journal of Living Theories''. 5, 1-26</ref> Applications to the areas of business studies and management have been developed.


A few commentators<ref name="Chinen 1996"/><ref name="Friedman 2000">Friedman, Harris (2000) Toward Developing Transpersonal Psychology as a Scientific Field. Paper presented at Old Saybrook 2 conference, May 11–14, 2000, State University of West Georgia</ref><ref name="Friedman 2002">Friedman, Harris. Transpersonal Psychology as a Scientific Field. ''The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies'', 2002, Vol. 21, 175-187.</ref> have suggested that there is a difference between transpersonal psychology and a broader category of transpersonal theories, sometimes called transpersonal studies. According to Friedman<ref name="Friedman 2002"/> this category might include several approaches to the transpersonal that lie outside the frames of science. However, according to Ferrer<ref>Caplan, Hartelius & Rardin. Contemporary viewpoints on Transpersonal Psychology. ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2003, Vol. 35, No. 2.</ref> the field of transpersonal psychology is "situated within the wider umbrella of transpersonal studies".
A few commentators<ref name="Chinen 1996"/><ref name="Friedman 2000">Friedman, Harris (2000) Toward Developing Transpersonal Psychology as a Scientific Field. Paper presented at Old Saybrook 2 conference, May 11–14, 2000, State University of West Georgia</ref><ref name="Friedman 2002">Friedman, Harris. Transpersonal Psychology as a Scientific Field. ''The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies'', 2002, Vol. 21, 175-187.</ref> have suggested that there is a difference between transpersonal psychology and a broader category of transpersonal theories, sometimes called transpersonal studies. According to Friedman<ref name="Friedman 2002"/> this category might include several approaches to the transpersonal that lie outside the frames of science. However, according to Ferrer<ref>Caplan, Hartelius & Rardin. Contemporary viewpoints on Transpersonal Psychology. ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2003, Vol. 35, No. 2.</ref> the field of transpersonal psychology is "situated within the wider umbrella of transpersonal studies".


Transpersonal psychology may also be associated with [[New Age]] beliefs and pop psychology.<ref name="Friedman 2000"/><ref name="Sutcliffe 2003">Sutcliffe, Steven (2003). Category Formation and the History of 'New Age'. ''Culture and Religion: An Interdisciplinary Journal'', 4:1, 5-29</ref><ref name="Vermont Business Magazine">Casey retiring from Burlington College. ''Vermont Business Magazine'' 29.14 (Dec 01, 2001): 27.</ref><ref name="Taylor 1992"/> However, leading authors in the field, among those Sovatsky,<ref name="Sovatsky, Stuart 1998"/> Rowan,<ref name="Rowan 2005">Rowan, John (1993) The transpersonal: psychotherapy and counselling. London: Routledge (Second edition)</ref> and Hartelius<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hartelius|first=Glenn|date=2017|title=Circular reasoning is not the uroboros: Rejecting perennialism as a psychological theory|url=https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies/vol36/iss2/12/|journal=International Journal of Transpersonal Studies|volume=36|issue=2|pages=121–135|doi=10.24972/ijts.2017.36.2.121|doi-access=free}}</ref> have criticized the nature of "New Age"-philosophy and discourse. Rowan<ref name="Rowan 2005"/> even states that "The Transpersonal is not the New Age".<ref name="Evans 1997">Evans, Joan. "The Transpersonal - Psychotherapy and Counselling" (Book review). ''International Journal of Psychotherapy'' 2.2 (Nov 1997): 237-240.</ref> Other commentators, such as Wade,
Transpersonal psychology may also be associated with [[New Age]] beliefs and pop psychology.<ref name="Friedman 2000"/><ref name="Sutcliffe 2003">Sutcliffe, Steven (2003). Category Formation and the History of 'New Age'. ''Culture and Religion: An Interdisciplinary Journal'', 4:1, 5-29</ref><ref name="Vermont Business Magazine">Casey retiring from Burlington College. ''Vermont Business Magazine'' 29.14 (Dec 01, 2001): 27.</ref><ref name="Taylor 1992"/> However, leading authors in the field, among those Sovatsky,<ref name="Sovatsky, Stuart 1998">Sovatsky, Stuart (1998) ''Words from the Soul : Time, East/West Spirituality, and Psychotherapeutic Narrative''. New York: State University of New York Press (SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)</ref> Rowan,<ref name="Rowan 2005">Rowan, John (1993) The transpersonal: psychotherapy and counselling. London: Routledge (Second edition)</ref> and Hartelius<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hartelius|first=Glenn|date=2017|title=Circular reasoning is not the uroboros: Rejecting perennialism as a psychological theory|url=https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies/vol36/iss2/12/|journal=International Journal of Transpersonal Studies|volume=36|issue=2|pages=121–135|doi=10.24972/ijts.2017.36.2.121|doi-access=free}}</ref> have criticized the nature of "New Age"-philosophy and discourse. Rowan<ref name="Rowan 2005"/> even states that "The Transpersonal is not the New Age".<ref name="Evans 1997">Evans, Joan. "The Transpersonal - Psychotherapy and Counselling" (Book review). ''International Journal of Psychotherapy'' 2.2 (Nov 1997): 237-240.</ref> Other commentators, such as Wade,
<ref name="Wade">Wade, Jenny. Transcending "Transpersonal": Time to join the world. ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2019, Vol. 51, No. 1</ref>
<ref name="Wade">Wade, Jenny. Transcending "Transpersonal": Time to join the world. ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2019, Vol. 51, No. 1</ref>
notes that the field remains part of the New Age, despite the fact that transpersonal psychologists may want no such association.
notes that the field remains part of the New Age, despite the fact that transpersonal psychologists may want no such association.


Although some consider that the distinction between transpersonal psychology and the [[psychology of religion]], is fading (e.g. The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality), there is still generally considered to be a clear distinction between the two.<ref>Hartelius, G., Friedman, H. L., & Pappas, J. (2013). The calling to a spiritual psychology: Should transpersonal psychology convert? ''The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of transpersonal psychology''. Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118591277.ch3</nowiki></ref> Much of the focus of psychology of religion is concerned with issues that would not be considered 'transcendent' within transpersonal psychology, so the two disciplines do have quite a distinct focus.<ref>{{cite book |editor= Miller, L. J. |title= The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality |edition= 1 |year= 2012 |orig-year= 2012 |publisher= Oxford University Press |isbn= 978-0-19-972992-0 |chapter= Models of Spiritual Development |page= 216}}</ref>
Although some consider that the distinction between transpersonal psychology and the [[psychology of religion]], is fading (e.g. The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality), there is still generally considered to be a clear distinction between the two.<ref>Hartelius, G., Friedman, H. L., & Pappas, J. (2013). The calling to a spiritual psychology: Should transpersonal psychology convert? ''The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of transpersonal psychology''. Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118591277.ch3</nowiki></ref> Much of the focus of psychology of religion is concerned with issues that would not be considered 'transcendent' within transpersonal psychology, so the two disciplines do have quite a distinct focus.<ref>{{cite book |editor= Miller, L. J. |title= The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality |edition= 1 |year= 2012 |orig-year= 2012 |publisher= Oxford University Press |isbn= 978-0-19-972992-0 |chapter= Models of Spiritual Development |page= 216}}</ref>

==Research, theory and clinical aspects==

===Research interests and methodology===
The transpersonal perspective spans many research interests. The following list is adapted from the ''[[Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology]]''<ref name="Scotton, Chinen and Battista 1996"/> and includes: the contributions of spiritual traditions such as [[Taoism]], [[Hinduism]] ([[Yoga]]), [[Buddhism]], [[Kabbalah]], [[Christian mysticism]], [[Shamanism]], and [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] healing to psychiatry and psychology; [[meditation]] research and clinical aspects of meditation; [[psychedelics]]; [[parapsychology]]; [[anthropology]]; diagnosis of religious and spiritual problem; offensive spirituality and spiritual defenses; phenomenology and treatment of [[Kundalini]]; [[psychotherapy]]; [[near-death experience]]; religious cults; [[psychopharmacology]]; guided imagery; [[breathwork]]; [[past life therapy]]; [[Ecology|ecological survival]] and [[social change]]; aging and adult [[spiritual development]].

The research of transpersonal psychology is based upon both quantitative and qualitative methods,<ref name="Davis 2003"/> but some commentators have suggested that the main contribution of transpersonal psychology has been to provide alternatives to the quantitative methods of mainstream psychology.<ref name="Davis 2003"/> Although the field has not been a significant contributor of empirical knowledge on clinical issues,<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> it has contributed important quantitative research to areas such as the study of meditation.<ref name="Davis 2003"/>

===Theories on human development===
One of the demarcations in transpersonal theory is between authors who are associated with hierarchical/holarchical, sequential, or stage-like models of human development, such as [[Ken Wilber]] and John Battista, and authors who are associated with Jungian perspectives, or models that include the principle of regression, such as Michael Washburn and Stanislav Grof.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}

====Ken Wilber and John Battista====

The transpersonal psychology of [[Ken Wilber]] is often mentioned as an influential theoretical framework for the field.<ref name="Miller 1998"/><ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/><ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/><ref name="Freeman 2006"/><ref name="Renner & Ramalingam">Renner, Walter & Ramalingam, Panch. Self-Evident Spiritual Experience and Empirical Psychology. ''Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology'', July 2015, Vol. 41, No. 2, 259-271.</ref> Wilber is often regarded as a leading theorist,<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/> and pioneer<ref name="Miller 1998"/> of transpersonal psychology, but he has not been actively associated with the label for quite some time. Several commentators<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/><ref name="Freeman 2006"/><ref name="Adams 2003">Adams, George. "Book Reviews: Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality." ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', Vol. 18, No. 3, 2003 pp. 403–435</ref> note that he has distanced himself from the transpersonal field in favour of a new model that he calls [[Integral theory (Ken Wilber)|integral]]. However, his psychological model still remains influential to the practice and development of transpersonal psychology,<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> and transpersonal themes remain a central part of his own work. Central to his theory of consciousness is a synthesis of eastern and western psychologies and models of human development.<ref name="Walsh 1996">Walsh, Roger. "Developmental and evolutionary synthesis in the recent writings of Ken Wilber." ''Revision'' 18 (4): 7-1 8, 1996</ref>

Wilber's model of consciousness consists of three broad developmental categories: the prepersonal or pre-egoic, the personal or egoic, and the transpersonal or trans-egoic.<ref name="Miller 1998"/> A more detailed version of this model includes nine different levels of human development, in which levels 1–3 are pre-personal levels, levels 4–6 are personal levels and levels 7–9 are transpersonal levels.<ref name="Cowley & Derezotes 1994">Cowley, Au-Deane S. & Derezotes, David. Transpersonal Psychology and Social Work Education. ''Journal of Social Work Education'', 10437797, Winter, Vol. 30, Issue 1, 1994</ref> Later versions also include a tenth level.<ref>Wilber, Ken (1996). ''Brief History of Everything''. Boston, Massachusetts & London: Shambhala</ref> The transpersonal stages, or the upper levels of the model, are the home of spiritual events and developments.<ref name="Adams 2002"/><ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/><ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/> The framework proposed by Wilber suggests that human development is a progressive movement through these stages of consciousness.<ref name="Jerry 2003">Jerry, Paul A. Challenges in Transpersonal Diagnosis. ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2003, Vol. 35, No. 1</ref><ref name="Cowley & Derezotes 1994"/> The theory implies that different schools of psychology are associated with different levels of the model,<ref name="Walsh Vaughan 1996">Walsh, R. & Vaughan, F. The worldview of Ken Wilber. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books</ref><ref name="Walsh 1996"/> and that each level of organization, or self-development, includes a vulnerability to certain pathologies associated with that particular level.<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/><ref name="Jerry 2003"/><ref name="Cowley & Derezotes 1994"/> Each level also represents developmental challenges that must be worked through, or they might lead to developmental arrest.<ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/> A basic tenet of Wilber's transpersonal psychology is a concept called the "pre/trans fallacy". That is, a confusion of transpersonal progression with prepersonal regression.<ref name="Walsh 1996"/> According to writers in the field<ref name="Walsh Vaughan 1996"/> western schools of psychology have had a tendency to regard transpersonal levels as pathological, equating them with regressive pathological conditions belonging to a lower level on the model. The pre/trans fallacy describes a lack of differentiation between these two categories.

Wilber's understanding of the levels of consciousness, or reality, ranging from matter to body to mind to soul to spirit,<ref name="Freeman 2006"/> or from prepersonal to personal to transpersonal,<ref name="Kelly">Kelly, Sean M. Revisioning the mandala of consciousness. ''ReVision'', 02756935, Spring96, Vol. 18, Issue 4</ref><ref name="Bidwell 1999">Bidwell, Duane R. Ken Wilber's Transpersonal Psychology: An Introduction and Preliminary Critique. ''Pastoral Psychology'', November 1999, Volume 48, Issue 2, pp 81-90</ref> is often referred to as the "Great Chain of Being". This overarching framework, that is adapted from the "[[perennial philosophy]]" of the worlds great spiritual traditions, is later reformulated by Wilber as the "Great Nest of Being".<ref name="Freeman 2006"/> That is, not just a simple linear hierarchy, but a kind of nested hierarchy, or holarchy.<ref name="Walsh Vaughan 1996"/><ref name="Kelly"/> Human development, and evolution, is considered to move up this holarchy.<ref name="Walsh Vaughan 1996"/>

The 1990s marked a move into the world of integral ideas for Wilber. According to commentators he stopped referring to his work as transpersonal, in favor of the term ''integral'', by the mid-1990s.<ref name="Freeman 2006"/> Literature now confirms that he has moved on from transpersonal psychology to integral psychology.<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/> According to Brys & Bokor Wilber presented major parts of his integral approach in the years 1997–2000.<ref name="Brys Bokor">Brys, Zoltan & Bokor, Petra (2013) Evaluation of Ken Wilber's Integral Psychology From a Scientific Perspective, ''Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health'', 15:1, 19-33</ref> The integral theory included a four quadrant model of consciousness and its development, whose dimensions were said to unfold in a sequence of stages or levels. The combination of quadrants and levels resulting in an all-quadrant, all-level approach. The theory also included the concept of holon, "a whole that is simultaneously part of some other whole", and holarchy, "hierarchical holons within holons".<ref name="Wilber 1997">Wilber, Ken. "An Integral Theory of Consciousness." ''Journal of Consciousness Studies'', 4 (1), February 1997, pp. 71–92. Imprint Academic</ref> According to reviewers,<ref name="Publishers Weekly 2007">Publishers Weekly. "The Integral Vision: A Very Short Introduction to the Revolutionary Integral Approach to Life, God, the Universe and Everything". Reviewed on: 05/28/2007</ref><ref name="Publishers Weekly 2000">Publishers Weekly. ''Integral Psychology''. Reviewed on: 05/15/2000</ref> the spiritual dimension was central to Wilber's integral vision.

Similar to the model presented by Wilber is the information theory of consciousness presented by John Battista. Battista suggests that the development of the self-system, and of human psychology, consists of a series of transitions in the direction of enhanced maturity and psychological stability, and in the direction of transpersonal and spiritual categories. His model presents a series of developmental tasks with corresponding levels of consciousness and psychopathology, and discusses therapeutic interventions in relation to the different levels and transitions.<ref name="Battista 2011">Battista, John. A Transpersonal View of Human Development, Psychopathology and Psychotherapy. ''Journal of Transpersonal Research'', 2011, Vol. 3 (2), 85–96</ref>

====Michael Washburn and Stanislav Grof====

Michael Washburn presents a model of human development that is informed by psychoanalysis, object-relations theory, and the depth psychology of the Jungian perspective.<ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/><ref name="Anderson 2005">Anderson, Rosemarie. "Book Review: Washburn, Michael. (2003). Embodied spirituality in a sacred world." ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2005, Vol. 37, No. 2</ref> In the context of transpersonal psychotherapy Washburn's approach has been described as a «revision of Jung's analytical psychology».<ref name="Matthews 1999">Matthews, Charles O. "Psychotherapy and Spirit (Book)". ''Counseling & Values''. Oct99, Vol. 44 Issue 1, p75. 3p.</ref>

According to Washburn transpersonal development follows the principles of a spiraling path.<ref name="Anderson 2005"/> Central to his model is the understanding of a dynamic ground; a deep aspect of the unconscious,<ref name="Anderson 2005"/> with spiritual qualities,<ref name="Coward 1989"> Coward, Harold. The Ego and the Dynamic Ground by Michael Washburn (book review). ''Philosophy East and West'', Vol. 39, No. 4 (Oct., 1989), pp. 505-507</ref> that the person is in contact with in the prepersonal stage of development.<ref name="Anderson 2005"/> According to commentators Washburn describes three stages of human development; the pre-personal, the personal and the transpersonal,<ref name="Anderson 2005"/> also described as; pre-egoic, egoic and trans-egoic.<ref name="Coward 1989"/> In the pre-stage (up to age 5) the child is integrated with the dynamic ground. Later in life this contact is weakened, and the prepersonal stage is followed by a new stage of development where the ego is dissociated from the dynamic ground.<ref name="Anderson 2005"/><ref name="Coward 1989"/> This happens through the process of repression,<ref name="Lev 2005">Lev, Shoshana. Regression in the Service of Transcendence: Reading Michael Washburn. ''Human Architecture: Journal of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge'', Volume 4, Issue 1 Scholarships of Learning, Article 23</ref><ref name="Coward 1989"/> and marks the stage of adulthood,<ref name="Anderson 2005"/> and of the mental ego (egoic stage).<ref name="Lev 2005"/><ref name="Coward 1989"/>

However, later in life there is the possibility of a re-integration with the dynamic ground, a trans-egoic stage.<ref name="Anderson 2005"/><ref name="Lev 2005"/><ref name="Coward 1989"/> According to Washburn this transpersonal development requires a kind of U-turn, or a return to the dynamic ground, in order for the ego to become integrated with its unconscious dynamics.<ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/><ref name="Anderson 2005"/><ref name="Lev 2005"/><ref name="Walsh Vaughan 1994">Walsh, R. and Vaughan F. The Worldview of Ken Wilber. ''Journal of Humanistic Psychology'', 34(2):6-21, 1994</ref> This aspect of Wasburn's model is described by commentators<ref name="Walsh Vaughan 1994"/> as «a going back before a higher going forth». A regression that paves the way for transcendence,<ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/> and a fully embodied life.<ref name="Anderson 2005"/> Washburn's approach to transpersonal development is often summed up as «regression in the service of transcendence»<ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/><ref name="Anderson 2005"/><ref name="Lev 2005"/><ref name="Coward 1989"/> which, according to Lev,<ref name="Lev 2005"/> is a "twist of the phrase, regression in the service of the ego". Washburn has contrasted his own perspective, which he calls spiral-dynamic, to the developmental theory of Ken Wilber, which he calls structural-hierarchical.<ref name="Coward 1989"/><ref name="Washburn 2003b">Washburn, Michael. Transpersonal Dialogue : A New Direction. ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2003, Vol. 35, No. 1</ref> The differing views of Washburn and Wilber are mentioned by several commentators.<ref name="Anderson 2005"/><ref name="Coward 1989"/><ref name="Walsh Vaughan 1994"/>

Stanislav Grof, on the other hand, operates with a cartography consisting of three kinds of territories: the realm of the sensory barrier and the personal unconscious (described by psychoanalysis), the perinatal or birth-related realm (organizing principles for the psyche), and the transpersonal realm.<ref name="Reich 2001">Reich, Helmut K. Review Article: Spritual Development: Han F. De Wit's and Stanislav Grofs differing approaches. ''Zygon'', vol. 36, no. 3 (September 2001)</ref><ref name="Freeman 2006"/><ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/><ref name="Bray 2010">Bray, Peter. A broader framework for exploring the influence of spiritual experience in the wake of stressful life events: examining connections between posttraumatic growth and psycho-spiritual transformation. ''Mental Health, Religion & Culture'', Vol. 13, No. 3, April 2010, 293–308</ref> According to this view proper engagement with the first two realms sets the stage for an ascent to the third, transpersonal, realm.<ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/> His early therapy, and research, was carried out with the aid of psychedelic substances.<ref name="McConnell 1973">McConnell, James V. "Special Section: The Rediscovery of Human Nature". ''TIME magazine'', Monday, Apr. 02, 1973</ref><ref name="Paulson 2006">Paulson, Daryl S. "Book Review: Grof, Stan. The cosmic game: Explorations of the frontiers of human consciousness". ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2006, Vol. 38, No. 1</ref> According to commentators<ref name="Strom 1980">Strom, Elliott D. Book review: Grof, Stanislav M.D. LSD-therapy. The principles of LSD therapy. ''Library Journal'', April 15, 1980</ref><ref name="Humphrey 2015">Humphrey, Caroline. Shadows Along the Spiritual Pathway. ''Journal of Religion and Health'',Vol. 54, No. 6 (December 2015), pp. 2376-2388</ref> Grof's LSD-therapy was controversial. Later, when LSD was prohibited,<ref name="Allday 2009">Allday, Erin. LSD's long, strange trip back into the lab. ''San Francisco Chronicle'', Sunday, September 27, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2022</ref> Grof developed other methods of therapy, such as holotropic breathwork,<ref name="Paulson 2006"/><ref name="Taylor 1994">Taylor, Eugene. "Desperately seeking spirituality". ''Psychology Today'', Nov/Dec 94 (Document ID: 1413)</ref> which also attracted some controversy.<ref name="Guardian 1992"> Boston, Richard. "Findhorn: If only the spirit could move them - The Findhorn community in Scotland is known as the Vatican of the New Age, famous for its esoteric values and outsize cauliflowers. But now the manure has really hit its windmills." ''The Guardian'' [London, England], 11 Nov. 1992, p. 10. Gale OneFile: News, Accessed 28 Jan. 2022.</ref>

His early findings,<ref name="Grof 1973">Grof, Stanislav. "Theoretical and empirical basis of transpersonal psychology and psychotherapy: Observations from LSD research". ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', Vol. 5, 1973</ref> which were based on observations from LSD research, uncovered four major types of experiences that, according to Grof, correspond to levels in the human unconscious: (1) Abstract and aesthetic experiences; (2) Psychodynamic experiences; (3) Perinatal experiences; (4) Transpersonal experiences. Psychodynamic levels, which correspond to the theory of Sigmund Freud, is the area of biographical memories, emotional problems, unresolved conflicts and fantasies. Perinatal levels, which correspond to the theories of Otto Rank, is the area of physical pain and agony, dying and death, biological birth, aging, disease and decrepitude. Transpersonal levels, corresponding to the theories of C.G. Jung, is the area of a number of spiritual, paranormal and transcendental experiences, including ESP phenomena, ego transcendence and other states of expanded consciousness. In order to bring structure to the psychodynamic and perinatal levels Grof introduces two governing systems, or organizing principles: The COEX-system, which is the governing system for the psychodynamic level, and the Basic Perinatal Matrices, which represent the birthing stages and is the governing system for the perinatal level.<ref name="Grof 1973"/><ref name="Roberts 1981">Roberts, Thomas B. Consciousness Criticism. ''CEA Critic'' , November, 1981, Vol. 44, No. 1, The Academy and the Mind: I, pp. 25-32</ref><ref name="Paulson 2006"/>

Grof applies regressional modes of therapy (originally with the use of psychedelic substances, later with other methods) in order to seek greater psychological integration. This has led to the confrontation of constructive and deconstructive models of the process leading to genuine mental health: what Wilber sees as a pre/trans fallacy does not exist for Washburn and Grof, for pre-rational states may be genuinely transpersonal, and re-living them may be essential in the process of achieving genuine sanity.<ref>Rothberg, D. & Kelly, S. (Eds.) (1998) ''Ken Wilber in Dialogue''. Wheaton, Illinois: Quest Books.</ref>

====Stuart Sovatsky====

The idea of development is also featured in the spiritual psychotherapy and psychology of Stuart Sovatsky. His understanding of human development, which is largely informed by east/west psychology and the tradition and hermeneutics of Yoga, places the human being in the midst of spiritual energies and processes outlined in yogic philosophy. According to Sovatsky these are maturational processes, affecting body and soul.<ref name="Sovatsky, Stuart 1998"/><ref name="Gaur 2005">Gaur, Sunil D. Review of Words from the soul: Time, east/west spirituality, and psychotherapeutic narrative. ''Psychological Studies'', Vol 50(1), Jan 2005, 101.</ref> Sovatsky adapts the concept of Kundalini as the maturational force of human development. According to his model a number of advanced yogic processes are said to assist in "maturation of the ensouled body".<ref name="Sovatsky 2009">Sovatsky, Stuart. Kundalini and the complete maturation of the ensouled body. ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', Vol 41(1), 2009, 1-21.</ref>

===Transpersonal theory of Jorge Ferrer===
The scholarship of [[Jorge Ferrer]] introduces a more pluralistic and participatory perspective on spiritual and ontological dimensions. In his revision of transpersonal theory Ferrer questions three major presuppositions, or frameworks for interpretation, that have been dominant in transpersonal studies. These are the frameworks of Experientalism (the transpersonal understood as an inner individual experience); Inner empiricism (the study of transpersonal phenomena according to the criteria of empiricist science); and perennialism (the legacy of the perennial philosophy in transpersonal studies).<ref name="Tarnas 2001"/><ref name="Freeman 2006"/><ref name="Ferrer 2001"/><ref name="Adams 2003"/><ref name="Kripal 2003">Kripal, Jeffrey J. "In the Spirit of Hermes; Reflections on the Work of Jorge N. Ferrer; Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality." ''Tikkun'', March 1, 2003</ref><ref name="Jaenke 2004">Jaenke, Karen. The Participatory Turn. Review of Jorge N. Ferrer, Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality. ''ReVision'', Vol. 26, No. 4, Spring 2004</ref> Although representing important frames of reference for the initial study of transpersonal phenomena, Ferrer believes that these assumptions have become limiting and problematic for the development of the field.<ref name="Jaenke 2004"/>

As an alternative to these major epistemological and philosophical trends Ferrer focuses upon the great variety, or pluralism, of spiritual insights and spiritual worlds that can be disclosed by transpersonal inquiry. In contrast to the transpersonal models that are informed by the "perennial philosophy" he introduces the idea of a "dynamic and indeterminate spiritual power".<ref name="Ferrer 2001"/><ref name="Jaenke 2004"/> Along these lines he also introduces the metaphor of the "ocean of emancipation". According to Ferrer "the ocean of emancipation has many shores". That is, different spiritual truths can be reached by arriving at different spiritual shores.<ref name="Ferrer 2001"/>

The second aspect of his revision, "the participatory turn", introduces the idea that transpersonal phenomena are participatory and co-creative events. He defines these events as "emergences of transpersonal being that can occur not only in the locus of an individual, but also in a relationship, a community, a collective identity or a place." This "participatory knowing" is multidimensional, and includes all the capacities of the human being (body/heart/soul), as understood from a transpersonal framework.<ref name="Ferrer 2001"/><ref name="Adams 2003"/><ref name="Washburn 2003b"/><ref name="Kripal 2003"/> According to Jaenke<ref name="Jaenke 2004"/> Ferrer's vision includes a spiritual reality that is "plural and multiple", and a spiritual power that may produce a wide range of revelations, insights which in turn may be overlapping, or even incompatible.

Ferrer's approach to participatory thinking has been taken-up in the context of psychoanalysis. Drawing from Ferrer's criticisms of perennialism, [[Robin S. Brown]]<ref>Brown, R.S. (2017). ''[https://www.routledge.com/Psychoanalysis-Beyond-the-End-of-Metaphysics-Thinking-Towards-the-Post-Relational/Brown/p/book/9781138935181 Psychoanalysis Beyond the End of Metaphysics: Thinking Towards the Post-Relational]''. London & New York: Routledge.</ref><ref name="auto">Brown, R.S. (2020). ''[https://www.routledge.com/Groundwork-for-a-Transpersonal-Psychoanalysis-Spirituality-Relationship/Brown/p/book/9781138571891 Groundwork for a Transpersonal Psychoanalysis: Spirituality, Relationship, and Participation]''. London & New York: Routledge.</ref> adopts the participatory paradigm as a means to fostering clinical pluralism.

===Transpersonal psychotherapy===
The major transpersonal models of psychotherapy, as reviewed by Cortright,<ref name="Cortright 1997"/> are the models of Ken Wilber, C.G Jung, Michael Washburn, Stanislav Grof, and Hameed Ali. Early contributions to the field of transpersonal psychotherapy includes the approach of Walsh & Vaughan. In their outline of transpersonal therapy they emphasize that the goals of therapy includes both regular results, such as symptom relief and behaviour change, as well as work at the transpersonal level, which may go beyond the level of psychotherapy. Both Karma Yoga and altered states of consciousness are part of the transpersonal approach to therapy. According to Walsh & Vaughan the context of karma yoga, and service, should also facilitate a process whereby the psychological growth of the therapist could provide a supporting framework for the growth of the client.<ref name="Keutzer 1984">Keutzer, Carolin S. "Transpersonal Psychotherapy: Reflections on the Genre". ''Professional Psychology: Research and Practice'', 1984, Vol. 15, No. 6,868-883, The American Psychological Association</ref>

Several authors in the field have presented an integration of western psychotherapy with spiritual psychology, among these Stuart Sovatsky and Brant Cortright. In his reformulation of western psychotherapy Sovatsky addresses the questions of time, temporality and soteriology from the perspectives of east/west psychology and spirituality. Besides drawing on the insights of post-freudians, such as D.W. Winnicott, Sovatsky integrates his approach to psychotherapy with an expanded understanding of body and mind, informed by the philosophy of Yoga.<ref name="Sovatsky, Stuart 1998"/><ref name="Gaur 2005"/>

Cortright, on the other hand, has reviewed the field of transpersonal psychotherapy and the major transpersonal models of psychotherapy, including Wilber, Jung, Washburn, Grof and Ali, as well as existential, psychoanalytic, and body-centered approaches. He presents a unifying theoretical framework for the field of transpersonal psychotherapy, and places the concept of human consciousness at the center of the transpersonal domain. He also addresses clinical matters related to meditation, spiritual emergency, and altered states of consciousness. He also addresses clinical issues related to meditation, spiritual emergency, and altered states of consciousness.<ref name="Matthews 1999"/><ref name="Cortright 1997"/> According to commentators<ref name="Matthews 1999"/> Cortright does not agree with the conventional view of transpersonal psychology that a working through of psychological issues is necessary for spiritual development. Instead he suggests that these two lines of development intersect, and that they come to the foreground with shifting emphasis.

A transpersonal approach to clinical practice has been outlined by psychoanalyst [[Robin S. Brown]]<ref name="auto"/> who draws from [[relational psychoanalysis]], [[analytical psychology]], and [[participatory theory]]. Within contemporary psychoanalysis it has been suggested that, from a clinical point of view, postulating a transcendent dimension to human experience is theoretically necessary in promoting non-reductive approaches to therapy.<ref>Brown, R.S. (2014). An Opening: Trauma and Transcendence. ''Psychosis: Psychological, Social and Integrative Approaches'', DOI:10.1080/17522439.2014.900105.</ref>

The first book to survey the field of spiritually oriented psychotherapy, published by the ''[[American Psychological Association]]'' in 2005, included a chapter on the Transpersonal–Integrative Approach to therapy.<ref name="Sperry & Shafranske">Sperry, Len (Ed); Shafranske, Edward P. (Ed), (2005). Spiritually oriented psychotherapy. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association, ix, 368 pp.</ref>

===Clinical and diagnostic issues===

Transpersonal psychology has also brought clinical attention to the topic of [[spiritual crisis]],{{ref|d|Note d}} or spiritual emergency, a category that is not ordinarily recognized by mainstream psychology.{{Citation needed|date=June 2016}} The terms "spiritual emergence" and "spiritual emergency" were coined by Stanislav and Christina Grof<ref name="Grof & Grof 1989"/><ref name="Lukoff 2007">Lukoff, David. "Visionary Spiritual Experiences". ''Southern Medical Journal'', Volume 100, Number 6, June 2007 (Special Section: Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project)</ref> in order to describe the appearance of spiritual phenomena, and spiritual processes, in a persons life.{{ref|e|Note e}} Among the clinical problems associated with this category, according to transpersonal theory, are: psychiatric complications related to mystical experience; [[near-death experience]]; [[Kundalini energy|Kundalini]] awakening; shamanic crisis (also called shamanic illness); psychic opening; intensive meditation; separation from a spiritual teacher; medical or terminal illness; addiction.<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Lukoff Lu Turner 1996">Lukoff, David, Lu, Francis G. & Turner, Robert P. ''Diagnosis. A clinical approach to religious and spiritual problems''. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books</ref><ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/><ref name="Gollnick 2004">Gollnick, James. Religion, Spirituality and Implicit Religion in Psychotherapy. ''Implicit Religion'', 7.2 (2004) 120-141</ref> According to writers in the field the term "spiritual emergence" describes a "gradual unfoldment of spiritual potential with no disruption in psychological, social and occupational functioning".<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Lukoff Lu Turner 1996"/> In cases where the emergence of spiritual phenomena is intensified beyond the control of the individual it may lead to a state of "spiritual emergency". A spiritual emergency may cause "significant disruption in psychological, social and occupational functioning".<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Lukoff Lu Turner 1996"/><ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/><ref name="Yang Lukoff Lu 2006">Yang, C. Paul; Lukoff, David; Lu, Francis. "Working with Spiritual Issues". ''Psychiatric Annals'', 36:3, March 2006</ref>

At the beginning of the 1990s a group of psychologists and psychiatrists, affiliated with the field of transpersonal psychology, saw the need for a new psychiatric category involving religious and spiritual problems.<ref name="Chinen 1996"/><ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005"/><ref name="Hartelius, Friedman, Pappas">Hartelius, Friedman, Pappas (2013) - The Calling to a Spiritual Psychology. Chapter 3 in Friedman and Hartelius (editors), the Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology, West Sussex: John Wiley and Sons</ref><ref name="Fadiman et al 2018"/> Their concern was the possibility of misdiagnosis of these problems.<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005"/><ref name="Lukoff, Lu & Turner 1992"/><ref name="Lukoff 2007"/> Based on an extensive literature review, and networking with the American Psychiatric Association ''Committee on Religion and Psychiatry'', the group made a proposal for a new diagnostic category entitled "Psychoreligious or Psychospiritual Problem".<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Lukoff, Lu & Turner 1992"/> The proposal was submitted to the Task Force on [[DSM-IV]] in 1991. The category was approved by the Task Force in 1993, after changing the title to "Religious or Spiritual Problem".<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Steinfels 1994">Steinfels, P. "Psychiatrists' Manual Shifts Stance On Religious and Spiritual Problems". ''New York Times'', February 10, 1994.</ref><ref name="Lu Lukoff Turner 1997"/><ref name="Scott et al">Scott et al. Religious issues in diagnosis: the V-Code and beyond. ''Mental Health, Religion & Culture'', Volume 6, Number 2, 2003 DOI: 10.1080/1367467021000038200</ref> It is included in the fourth edition of the ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'' ([[DSM-IV]]), as a minor category. <ref name="Miller 1998"/><ref name="Yang Lukoff Lu 2006"/><ref name="American Psychiatric Association 1994">American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.</ref><ref name="Dein 2004">Dein, S. Working with patients with religious beliefs. ''Advances in Psychiatric Treatment'' (2004) 10: 287-294.</ref>{{ref|g|Note g}}
The text of the new category did not mention the particular spiritual problems, or psychiatric complications, listed above.

According to the authors of the proposal<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/> the new category "addressed problems of a religious or spiritual nature that are the focus of clinical attention and not attributable to a mental disorder". In their view there exist criteria for differentiating between spiritual problems and mental disorders such as psychosis.<ref name="Yang Lukoff Lu 2006"/><ref name="Lukoff Lu Turner 1995">Lukoff D, Lu FG, Turner R. Cultural considerations in the assessment and treatment of religious and spiritual problems. ''Psychiatric Clinics of North America'', 1995 Sep;18(3):467-85.</ref> This concern is also addressed in the DSM-IV Sourcebook.<ref name="Lu Lukoff Turner 1997">Lu FG, Lukoff D, Turner R (1997) ''Religious or Spiritual Problems''. In: DSM-IV Sourcebook, Vol. 3. Widiger TA, Frances AJ, Pincus HA et al., eds. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, pp1001–1016.</ref><ref name="Milstein et al. 2000">Milstein, G; [[Elizabeth Midlarsky|Midlarsky, E]]; Link, B.G.; Raue, P.J. & Bruce, M. "Assessing Problems with Religious Content: A Comparison of Rabbis and Psychologists". ''Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease''. 188(9):608-615, September, 2000</ref><ref name="Milstein 2003">Milstein, G. "Clergy and Psychiatrists: Opportunities for Expert Dialogue". ''Psychiatric Times'', March 2003, Vol. XX, Issue 3, pp 36-39.</ref> According to Lukoff<ref name="Lukoff 2007"/> and Lu,<ref name="Bender 2004">Bender, E. Clinical & Research News: Psychiatrists Urge More Direct Focus On Patients' Spirituality. ''Psychiatric News'' June 18, 2004, Volume 39 Number 12, p. 30. American Psychiatric Association.</ref> co-authors of the category, religious or spiritual problems are not classified as mental disorders. Foulks<ref name="Foulks 2004">Foulks, E.F. Cultural Variables in Psychiatry. ''Psychiatric Times'', April 2004, Vol. XXI, 5 .</ref> also notes that the new diagnosis is included in the DSM-IV-TR nonillness category (Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention). The category ''Religious or Spiritual problem'' is maintained in the current [[DSM-5]].<ref name="Fadiman et al 2018"/>

Addition of the new category to the DSM-system was noticed by a few psychiatric publications,<ref name="Miller 1998"/><ref name="Foulks 2004"/><ref name="Bender 2004"/><ref name="Milstein 2003"/><ref name="Curlin et.al 2007">Curlin et al. - Religion, Spirituality, and Medicine: Psychiatrists and Other Physicians Differing Observations, Interpretations, and Clinical Approaches. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', Volume 164 Issue 12, December, 2007, pp. 1825-1831</ref> and the ''New York Times''.<ref name="Steinfels 1994"/> Several commentators have also offered their viewpoints. Chinen<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> noted that the inclusion marks "increasing professional acceptance of transpersonal issues", while Sovatsky<ref name="Sovatsky, Stuart 1998"/> saw the addition as an admittance of "spiritually oriented narratives" into the mainstream clinical context. Smart and Smart<ref name="Smart Smart 1997">Smart, D.W & Smart, J.F. DSM-IV and culturally sensitive diagnosis: Some observations for counselors. ''The Journal of Counseling and Development'', May/06/1997, Vol. 75 No. 5; p. 392.</ref> recognized the addition of the category, and similar improvements in the fourth version, as a step forward for the cultural sensitivity of the DSM manual. Greyson,<ref name="Greyson 1997">Greyson, Bruce. The Near-Death Experience as a Focus of Clinical Attention. ''The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease'', Volume 185(5) May 1997 pp 327-334.</ref> representing the field of [[Near-death studies]], concluded that the diagnostic category of ''Religious or spiritual problem'' "permits differentiation of [[near-death experience]]s and similar experiences from mental disorders". Gollnick<ref name="Gollnick 2004"/> noted that the new category was an important signal to therapists and the general population, and observed that there "are crucial experiences and struggles involving religious and spiritual issues which are not in themselves pathological, but which must be dealt with in order to avoid their degenerating into pathology". Scott and colleagues <ref name="Scott et al"/> concluded that the new V-code represented "a significant contribution to the appreciation of client religious diversity". In a study from 2000 Milstein and colleagues<ref name="Milstein et al. 2000"/> discussed the construct validity of the new DSM-IV category religious or spiritual problem (V62.89).

According to commentators<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> transpersonal psychology recognizes that spiritual development might have both negative and positive effects on human functioning. Health-promoting expressions of spirituality include development and growth, but there also exist "health-compromising expressions of spirituality".


==Organizations, publications and locations==
==Organizations, publications and locations==
Although the perspectives of transpersonal psychology has spread to a number of interest groups across the US and Europe, its origins were in California, and the field has always been strongly associated with institutions on the west coast of the US.<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007" /> Both the [[Association for Transpersonal Psychology]] and the forerunner to [[Institute of Transpersonal Psychology|Sofia University]] were founded in the state of California, and a number of the fields leading theorists come from this area of the US.<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007" /> A European counterpart to the American institution, the European Transpersonal Psychology Association (ETPA), was founded much later.<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman">Elmer, Lori D., MacDonald, Douglas A. & Friedman, Harris L. "Transpersonal psychology, physical health, and mental health: Theory, research, and practice". ''The Humanistic Psychologist'', 31:2-3, 159-181, 2003</ref>
A leading institution within the field of transpersonal psychology is the [[Association for Transpersonal Psychology]], which was founded in 1972.<ref name="Friedmann & Hartelius 2013">Friedman, Harris L. (Editor); Hartelius, Glenn (Editor) (2013) The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology, 738 pages, Wiley-Blackwell</ref> Past presidents of the association include Alyce Green, James Fadiman, Frances Vaughan, Arthur Hastings, Daniel Goleman, Robert Frager, Ronald Jue, Jeanne Achterberg and Dwight Judy.<ref>Association for Transpersonal Psychology - Board of Directors/Past Presidents http://www.atpweb.org</ref><ref>Smith, Lynn. "Newport Beach Conference: Mystics, Scientists Will Gather to Promote Peace". ''L.A Times'', September 05, 1989</ref> An international organization, ''The International Transpersonal Psychology Association'', was founded in the 1970s,<ref name="Taylor 1992"/> and has more recently been revived by Harris Friedman.<ref>Grof, S., Freidman, H., Lukoff, D., & Hartelius, G. (2008). The past and future of the International Transpersonal Association. ''International Journal of Transpersonal Studies'', 27(1), 55–62. <nowiki>http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2008.27.1.55</nowiki></ref> Also, a European counterpart to the American institution, the European Transpersonal Psychology Association (ETPA), was founded much later.<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> The leading graduate school is [[Institute of Transpersonal Psychology|Sofia University]], formerly the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology.<ref name="SF Chronicle 2014"/><ref name="Life Science Weekly">Life Science Weekly Staff (2008-01-29) Studies from Institute of Transpersonal Psychology reveal new findings on life sciences (Sacred moments: implications on well-being and stress), ''Life Science Weekly'', 4572, {{ISSN|1552-2474}}, Pubz ID: 000878904</ref><ref name="Otterman 2012">Otterman, Sharon. "Merging Spirituality and Clinical Psychology at Columbia". ''New York Times'', published online August 9, 2012</ref> According to sources<ref name="SF Chronicle 2014"/> the university is private, non-sectarian, and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Leading academic publications within the field include the ''[[Journal of Transpersonal Psychology]]'' and the ''[[International Journal of Transpersonal Studies]]''. Smaller publications include the ''Transpersonal Psychology Review'', the journal of the Transpersonal Psychology Section of the [[British Psychological Society]]. In 1996 [[Basic Books]] published the ''Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology'', a standard text that included a thorough overview of the field. The book was edited by Bruce W. Scotton, Allan B. Chinen and John Battista.<ref name="Miller 1998"/><ref name="Scotton, Chinen and Battista 1996"/> In 1998 Sage Publications released ''Transpersonal research methods for the social sciences: Honouring human experience'', by William Braud and Rosemarie Anderson.<ref name="Braud Anderson 2008">Braud, W., & Anderson, R. (1998). Transpersonal research methods for the social sciences: Honouring human experience. London: Sage Publications. Pp. 321. ISBN 0-7619-1013-1</ref><ref name="Quarterly Journal 1998">Publications received. ''The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology'', 1998, 51A (4), 944</ref>

In 1999 [[Greenwood Press]] published a title called ''Humanistic and transpersonal psychology: A historical and biographical sourcebook'',<ref name="Boone 1998">Boone, Lucille M. "Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology: A Historical and Biographical Sourcebook". ''Library Journal''; Dec 1998; 123, 20; pg. 136</ref><ref name="Moss 1999">Moss, Donald, ed. ''Humanistic and transpersonal psychology: A historical and biographical sourcebook''. Greenwood press, 1999.</ref><ref name="Clay 2002">Clay, Rebecca A. "A renaissance for humanistic psychology. The field explores new niches while building on its past". ''APA Monitor on Psychology'', Volume 33, No. 8 September 2002.</ref><ref name="DeCarvalho 2003"/> which includes biographical and critical essays on central figures in humanistic and transpersonal psychology.<ref name="Travis 2001"/> The book was edited by Donald Moss. A recent publication, ''The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology'',<ref name="Friedmann & Hartelius 2013"/><ref name="Team JIAAP 2014">Team JIAAP. Review of The Wiley Blackwell handbook of transpersonal psychology. ''[[Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology]]'', Vol 40(1), Jan 2014, 160-162.</ref> is one of the latest and most updated introductions to the field of transpersonal psychology.<ref name="Rowan 2014"/><ref name="Leitner & Guthrie 2014">Leitner, Larry M.; Guthrie, Leland. "Transpersonal psychology: The big picture." (Book Review). ''PsycCRITIQUES'', Vol 59(25), 2014, American Psychological Association</ref> Editors were Harris Friedmann and Glenn Hartelius.


Leading publications include the ''[[Journal of Transpersonal Psychology]]'' and the ''[[International Journal of Transpersonal Studies]]''. Smaller publications include the ''Transpersonal Psychology Review'', the journal of the Transpersonal Psychology Section of the [[British Psychological Society]].
Although the perspectives of transpersonal psychology has spread to a number of interest groups across the US and Europe, its origins were in California, and the field has always been strongly associated with institutions on the west coast of the US.<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/> Both the Association for Transpersonal Psychology and the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology were founded in the state of California, and a number of the fields leading theorists come from this area of the US.<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/>


==Reception, recognition and criticism==
==Reception, recognition and criticism==


Reception of Transpersonal psychology, in the surrounding culture, reflects a wide range of views and opinions, including severe skepticism. [[Ernest Hilgard|Ernest Hilgard]],<ref name="Hilgard 1980">Hilgard, Ernest R. Consciousness in Contemporary Psychology. ''Annual Review of Psychology'' 1980, 31:1-26</ref> representing the contemporary psychology of the early 1980s, regarded transpersonal psychology as a [[Fringe science|fringe movement]] that attracted the more extreme followers of Humanistic psychology. He did however remark that such movements might enrich the topics that psychologists study, even though most psychologists choose not to join the movement. Adams<ref name="Adams 2002"/> also regarded Transpersonal psychology as a fringe discipline. He also observed its status as a controversial field of study.
===Reception===

Reception of Transpersonal psychology, in the surrounding culture, reflects a wide range of views and opinions, including both recognition and skepticism. Several commentators have expressed their views on the field of transpersonal psychology and its contribution to the academic landscape. [[Ernest Hilgard|Ernest Hilgard]],<ref name="Hilgard 1980">Hilgard, Ernest R. Consciousness in Contemporary Psychology. ''Annual Review of Psychology'' 1980, 31:1-26</ref> representing the contemporary psychology of the early 1980s, regarded transpersonal psychology as a fringe-movement that attracted the more extreme followers of Humanistic psychology. He did however remark that such movements might enrich the topics that psychologists study, even though most psychologists choose not to join the movement. Adams<ref name="Adams 2002"/> also regarded Transpersonal psychology as a fringe discipline. He also observed its status as a controversial field of study. Cowley and Derezotes,<ref name="Cowley & Derezotes 1994"/> representing the Social Work theory of the 1990s, regarded transpersonal psychology as relevant for the development of spiritual sensitivity in the helping disciplines. Bidwell,<ref name="Bidwell 1999"/> representing the field of pastoral psychology, saw transpersonal psychology as a developing field that had largely been ignored by his own profession. He did however believe that transpersonal psychology could contribute to the areas of pastoral theology and pastoral counseling. Elkins,<ref name="Elkins Lu 2005">Elkins, David. "A Humanistic Approach to Spiritually oriented Psychotherapy", in Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy, edited by L. Sperry and E. P. Shafranske, 2005, American Psychological Association</ref> writing for the field of spiritually oriented psychotherapy, considered that transpersonal psychology had grown away from its roots in the humanistic movement and that it had established its "own theories and perspectives". Renner & Ramalingam,<ref name="Renner & Ramalingam"/> on the other hand, concluded that transpersonal psychology considered "spiritual and intercultural aspects of human experience as the targets of scientific enquiry".


[[Eugene Taylor (psychologist)|Eugene Taylor]],<ref name="Taylor 1992"/> representing the field of Humanistic Psychology, presented a balanced review of transpersonal psychology in the early nineties. On the negative side he mentioned transpersonal Psychology's tendency toward being "philosophically naive, poorly financed, at times almost anti-intellectual, and frequently overrated as far as its influences". On the positive side he noted the fields "integrated approach to understanding the phenomenology of scientific method"; the "centrality of qualitative research"; and the "importance of interdisciplinary communication". In conclusion he suggested that the virtues of transpersonal psychology may, in the end, "outweigh its defects". In a later article Taylor<ref name="Taylor 1999"/> regarded transpersonal psychology as a visionary American folk-psychology with little historical relation to American academic psychology, except through its association with Humanistic psychology and the categories of transcendence and consciousness.
[[Eugene Taylor (psychologist)|Eugene Taylor]],<ref name="Taylor 1992"/> representing the field of Humanistic Psychology, presented a balanced review of transpersonal psychology in the early nineties. On the negative side he mentioned transpersonal Psychology's tendency toward being "philosophically naive, poorly financed, at times almost anti-intellectual, and frequently overrated as far as its influences". On the positive side he noted the fields "integrated approach to understanding the phenomenology of scientific method"; the "centrality of qualitative research"; and the "importance of interdisciplinary communication". In conclusion he suggested that the virtues of transpersonal psychology may, in the end, "outweigh its defects". In a later article Taylor<ref name="Taylor 1999"/> regarded transpersonal psychology as a visionary American folk-psychology with little historical relation to American academic psychology, except through its association with Humanistic psychology and the categories of transcendence and consciousness.


However, although transpersonal psychology has experienced some minor recognition from the surrounding culture,<ref name="Chinen 1996" /> it faces a fair amount of skepticism and criticism from the same surroundings. Freeman<ref name="Freeman 2006" /> mentions that the early field of transpersonal psychology was aware of the possibility that it would be rejected by the scientific community. Its method of inner empiricism, "based on disciplined introspection", was to be a target of skepticism from outsiders in the years to come. Several commentators have mentioned the controversial aspects of transpersonal psychology. Zdenek<ref name="Zdenek 1986">Zdenek, Marilee. "Transformations of Consciousness" (Book review). ''L.A Times,'' September 14, 1986</ref> noted that the field was regarded as "controversial since its inception". Other commentators, such as Friedman,<ref name="Friedman 2000" /> and Adams,<ref name="Adams 2002" /> also mention the controversial status of the field. Adams<ref name="Adams 2003">Adams, George. "Book Reviews: Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality." ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', Vol. 18, No. 3, 2003 pp. 403–435</ref> also remarked that the field has struggled for "recognition as a legitimate field of study" in academia. This aspect was also noticed by Parsons,<ref name="Parsons 2003">Parsons, William B. Book Reviews: Revisioning Transpersonal Theory. A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality (Book). ''Journal of Religion'', 00224189, Oct. 2003, Vol.83, Issue 4.</ref> who observed that Transpersonal psychology's "naive perennialism, misreading of religious texts, lack of methodological sophistication, weak epistemology, and, some would claim, promotion of narcissistic self-absorption" had not been well received by the majority of academics. Commenting on the state of the field in the mid-nineties Chinen<ref name="Chinen 1996" /> noted that professional publications, until then, had been hesitant to publish articles that dealt with transpersonal subjects.
Nardini‑Bubols and colleagues,<ref name="Nardini‑Bubols">Nardini‑Bubols et al. The Altered States of Consciousness in Transpersonal Approach Psychotherapy: Systematic Review and Guidelines for Research and Clinical Practice. ''Journal of Religion and Health'' (2019) 58:2175–2194</ref> who reviewed 14 studies in the field of Transpersonal psychotherapy tecniques, noted that the field was controversial, and that there was a lack of scientific information within the field. The review found a few health benefits of, as well as [[Contraindication|contraindications]] for, transpersonal psychotherapy, but observed that future studies also should uncover risks associated with the techniques. In addition, future studies should «have rigorous experimental designs; define concepts clearly; detail the method used; present clear guidelines for the ethical boundaries». The researchers concluded by noting that Transpersonal psychology represents an opening towards altered states of consciousness and the spiritual dimension of the psyche.
Bowers,<ref name="Bowers 2020">Bowers, Victoria L. Transpersonal psychology and mature happiness in the context of counseling.''Counselling Psychology Quarterly'', 2020, Vol. 33, No. 4, 572-582 https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2019.1634518</ref> representing the field of Counselling psychology, suggested that Transpersonal Psychology represented an expanded view of Psychotherapy in the direction of spiritual qualities and mature happiness.


In 1998 the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reported on the holistic studies program at the ''[[John F. Kennedy University]]'' in Orinda, which included a transpersonal psychology department. The program was considered to be unique at the time, but also controversial. Commentators presented their skepticism towards the program.<ref name="McManis 1998">McManis, Sam. University with a Vision. JFK's holistic studies program attracts devoted students - and strong critics. ''San Francisco Chronicle'', Friday, October 9, 1998</ref> Another contentious aspect concerns the topic of psychedelic substances. Commenting upon the controversial status of psychedelic and entheogenic substances in contemporary culture, authors Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman" /> observe that these drugs have been used for therapeutic effect in the transpersonal movement, but - the authors add - this is not the most "common form of transpersonal intervention" in contemporary therapy. However, Bravo and Grob<ref name="Bravo and Grob 1996">Bravo, Gary and Grob, Charles. Psychedelics and Transpersonal psychiatry. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books</ref> note that "the place of psychedelics in spiritual practice remains controversial".
A few small attempts have been made to introduce Transpersonal psychology to the classroom setting. Perspectives from transpersonal psychology are represented in a widely used college textbook on personality theories,<ref name="Engler, Barbara 2009">Engler, Barbara (2009) ''Personality Theories: An Introduction'', 8th ed., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. {{ISBN|0-547-14834-8}} | {{ISBN|978-0-547-14834-2}}</ref><ref name="Daily Record 2008">Daily Record Staff. "Drew psych professor explores spirit, religion". The (Morristown) ''Daily Record'', published online Dec. 12, 2008</ref> marking the entrance of transpersonal themes into mainstream academic settings. In this book author Barbara Engler<ref name="Engler, Barbara 2009"/> asks the question, "Is spirituality an appropriate topic for psychological study?" She offers a brief account of the history of transpersonal psychology and a peek into its possible future. The classroom dimension is also present in a book on personality theories by authors Robert Frager and James Fadiman.<ref>Frager, Robert, & Fadiman, James (2005) ''Personality and Personal Growth'', 6th ed., Prentice Hall. {{ISBN|0-13-144451-4}} {{ISBN|978-0-13-144451-5}}</ref> In this publication they provide an account of the contributions of many of the key historic figures who have shaped and developed transpersonal psychology (in addition to discussing and explaining important concepts and theories germane to it), which serves to promote an understanding of the discipline in classroom settings.

Transpersonal issues are rarely represented in the academic programs of mainstream universities.<ref name="Sharma Charak Sharma 2009"/> Nonetheless, graduate programs in humanistic and transpersonal psychology have been made available at a few North-American Universities.<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/><ref name="Chinen 1996"/><ref name="Cowley & Derezotes 1994"/><ref name="Arons 1996">Arons, M. (1996). ''Directory of graduate programs in humanistic and transpersonal Psychology in North America''. Catalogue sponsored by Division 32 of the American Psychological Association, published and distributed by the Psychology Department at State University of West Georgia.</ref>{{ref|c|Note c}} Among these we find [[Sofia University (California)|Sofia University]] (formerly Institute of Transpersonal Psychology), [[Saybrook University|Saybrook Graduate School]], [[Naropa University]], [[California Institute of Integral Studies]], [[University of West Georgia|State University of West Georgia]], [[John F. Kennedy University]] and [[Burlington College]]<ref name="Vermont Business Magazine"/><ref name="McManis 1998">McManis, Sam. University with a Vision. JFK's holistic studies program attracts devoted students - and strong critics. ''San Francisco Chronicle'', Friday, October 9, 1998</ref><ref name="Ruzek 2007"/> In 2012 [[Columbia University]] announced that they were integrating spiritual psychology, similar to the perspectives taught at [[Sofia University (California)]], into their clinical psychology program.<ref name="Otterman 2012"/>

However, although transpersonal psychology has experienced some minor recognition from the surrounding culture,<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> it has also faced a fair amount of skepticism and criticism from the same surroundings. Freeman<ref name="Freeman 2006"/> mentions that the early field of transpersonal psychology was aware of the possibility that it would be rejected by the scientific community. Its method of inner empiricism, "based on disciplined introspection", was to be a target of skepticism from outsiders in the years to come. Several commentators have mentioned the controversial aspects of transpersonal psychology. Zdenek,<ref name="Zdenek 1986">Zdenek, Marilee. "Transformations of Consciousness" (Book review). ''L.A Times,'' September 14, 1986</ref> representing a moderate criticism from the 1980s, noted that the field was regarded as "controversial since its inception". Other commentators, such as Friedman,<ref name="Friedman 2000"/> and Adams,<ref name="Adams 2002"/> also mention the controversial status of the field. Adams<ref name="Adams 2003"/> also remarked that the field has struggled for "recognition as a legitimate field of study" in academia. This aspect was also noticed by Parsons,<ref name="Parsons 2003"/> who observed that Transpersonal psychology's "naive perennialism, misreading of religious texts, lack of methodological sophistication, weak epistemology, and, some would claim, promotion of narcissistic self-absorption" had not been well received by the majority of academics. Commenting on the state of the field in the mid-nineties Chinen<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> noted that professional publications, until then, had been hesitant to publish articles that dealt with transpersonal subjects.

In 1998 the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' reported on the holistic studies program at the ''[[John F. Kennedy University]]'' in Orinda, which included a transpersonal psychology department. The program was considered to be unique at the time, but also controversial. Commentators presented their skepticism towards the program.<ref name="McManis 1998"/> Another contentious aspect concerns the topic of psychedelic substances. Commenting upon the controversial status of psychedelic and entheogenic substances in contemporary culture, authors Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> observe that these drugs have been used for therapeutic effect in the transpersonal movement, but - the authors add - this is not the most "common form of transpersonal intervention" in contemporary therapy. However, Bravo and Grob<ref name="Bravo and Grob 1996">Bravo, Gary and Grob, Charles. Psychedelics and Transpersonal psychiatry. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books</ref> note that "the place of psychedelics in spiritual practice remains controversial".


Ruzek,<ref name="Ruzek 2004">Ruzek, Nicole Amity. Transpersonal Psychology's Historical Relationship to Mainstream American Psychology. Cited in ''Diss. Abstr. Int.'' B 65/04 (2004): 2081. UMI pub. no. 3129589.2</ref> who interviewed founders of transpersonal psychology, as well as historians of American psychology, found that the field of Transpersonal psychology had made little impact on the larger field of psychology in America. Among the factors that contributed to this situation was mainstream psychology's "resistance to spiritual and philosophical ideas", and the tendency of Transpersonal psychologists to isolate themselves from the larger context.
Ruzek,<ref name="Ruzek 2004">Ruzek, Nicole Amity. Transpersonal Psychology's Historical Relationship to Mainstream American Psychology. Cited in ''Diss. Abstr. Int.'' B 65/04 (2004): 2081. UMI pub. no. 3129589.2</ref> who interviewed founders of transpersonal psychology, as well as historians of American psychology, found that the field of Transpersonal psychology had made little impact on the larger field of psychology in America. Among the factors that contributed to this situation was mainstream psychology's "resistance to spiritual and philosophical ideas", and the tendency of Transpersonal psychologists to isolate themselves from the larger context.


One of the earliest criticisms of transpersonal psychology was leveled by the humanistic psychologist [[Rollo May]], who "disputed the conceptual foundations of transpersonal psychology".<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000" /> May also criticized the field for neglecting the personal dimension of the psyche by elevating the pursuit of the transcendental,<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007" /> and for neglecting the "dark side of human nature".<ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005" /><ref name="Abzug 2021">Abzug, Robert H (2021) Psyche and Soul in America : The Spiritual Odyssey of Rollo May. Oxford University Press. Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: December 2020</ref>
===Criticism, skepticism and response===

Criticism and skepticism towards the field of transpersonal psychology has been presented by a wide assortment of commentators,<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> and includes both writers from within its own ranks, as well as writers representing other fields of psychology or philosophy.

Critical remarks from within the field include the observations of Lukoff and Lu, and the criticism of Walach. In their contribution to the field of spiritually oriented psychotherapy Lukoff and Lu<ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005"/> discuss the strengths and weaknesses of transpersonal psychotherapy and transpersonal psychology. Among the strengths is its "basis of theory and practice" that can establish communication and dialogue with other cultures, and native healers. Among the weaknesses is a lack of theoretical agreement, which has led to internal debates, and attention from critics who question the validity of the transpersonal approach. Another source, close to the field, is ''The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology''. In a chapter from this book<ref name="Walach 2013">Walach, Harald. Criticisms of Transpersonal Psychology and Beyond — The Future of Transpersonal Psychology: A Science and Culture of Consciousness, in The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology (2013), 738 pages, Wiley-Blackwell</ref> Walach brings attention to unsolved problems within the field. According to the editors of the book the criticism represents "the sort of self-criticism that is mandatory within a responsible discipline".

Criticism from other profiles, close to the field, also include the observations of Ken Wilber and [[Jorge Ferrer]]. Wilber, one of the early profiles within the transpersonal field, has repeatedly announced the demise of transpersonal psychology.<ref>{{cite book|first=Ken|last=Wilber|title=A sociable God: toward a new understanding of religion|page=[https://archive.org/details/sociablegod00kenw/page/51 51]|publisher=Shambala Publications|url=https://archive.org/details/sociablegod00kenw|url-access=registration|isbn=978-1590302248|date=2009-10-01}}</ref><ref name="Wilber 1996">Wilber, Ken. A more integral approach. A Response to the ReVision Authors. ''ReVision'', Fall96, Vol. 19 Issue 2, p10. 25p.</ref> However, the early transpersonal theory of Wilber was itself subject to criticism, most notably from humanistic psychologists Rollo May and Kirk Schneider.<ref name="Schroll Rowan Robinson 2011">Schroll, Mark A; Rowan, John; Robinson, Oliver. "Clearing up Rollo May’s views of transpersonal psychology and acknowledging May as an early supporter of ecopsychology." ''International Journal of Transpersonal Studies'', 30(1), 2011, pp. 120-136</ref> Even though Wilber has distanced himself from transpersonal psychology in favour of integral philosophy,<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/><ref name="Freeman 2006"/> his transpersonal model has continued to attract both recognition<ref name="Cowley & Derezotes 1994"/><ref name="Fisher 1997">Fisher, Robert M. A guide to Wilberland: some common misunderstandings of the critics of Ken Wilber and his work on transpersonal theory prior to 1995. ''Journal of Humanistic Psychology'', 1997 (Vol. 37, Issue 4)</ref><ref name="Bidwell 1999"/> and criticism.<ref name="Adams 2002"/><ref name="Bidwell 1999"/><ref name="Fisher 1997"/>

Among the critics of Wilber we also find Ferrer,<ref name="Freeman 2006"/><ref name="Adams 2003"/> who in 2001 published a revision of transpersonal theory. In this revision<ref name="Ferrer 2001"/> he criticized transpersonal psychology for being too loyal to the perennial philosophy, for introducing a subtle [[Cartesianism]], and for being too preoccupied with intrasubjective spiritual states (inner empiricism). As an alternative to these trends he suggests a participatory vision of human spirituality that honors a wide assortment of spiritual insights, spiritual worlds and places.

====Criticism from humanistic and existential psychology====

One of the earliest criticisms of the field was issued by the humanistic psychologist [[Rollo May]], who "disputed the conceptual foundations of transpersonal psychology".<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/> According to commentators May also criticized the field for neglecting the personal dimension of the psyche by elevating the pursuit of the transcendental,<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/> and for neglecting the "dark side of human nature".<ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005"/><ref name="Abzug 2021">Abzug, Robert H (2021) Psyche and Soul in America : The Spiritual Odyssey of Rollo May. Oxford University Press. Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: December 2020</ref> Commentators<ref name="Hartelius Caplan Rardin 2007"/> note that these reservations, expressed by May, might reflect what later theorists have referred to as "[[spiritual bypass]]ing". Other commentators<ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005"/> have suggested that May only focused on "New Age popularizations of transpersonal approaches".

However, criticism has also come from other profiles in the fields of [[humanistic psychology]] and [[existential psychology]]. Eugene Taylor and Kirk Schneider have raised objections to several aspects of transpersonal psychology.<ref name="Chinen 1996"/> Schneider, representing the field of existential psychology, got involved at the end of the 1980's.<ref name="Schroll Rowan Robinson 2011"/><ref name="Abzug 2021"/> According to Schroll, Rowan and Robinson<ref name="Schroll Rowan Robinson 2011"/> Schneider presented 4 main points in his critique of Transpersonal psychology and Wilber's transpersonal model. First of all he doubted that anyone could reach "true transpersonal awareness", or "divine consciousness—a totally unrestricted, transcendent oneness with all time and space". He also doubted that anyone who experienced the transpersonal would be able verify the "attainment of this state of consciousness in themselves or others". He argued that this transpersonal development would be "irrelevant and unnecessary". Finally, he added that a "society of transpersonally enlightened individuals would be boring". Wilber<ref name="Schroll Rowan Robinson 2011"/> responded to Schneider's critique by questioning if Schneider had "understood his definition of ultimate transpersonal consciousness", and suggested that Schneider had a "outside looking in view of transpersonal experience".

In a later commentary Schneider<ref name="Schneider 2012 ">Schneider, Kirk J. Existentialism and the Transpersonal. A Rejoinder. ''Existential Analysis: Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis'', 23.1: January 2012 </ref> took issue with Wilbers description of transpersonal levels of consciousness and found it to have "some disturbing presumptions» that «go to the heart of what it means to be a human being».

====Relationship to science and scientific criteria====

According to Lukoff and Lu<ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005"/> the ''American Psychological Association'' expressed some concerns about the "unscientific" nature of transpersonal psychology at the time of the petition to the APA (see above). Rowan<ref name="Rowan 2014"/> notes that the Association had serious reservations about opening up a Transpersonal Psychology Division. The petitions for divisional status failed to win the majority of votes in the APA council, and the division was never established.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/> Commentators also mention that transpersonal psychology's association with the ideas of religion was one of the concerns that prohibited it from becoming a separate division of the APA at the time of the petition in 1984.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000"/>

The field of transpersonal psychology has been criticized for lacking conceptual, evidentiary, and scientific rigor. In a review of criticisms of the field, Cunningham writes, "philosophers have criticized transpersonal psychology because its metaphysics is naive and epistemology is undeveloped. Multiplicity of definitions and lack of operationalization of many of its concepts has led to a conceptual confusion about the nature of transpersonal psychology itself (i.e., the concept is used differently by different theorists and means different things to different people). Biologists have criticized transpersonal psychology for its lack of attention to biological foundations of behavior and experience. Physicists have criticized transpersonal psychology for inappropriately accommodating physic concepts as explanations of consciousness."<ref name="Cunningham 2011 53">{{cite book|last=Cunningham|first=Paul F.|title=A Primer on Transpersonal Psychology|year=2011|publisher=Rivier College|location=Nashua NH 03060-5086|page=53}}</ref>

Others, such as Friedman,<ref name="Friedman 2000"/><ref name="Friedman 2002"/> has suggested that the field is underdeveloped as a field of science and that it has, consequently, not produced a good scientific understanding of transpersonal matters. In his proposal for a new division of labour within the transpersonal field he suggests a distinction between transpersonal studies, a broad category that might include non-scientific approaches, and transpersonal psychology, a more narrow discipline that should align itself more closely with the principles of scientific psychology. However, this criticism has been answered by Ferrer<ref name="Ferrer 2014">Ferrer, Jorge. Transpersonal psychology, science, and the supernatural. ''The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', 2014, Vol.46, No.2</ref> who argues that Friedmans proposal attaches transpersonal psychology to a naturalistic metaphysical worldview that is unsuitable for the domain of spirituality.
[[Albert Ellis]], a cognitive psychologist and humanist, has questioned the results of transpersonal psychotherapy. In 1989 he cooperated with Raymond Yeager for the relsease of ''Why some therapies don't work: The dangers of transpersonal psychology'', where the authors compared the results of transpersonal psychology with the effects of [[Rational-emotive therapy|Rational-Emotive Therapy]], noting the dangers of the transpersonal appraoch.<ref>Ellis, Albert; Yeager, Raymond J. (1989) Why some therapies don't work: The dangers of transpersonal psychology. Amherst, NY, US: Prometheus Books.</ref> Ellis has also questioned the scientific status of transpersonal psychology, and its relationship to religion, mysticism and authoritarian belief systems.<ref>Ellis, Albert. "Fanaticism that may lead to a [[nuclear holocaust]]: The contributions of scientific counseling and psychotherapy". ''Journal of Counseling & Development'', Nov 1986, Vol. 65, pp. 146-151</ref><ref>Ellis, Albert. "Dangers of Transpersonal Psychology: A Reply To Ken Wilber". ''Journal of Counseling & Development'', Feb89, Vol. 67 Issue 6, p336, 2p;</ref> This criticism has been answered by Wilber<ref name="Wilber 1989">Wilber, Ken. Let's Nuke the Transpersonalists: A response to Albert Ellis. ''Journal of Counseling and Development''; Feb 1989, Vol. 67, p332-335</ref> who questioned Ellis' understanding of the domain of religion, and the field of Transpersonal Psychology; and Walsh<ref name="Walsh 1989">Walsh, Roger. Psychological Chauvinism and Nuclear Holocaust: A response to Albert Ellis and Defense of Non-Rational Emotive Therapies. ''Journal of Counseling and Development''; Feb 1989, Vol. 67, p338-340</ref> who questioned Ellis' critique of nonrational-emotive therapies.

Other commentators, such as Matthews,<ref name="Matthews 1999"/> are more supportive of the field, but remarks that a weakness of transpersonal psychology, and transpersonal psychotherapy, has been its reliance on anecdotal clinical experiences rather than research. Adams,<ref name="Adams 2006">Adams, William. Transpersonal Heterophenomenology? ''Journal of Consciousness Studies'', Volume 13, Number 4, 2006, pp. 89-93(5)</ref> writing from the perspective of Consciousness Studies, has problematized the concept of introspective 'data' that appears to make up the "database" of transpersonal psychology. Walach and Runehov<ref name="Walach and Runehov 2010">Walach, Harald; Runehov, A.L.C. "The Epistemological Status of Transpersonal Psychology. The Data-Base Argument Revisited". ''Journal of Consciousness Studies'', 1 January 2010, vol. 17, no. 1-1, pp. 145-165(21)</ref> have responded to this issue. O'Reilly<ref name="O'Reilly 2006"> O’Reilly, Patrick. Transpersonal Psychology. ''The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine'', Vol.10 (2006).</ref> examined several key components of Transpersonal psychology and found that it had features of a faith-based belief system, removed from scientific evaluation. Transpersonal psychology has been noted for undervaluing quantitative methods as a tool for improving our knowledge of spiritual and transpersonal categories. This is, according to commentators,<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> a consequence of a general orientation within the field that regards spiritual and transpersonal experience to be categories that "defy conceptualization and quantification", and are thereby not well suited for "conventional scientific inquiry".

====Other criticism====
In his criticism of Wilber's transpersonal model Adams<ref name="Adams 2002"/> identified an ambiguous and inconsistent definition of 'God'; a flawed epistemology that privileged non-dualism; faulty and selective use of textual sources; contradictory positions regarding the presence of a personal element in the divine nature; de-valuation of the individual self; and inadequate emphasis on the moral component of spiritual development.

Commentators have also made observations about the work of Stanislav Grof. Both Strom<ref name="Strom 1980"/>and Humphrey<ref name="Humphrey 2015"/> described Grof's early LSD-therapy as controversial. Other aspects of Grof's therapies have also come under scrutiny. In 1992 ''[[The Guardian]]''<ref name="Guardian 1992"/> was reporting from the activities of the [[Findhorn Foundation]]. One of the therapies offered by the foundation was Grof's Holotropic [[Breathwork]], which was causing concern and attracting considerable opposition.

From the standpoint of [[Dzogchen]], the teachings from Tibetan Buddhism, and Buddhism generally, Elías Capriles has objected that transpersonal psychology fails to distinguish between the transpersonal condition of ''nirvana'', which is inherently liberating, and those transpersonal conditions which are within ''samsara''.<ref>Capriles, E. (2000). ''Beyond Mind: Steps to a Metatranspersonal Psychology''. Honolulu, HI: The [[International Journal of Transpersonal Studies]], 19:163-184.</ref> <ref>Capriles, E. (2006). ''Beyond Mind II: Further Steps to a Metatranspersonal Philosophy and Psychology''. San Francisco, California: ''The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies''[2], 24:5-44.</ref><ref>Capriles, E. (in press). ''Beyond Mind III: Further Steps to a Metatranspersonal Philosophy and Psychology''. Miami, Florida: ''The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies'', special issue following vol. 25.</ref> In the process of elaborating what he calls a meta-transpersonal psychology, Capriles has carried out refutations of Wilber, Grof and Washburn.<ref>Friedman, Harris and MacDonald, Douglas A. "Editors’ Introduction". ''The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies'', Volume 25, 2006, page ii</ref>


According to Lukoff and Lu<ref name="Lukoff Lu 2005" /> the ''American Psychological Association'' expressed some concerns about the "unscientific" nature of transpersonal psychology at the time of the petition to the APA (see above). Rowan<ref name="Rowan 2014">Rowan, John. "The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Transpersonal Psychology" (Book Review). ''ACPNL Magazine'', Issue 75 March 2014. The Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists in North London</ref> notes that the Association had serious reservations about opening up a Transpersonal Psychology Division. The petitions for divisional status failed to win the majority of votes in the APA council, and the division was never established.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000" /> Commentators also mention that transpersonal psychology's association with the ideas of religion was one of the concerns that prohibited it from becoming a separate division of the APA at the time of the petition in 1984.<ref name="Aanstoos, Serlin & Greening 2000" />
Although the ideas of [[William James]] are considered central to the transpersonal field, Gary Alexander suggested that transpersonal psychology did not have a clear understanding of the negative dimensions of consciousness (such as evil) expressed in James' philosophy.<ref name="Alexander, Gary T. 1980">Alexander, Gary T. (1980) "William James, the Sick Soul, and the Negative Dimensions of Consciousness: A Partial Critique of Transpersonal Psychology". ''Journal of the American Academy of Religion'', XLVIII(2):191-206</ref> He argued that Transpersonal psychology lacked the philosophical dimension of William James which took into consideration the concept of once- and twice-born individuals. This criticism has been absorbed by later transpersonal theory, which has been more willing to reflect on these important dimensions of human existence.<ref>Daniels, M. (2005). ''Shadow, Self, Spirit: Essays in Transpersonal Psychology''. Exeter: Imprint Academic. {{ISBN|1-84540-022-4}}.</ref>


Transpersonal psychology has been criticized for lacking conceptual, evidentiary, and scientific rigor. In a review of criticisms of the field, Cunningham writes, "philosophers have criticized transpersonal psychology because its metaphysics is naive and epistemology is undeveloped. Multiplicity of definitions and lack of operationalization of many of its concepts has led to a conceptual confusion about the nature of transpersonal psychology itself (i.e., the concept is used differently by different theorists and means different things to different people). Biologists have criticized transpersonal psychology for its lack of attention to biological foundations of behavior and experience. Physicists have criticized transpersonal psychology for inappropriately accommodating physic concepts as explanations of consciousness."<ref name="Cunningham 2011 53">{{cite book|last=Cunningham|first=Paul F.|title=A Primer on Transpersonal Psychology|year=2011|publisher=Rivier College|location=Nashua NH 03060-5086|page=53}}</ref>
Skepticism towards the concept of spiritual emergencies, and the transpersonal dimension in psychiatry, has been expressed by Alison J. Gray,<ref name="Gray 2012">Gray, Alison J. "Reviews: In Case of Spiritual Emergency: Moving Successfully Through Your Awakening". ''Psychiatric Bulletin'' (2012) 36: 360</ref> who stated that "this is not an approach I personally find internally consistent, helpful or believable".


[[Albert Ellis]], a cognitive psychologist and humanist, has questioned the results of transpersonal psychotherapy. In 1989 he cooperated with Raymond Yeager for the release of ''Why some therapies don't work: The dangers of transpersonal psychology'', where the authors compared the results of transpersonal psychology with the effects of [[Rational-emotive therapy|Rational-Emotive Therapy]], noting the dangers of the transpersonal appraoch.<ref>Ellis, Albert; Yeager, Raymond J. (1989) Why some therapies don't work: The dangers of transpersonal psychology. Amherst, NY, US: Prometheus Books.</ref> Ellis has also questioned the scientific status of transpersonal psychology, and its relationship to religion, mysticism and authoritarian belief systems.<ref>Ellis, Albert. "Fanaticism that may lead to a [[nuclear holocaust]]: The contributions of scientific counseling and psychotherapy". ''Journal of Counseling & Development'', Nov 1986, Vol. 65, pp. 146-151</ref><ref>Ellis, Albert. "Dangers of Transpersonal Psychology: A Reply To Ken Wilber". ''Journal of Counseling & Development'', Feb89, Vol. 67 Issue 6, p336, 2p;</ref>
According to Cunningham, transpersonal psychology has been criticized by some Christian authors for being "a mishmash of 'New Age' ideas that offer an alternative faith system to vulnerable youths who turn their backs on organized religion (Adeney, 1988)".<ref name="Cunningham 2011 53"/>
Transpersonal psychology has also been criticized for emphasizing oneness and holism at the expense of diversity.<ref name="Davis 2003"/> According to John V. Davis "this criticism should be heard".


==See also==
==See also==
Line 232: Line 78:
:c.{{note|c}} Among the universities and colleges that are associated with transpersonal theory, as part of their research or curriculum, we find: [[Sofia University (California)]] (US), [[California Institute of Integral Studies]] (US), [[Notre Dame de Namur University]] (US), [[Saybrook University]] (US), Liverpool John Moores University (UK), [[Naropa University]] (US), [[John F. Kennedy University (California)]] (US), [[University of West Georgia]] (US), [[Atlantic University]] (US), Burlington College (US), the [[University of Northampton]] (UK), Leeds Metropolitan University (UK) and Pacifica Graduate Institute (US).
:c.{{note|c}} Among the universities and colleges that are associated with transpersonal theory, as part of their research or curriculum, we find: [[Sofia University (California)]] (US), [[California Institute of Integral Studies]] (US), [[Notre Dame de Namur University]] (US), [[Saybrook University]] (US), Liverpool John Moores University (UK), [[Naropa University]] (US), [[John F. Kennedy University (California)]] (US), [[University of West Georgia]] (US), [[Atlantic University]] (US), Burlington College (US), the [[University of Northampton]] (UK), Leeds Metropolitan University (UK) and Pacifica Graduate Institute (US).


:d.{{note|d}} Transpersonal psychology often differentiates between the concepts of religion and spirituality.<ref name="Walsh & Vaughan 1993"/><ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Cowley & Derezotes 1994"/> Commentators<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> note that religion, in a transpersonal context, has to do with the individuals involvement in a social institution and its doctrines, while spirituality has to do with the individuals experience of a transcendent dimension. The authors<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Lukoff Lu Turner 1996"/> of the DSM-proposal make the same differentiation: Religious problems may be caused by a change in denominational membership; conversion to a new religion; intensification of religious belief or practice; loss or questioning of faith; guilt; joining or leaving a new religious movement or cult. Spiritual problems may result from the variables mentioned above: mystical experience; near-death experience; [[Kundalini energy|Kundalini]] awakening; shamanic crisis; psychic opening; intensive meditation; separation from a spiritual teacher; medical or terminal illness; addiction.
:d.{{note|d}} Transpersonal psychology often differentiates between the concepts of religion and spirituality.<ref name="Walsh & Vaughan 1993"/><ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Cowley & Derezotes 1994">Cowley, Au-Deane S. & Derezotes, David. Transpersonal Psychology and Social Work Education. ''Journal of Social Work Education'', 10437797, Winter, Vol. 30, Issue 1, 1994</ref> Commentators<ref name="Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman"/> note that religion, in a transpersonal context, has to do with the individuals involvement in a social institution and its doctrines, while spirituality has to do with the individuals experience of a transcendent dimension. The authors<ref name="Turner et al., 1995"/><ref name="Lukoff Lu Turner 1996">Lukoff, David, Lu, Francis G. & Turner, Robert P. ''Diagnosis. A clinical approach to religious and spiritual problems''. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books</ref> of the DSM-proposal make the same differentiation: Religious problems may be caused by a change in denominational membership; conversion to a new religion; intensification of religious belief or practice; loss or questioning of faith; guilt; joining or leaving a new religious movement or cult. Spiritual problems may result from the variables mentioned above: mystical experience; near-death experience; [[Kundalini energy|Kundalini]] awakening; shamanic crisis; psychic opening; intensive meditation; separation from a spiritual teacher; medical or terminal illness; addiction.


:e.{{note|e}} Precedents of Grof's approach in this regard are found in Jung, Perry, Dabrowski, Bateson, Laing, Cooper and antipsychiatry in the widest sense of the term.
:e.{{note|e}} Precedents of Grof's approach in this regard are found in Jung, Perry, Dabrowski, Bateson, Laing, Cooper and antipsychiatry in the widest sense of the term.
Line 238: Line 84:
:f.{{note|f}} In addition to this, Whitney (1998) has also made an argument in favor of understanding mania as a form of spiritual emergency.<ref name="Whitney 1998">Whitney, Edward (1998) "Personal Accounts : Mania as Spiritual Emergency". ''Psychiatric Services'' 49:1547-1548, December. American Psychiatric Association.</ref>
:f.{{note|f}} In addition to this, Whitney (1998) has also made an argument in favor of understanding mania as a form of spiritual emergency.<ref name="Whitney 1998">Whitney, Edward (1998) "Personal Accounts : Mania as Spiritual Emergency". ''Psychiatric Services'' 49:1547-1548, December. American Psychiatric Association.</ref>


:g.{{note|g}} See DSM-IV: "Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention", Religious or Spiritual Problem, Code V62.89.<ref name="American Psychiatric Association 1994"/>
:g.{{note|g}} See DSM-IV: "Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention", Religious or Spiritual Problem, Code V62.89.<ref name="American Psychiatric Association 1994">American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:34, 18 January 2023

Transpersonal psychology, or spiritual psychology, is a sub-field or school of psychology that integrates the spiritual and transcendent aspects of the human experience with the framework of modern psychology. The transpersonal is defined as "experiences in which the sense of identity or self extends beyond (trans) the individual or personal to encompass wider aspects of humankind, life, psyche or cosmos".[1] It has also been defined as "development beyond conventional, personal or individual levels".[2]

Issues considered in transpersonal psychology include spiritual self-development, self beyond the ego, peak experiences, mystical experiences, systemic trance, spiritual crises, spiritual evolution, religious conversion, altered states of consciousness, spiritual practices, and other sublime and/or unusually expanded experiences of living. The discipline attempts to describe and integrate spiritual experience within modern psychological theory and to formulate new theory to encompass such experience. The Transpersonal Psychology Day is celebrated on February 27th.[3]

Origins

In 1968 Maslow was among the people who announced transpersonal psychology as a "fourth force" in psychology,[4] in order to separate it from Humanistic psychology. Early use of the term "transpersonal" can also be credited to Stanislav Grof and Anthony Sutich. At this time, in 1967–68, Maslow was in close dialogue with both Grof and Sutich regarding the name and orientation of the new field.[5] According to Powers[6] the term "transpersonal" starts to show up in academic journals from 1970 and onwards.

Both Humanistic and Transpersonal psychology have been associated with the Human Potential Movement, a growth center for alternative therapies and philosophies that grew out of the counter-culture of the 1960s at places like Esalen, California.[7][8][9][10][11]

Formative period

Gradually, during the 1960s, the term "transpersonal" was associated with a distinct school of psychology within the humanistic psychology movement.[4] In 1969, Abraham Maslow, Stanislav Grof and Anthony Sutich were among the initiators behind the publication of the first issue of the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology.[12][4][13] The Association for Transpersonal Psychology was established in 1972,[7] the International Transpersonal Psychology Association in 1973,[13] and the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in 1975 .[7][14] The institute was founded by Robert Frager and James Fadiman[14][15] in response to the academic climate that was hostile to such ideas.[14] Soon other institutions begain offering curricula in transpersonal psychology including Saybrook Graduate School, the California Institute of Asian Studies (now California Institute of Integral Studies), JFK University, and Naropa.[16] Other proponents of transpersonal psychology included Ram Dass, a popular Guru; Elmer and Alyce Green who were affiliated with the Menninger Foundation;[13] and Ken Wilber.[13][17][18] Since the 1990s, Ken Wilber had been distancing himself from the label of "transpersonal", in favour of the label of "integral", since the mid-1990s. In 1998 he formed Integral Institute.[19]

An early preoccupation of those interested in transpersonal psychology was meditation and altered states of consciousness including those induced from psychedelic drugs.[20][21]

In the early 1980s a group within APA division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) argued in favor of establishing transpersonal psychology as a separate division within the framework of the American Psychological Association. A petition was presented to the APA Council in 1984, but was turned down. A new initiative was made in 1985, but it failed to win the majority of votes in the council. In 1986 the petition was presented for a third and final time, but was withdrawn by the executive board of Division 32.[22][7] The interest group later re-formed as the Transpersonal Psychology Interest Group (TPIG), and continued to promote transpersonal issues in collaboration with Division 32.[7]

Proponents of transpersonal psychology were behind the proposal for a new diagnostic category to be included in the DSM-manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The category was called "Psychoreligious or psychospiritual problem" and was approved by the Task Force on DSM-IV in 1993, after changing its name to Religious or spiritual problem.[23][24][4][20] Concurrently, there was an increase in membership for the Association for Transpersonal Psychology, stabilizing at approximately 3000 members in the early nineties.[4] In 1996 the British Psychological Society (the UK professional body equivalent to the APA) established a Transpersonal Psychology Section.[25][26]

In 2007 the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology and the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies were accepted for indexing in PsycINFO, the journal database of the American Psychological Association. However, that same year, Ruzek,[27] who conducted interviews with founders of Transpersonal Psychology, as well as historians of American psychology, noted that the "American Psychological Association (APA) and most academic institutions have not yet recognized transpersonal psychology as an approved area of study; transpersonal psychology is rarely mentioned in mainstream academic journals or textbooks; and relatively few American academicians identify themselves as practitioners of transpersonal psychology. Furthermore, transpersonal psychology is scarcely mentioned, if at all, in history or introductory psychology texts".

In 2012 the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology announced that it was changing its name to Sofia University with an expanded graduate program featuring computer science and business.[28] In 2016, the California Institute of Integral Studies launched an online PhD degree in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology, founded and chaired by Glenn Hartelius, including Jorge Ferrer on its faculty, and sponsoring publication of the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies.

Other transpersonal disciplines, such as transpersonal anthropology and transpersonal business studies, are listed as transpersonal disciplines.

Other fields of study, that are related to transpersonal psychology, include near-death studies and parapsychology.

A few commentators[4][29][30] have suggested that there is a difference between transpersonal psychology and a broader category of transpersonal theories, sometimes called transpersonal studies. According to Friedman[30] this category might include several approaches to the transpersonal that lie outside the frames of science. However, according to Ferrer[31] the field of transpersonal psychology is "situated within the wider umbrella of transpersonal studies".

Transpersonal psychology may also be associated with New Age beliefs and pop psychology.[29][32][33][13] However, leading authors in the field, among those Sovatsky,[34] Rowan,[35] and Hartelius[36] have criticized the nature of "New Age"-philosophy and discourse. Rowan[35] even states that "The Transpersonal is not the New Age".[37] Other commentators, such as Wade, [38] notes that the field remains part of the New Age, despite the fact that transpersonal psychologists may want no such association.

Although some consider that the distinction between transpersonal psychology and the psychology of religion, is fading (e.g. The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality), there is still generally considered to be a clear distinction between the two.[39] Much of the focus of psychology of religion is concerned with issues that would not be considered 'transcendent' within transpersonal psychology, so the two disciplines do have quite a distinct focus.[40]

Organizations, publications and locations

Although the perspectives of transpersonal psychology has spread to a number of interest groups across the US and Europe, its origins were in California, and the field has always been strongly associated with institutions on the west coast of the US.[22] Both the Association for Transpersonal Psychology and the forerunner to Sofia University were founded in the state of California, and a number of the fields leading theorists come from this area of the US.[22] A European counterpart to the American institution, the European Transpersonal Psychology Association (ETPA), was founded much later.[41]

Leading publications include the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology and the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies. Smaller publications include the Transpersonal Psychology Review, the journal of the Transpersonal Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society.

Reception, recognition and criticism

Reception of Transpersonal psychology, in the surrounding culture, reflects a wide range of views and opinions, including severe skepticism. Ernest Hilgard,[42] representing the contemporary psychology of the early 1980s, regarded transpersonal psychology as a fringe movement that attracted the more extreme followers of Humanistic psychology. He did however remark that such movements might enrich the topics that psychologists study, even though most psychologists choose not to join the movement. Adams[17] also regarded Transpersonal psychology as a fringe discipline. He also observed its status as a controversial field of study.

Eugene Taylor,[13] representing the field of Humanistic Psychology, presented a balanced review of transpersonal psychology in the early nineties. On the negative side he mentioned transpersonal Psychology's tendency toward being "philosophically naive, poorly financed, at times almost anti-intellectual, and frequently overrated as far as its influences". On the positive side he noted the fields "integrated approach to understanding the phenomenology of scientific method"; the "centrality of qualitative research"; and the "importance of interdisciplinary communication". In conclusion he suggested that the virtues of transpersonal psychology may, in the end, "outweigh its defects". In a later article Taylor[10] regarded transpersonal psychology as a visionary American folk-psychology with little historical relation to American academic psychology, except through its association with Humanistic psychology and the categories of transcendence and consciousness.

However, although transpersonal psychology has experienced some minor recognition from the surrounding culture,[4] it faces a fair amount of skepticism and criticism from the same surroundings. Freeman[21] mentions that the early field of transpersonal psychology was aware of the possibility that it would be rejected by the scientific community. Its method of inner empiricism, "based on disciplined introspection", was to be a target of skepticism from outsiders in the years to come. Several commentators have mentioned the controversial aspects of transpersonal psychology. Zdenek[43] noted that the field was regarded as "controversial since its inception". Other commentators, such as Friedman,[29] and Adams,[17] also mention the controversial status of the field. Adams[44] also remarked that the field has struggled for "recognition as a legitimate field of study" in academia. This aspect was also noticed by Parsons,[45] who observed that Transpersonal psychology's "naive perennialism, misreading of religious texts, lack of methodological sophistication, weak epistemology, and, some would claim, promotion of narcissistic self-absorption" had not been well received by the majority of academics. Commenting on the state of the field in the mid-nineties Chinen[4] noted that professional publications, until then, had been hesitant to publish articles that dealt with transpersonal subjects.

In 1998 the San Francisco Chronicle reported on the holistic studies program at the John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, which included a transpersonal psychology department. The program was considered to be unique at the time, but also controversial. Commentators presented their skepticism towards the program.[46] Another contentious aspect concerns the topic of psychedelic substances. Commenting upon the controversial status of psychedelic and entheogenic substances in contemporary culture, authors Elmer, MacDonald & Friedman[41] observe that these drugs have been used for therapeutic effect in the transpersonal movement, but - the authors add - this is not the most "common form of transpersonal intervention" in contemporary therapy. However, Bravo and Grob[47] note that "the place of psychedelics in spiritual practice remains controversial".

Ruzek,[48] who interviewed founders of transpersonal psychology, as well as historians of American psychology, found that the field of Transpersonal psychology had made little impact on the larger field of psychology in America. Among the factors that contributed to this situation was mainstream psychology's "resistance to spiritual and philosophical ideas", and the tendency of Transpersonal psychologists to isolate themselves from the larger context.

One of the earliest criticisms of transpersonal psychology was leveled by the humanistic psychologist Rollo May, who "disputed the conceptual foundations of transpersonal psychology".[7] May also criticized the field for neglecting the personal dimension of the psyche by elevating the pursuit of the transcendental,[22] and for neglecting the "dark side of human nature".[16][49]

According to Lukoff and Lu[16] the American Psychological Association expressed some concerns about the "unscientific" nature of transpersonal psychology at the time of the petition to the APA (see above). Rowan[50] notes that the Association had serious reservations about opening up a Transpersonal Psychology Division. The petitions for divisional status failed to win the majority of votes in the APA council, and the division was never established.[7] Commentators also mention that transpersonal psychology's association with the ideas of religion was one of the concerns that prohibited it from becoming a separate division of the APA at the time of the petition in 1984.[7]

Transpersonal psychology has been criticized for lacking conceptual, evidentiary, and scientific rigor. In a review of criticisms of the field, Cunningham writes, "philosophers have criticized transpersonal psychology because its metaphysics is naive and epistemology is undeveloped. Multiplicity of definitions and lack of operationalization of many of its concepts has led to a conceptual confusion about the nature of transpersonal psychology itself (i.e., the concept is used differently by different theorists and means different things to different people). Biologists have criticized transpersonal psychology for its lack of attention to biological foundations of behavior and experience. Physicists have criticized transpersonal psychology for inappropriately accommodating physic concepts as explanations of consciousness."[51]

Albert Ellis, a cognitive psychologist and humanist, has questioned the results of transpersonal psychotherapy. In 1989 he cooperated with Raymond Yeager for the release of Why some therapies don't work: The dangers of transpersonal psychology, where the authors compared the results of transpersonal psychology with the effects of Rational-Emotive Therapy, noting the dangers of the transpersonal appraoch.[52] Ellis has also questioned the scientific status of transpersonal psychology, and its relationship to religion, mysticism and authoritarian belief systems.[53][54]

See also

Notes

a.^ Walsh & Vaughan (1993: 202), trying to improve on other definitions, have proposed a definition which, in their view, entail fewer presuppositions, is less theoryladen, and more closely tied to experience.
b.^ The State University of New York Press (Albany, NY) divides their publications into categories, or series, representing different academic fields. Among the fields represented as a category we find the SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology. Another category, the SUNY series in the philosophy of psychology, also includes work from Transpersonal writers.
c.^ Among the universities and colleges that are associated with transpersonal theory, as part of their research or curriculum, we find: Sofia University (California) (US), California Institute of Integral Studies (US), Notre Dame de Namur University (US), Saybrook University (US), Liverpool John Moores University (UK), Naropa University (US), John F. Kennedy University (California) (US), University of West Georgia (US), Atlantic University (US), Burlington College (US), the University of Northampton (UK), Leeds Metropolitan University (UK) and Pacifica Graduate Institute (US).
d.^ Transpersonal psychology often differentiates between the concepts of religion and spirituality.[1][23][55] Commentators[41] note that religion, in a transpersonal context, has to do with the individuals involvement in a social institution and its doctrines, while spirituality has to do with the individuals experience of a transcendent dimension. The authors[23][56] of the DSM-proposal make the same differentiation: Religious problems may be caused by a change in denominational membership; conversion to a new religion; intensification of religious belief or practice; loss or questioning of faith; guilt; joining or leaving a new religious movement or cult. Spiritual problems may result from the variables mentioned above: mystical experience; near-death experience; Kundalini awakening; shamanic crisis; psychic opening; intensive meditation; separation from a spiritual teacher; medical or terminal illness; addiction.
e.^ Precedents of Grof's approach in this regard are found in Jung, Perry, Dabrowski, Bateson, Laing, Cooper and antipsychiatry in the widest sense of the term.
f.^ In addition to this, Whitney (1998) has also made an argument in favor of understanding mania as a form of spiritual emergency.[57]
g.^ See DSM-IV: "Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention", Religious or Spiritual Problem, Code V62.89.[58]

References

  1. ^ a b Walsh, R. & Vaughan, F. "On transpersonal definitions". Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 25 (2) 125-182, 1993
  2. ^ Scotton, Bruce W. "Introduction and Definition of Transpersonal Psychiatry". In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books
  3. ^ "Transpersonal Psychology Day". Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Chinen, Allan B. The emergence of Transpersonal psychiatry. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books
  5. ^ Vich, M.A. (1988) "Some historical sources of the term "transpersonal". Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 20 (2) 107-110
  6. ^ Powers, Robin. Counseling and Spirituality: A Historical Review. Counseling and Values, Apr 2005, Vol.49(3), pp.217-225
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Aanstoos, C., Serlin, I., & Greening, T. (2000). History of Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. In D. Dewsbury (Ed.), "Unification through Division: Histories of the divisions of the American Psychological Association", Vol. V. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
  8. ^ Leonard, G. How to Have an Extraordinary Life. Psychology Today, May 01, 1992 (reviewed June 20, 2012)
  9. ^ Tarnas, Richard. A New Birth In Freedom. A Review of Jorge Ferrer's Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 2001, Vol. 33, No. I
  10. ^ a b Taylor, Eugene. An Intellectual Renaissance of Humanistic Psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Vol. 39, No. 2, Spring 1999 p.p 7-25
  11. ^ Greyson, Bruce. (Book review) The Future of the Body: Explorations into the Further Evolution of Human Nature. The New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 328:216, Number 3, 1993
  12. ^ Judy, Dwight. "Transpersonal psychology: Coming of age." ReVision. Winter 94, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p99. 2p.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Taylor, Eugene. Transpersonal Psychology: Its several Virtues. The Humanistic Psychologist, Vol. 20, Nos. 2 and 3, pp. 285-300, 1992.
  14. ^ a b c PRWeb (Press release). Founder Bob Frager Returns to Sofia University. San Francisco Chronicle, published online Tuesday, July 15, 2014.
  15. ^ PRWEB Press release. Sofia University Announces Inauguration of First President, Neal King Ph.D. Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) September 18, 2012
  16. ^ a b c Lukoff, David; Lu, Francis. A transpersonal-integrative approach to spiritually oriented psychotherapy. In Sperry, Len (Ed); Shafranske, Edward P. (Ed), (2005). Spiritually oriented psychotherapy., (pp. 177-205). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association, ix, 368 pp.
  17. ^ a b c Adams, George (2002) A Theistic Perspective on Ken Wilber's Transpersonal Psychology, Journal of Contemporary Religion, 17:2, 165-179, DOI:10.1080/13537900220125163
  18. ^ Miller, John J. "Book review: Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology." Psychiatric Services April 01, 1998
  19. ^ "History". Integral Institute. Retrieved 16 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ a b Fadiman, James; Judy, Dwight; Lukoff, David and Sovatsky, Stuart. 50TH Anniversary Reflections From (a few) of the Past Presidents of the Association for Transpersonal Psychology. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 2018, Vol. 50, No. 1
  21. ^ a b Freeman, Anthony. A Daniel Come To Judgement? Dennett and the Revisioning of Transpersonal Theory. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 13, No. 3, 2006, pp. 95–109
  22. ^ a b c d Hartelius, Glenn; Caplan, Mariana; Rardin, Mary Anne. "Transpersonal Psychology: Defining the Past, Divining the Future". The Humanistic Psychologist, 35(2), 1–26, 2007
  23. ^ a b c Turner, Robert P.; Lukoff, David; Barnhouse, Ruth Tiffany & Lu Francis G. "Religious or spiritual problem. A culturally sensitive diagnostic category in the DSM-IV". Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Jul;183(7):435-44, 1995
  24. ^ Lukoff D, Lu F, Turner R. Toward a more culturally sensitive DSM-IV. Psychoreligious and psychospiritual problems. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1992;180(11):673–682.
  25. ^ Fontana, David; Slack, Ingrid & Treacy, Martin, Eds. (2005) Transpersonal Psychology: Meaning and Developments. Transpersonal Psychology Review (Special Issue). Leicester: British Psychological Society
  26. ^ Daniels, Michael & McNutt, Brendan. "Questioning the Role of Transpersonal Psychology". Transpersonal Psychology Review, Vol. 1, No. 4, 4-9. (1997) [Preprint Version]
  27. ^ Ruzek, Nicole. Transpersonal Psychology in Context: Perspectives from its founders and Historians of American Psychology. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 2007, Vol. 39, No. 2
  28. ^ Press release: "Institute of Transpersonal Psychology Becomes Sofia University. New Name Brings Broader Mission, Expanded Campus and New Programs". Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB), published online July 16, 2012
  29. ^ a b c Friedman, Harris (2000) Toward Developing Transpersonal Psychology as a Scientific Field. Paper presented at Old Saybrook 2 conference, May 11–14, 2000, State University of West Georgia
  30. ^ a b Friedman, Harris. Transpersonal Psychology as a Scientific Field. The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 2002, Vol. 21, 175-187.
  31. ^ Caplan, Hartelius & Rardin. Contemporary viewpoints on Transpersonal Psychology. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 2003, Vol. 35, No. 2.
  32. ^ Sutcliffe, Steven (2003). Category Formation and the History of 'New Age'. Culture and Religion: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 4:1, 5-29
  33. ^ Casey retiring from Burlington College. Vermont Business Magazine 29.14 (Dec 01, 2001): 27.
  34. ^ Sovatsky, Stuart (1998) Words from the Soul : Time, East/West Spirituality, and Psychotherapeutic Narrative. New York: State University of New York Press (SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)
  35. ^ a b Rowan, John (1993) The transpersonal: psychotherapy and counselling. London: Routledge (Second edition)
  36. ^ Hartelius, Glenn (2017). "Circular reasoning is not the uroboros: Rejecting perennialism as a psychological theory". International Journal of Transpersonal Studies. 36 (2): 121–135. doi:10.24972/ijts.2017.36.2.121.
  37. ^ Evans, Joan. "The Transpersonal - Psychotherapy and Counselling" (Book review). International Journal of Psychotherapy 2.2 (Nov 1997): 237-240.
  38. ^ Wade, Jenny. Transcending "Transpersonal": Time to join the world. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 2019, Vol. 51, No. 1
  39. ^ Hartelius, G., Friedman, H. L., & Pappas, J. (2013). The calling to a spiritual psychology: Should transpersonal psychology convert? The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of transpersonal psychology. Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118591277.ch3
  40. ^ Miller, L. J., ed. (2012) [2012]. "Models of Spiritual Development". The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality (1 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-19-972992-0.
  41. ^ a b c Elmer, Lori D., MacDonald, Douglas A. & Friedman, Harris L. "Transpersonal psychology, physical health, and mental health: Theory, research, and practice". The Humanistic Psychologist, 31:2-3, 159-181, 2003
  42. ^ Hilgard, Ernest R. Consciousness in Contemporary Psychology. Annual Review of Psychology 1980, 31:1-26
  43. ^ Zdenek, Marilee. "Transformations of Consciousness" (Book review). L.A Times, September 14, 1986
  44. ^ Adams, George. "Book Reviews: Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality." Journal of Contemporary Religion, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2003 pp. 403–435
  45. ^ Parsons, William B. Book Reviews: Revisioning Transpersonal Theory. A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality (Book). Journal of Religion, 00224189, Oct. 2003, Vol.83, Issue 4.
  46. ^ McManis, Sam. University with a Vision. JFK's holistic studies program attracts devoted students - and strong critics. San Francisco Chronicle, Friday, October 9, 1998
  47. ^ Bravo, Gary and Grob, Charles. Psychedelics and Transpersonal psychiatry. In Scotton, Bruce W., Chinen, Allan B. and Battista, John R., Eds. (1996) Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology. New York: Basic Books
  48. ^ Ruzek, Nicole Amity. Transpersonal Psychology's Historical Relationship to Mainstream American Psychology. Cited in Diss. Abstr. Int. B 65/04 (2004): 2081. UMI pub. no. 3129589.2
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Further reading