The founding father of humanistic psychology, Abraham Maslow, subsequently helped establish transpersonal psychology, which he considered subsumed humanistic psychology, and in the following years the subject has been developed by Ken Wilber, Stan Grof, Charles Tart, Michael Murphy, Roger Walsh, and Frances Vaughan and others. The term transpersonal derives from two Latin words trans, meaning 'beyond' or 'through', and persona, meaning 'mask'. Transpersonal psychology thus studies experiences in which the individual sees beyond the conditioned ego, and identifies a deeper and more enduring sense of self. Sympathy, empathy, compassion, altruism, unselfishness, and unconditional love are therefore all part of the concern of transpersonal psychology, as are experiences and beliefs that lead us to see a higher reality, whether thought of in impersonal terms or personalised into a deity or deities. Transpersonal psychology also explores the nature, variety, causes, and consequences of transpersonal experiences and beliefs, and is thus interested in beliefs in such things as the soul and the survival of bodily death. Scientists debate the validity of such beliefs, but the great majority of human beings across cultures hold to them, often with profound consequences for thought, self-concepts and behaviour.
Transpersonal experiences, ideas and visions have been a potent influence upon human history, impacting upon morality, legality and culture, and inspiring much of the world's greatest music, literature, art, sculpture and architecture, while their misuse has prompted international conflict, intolerance, discrimination, and violence.
Transpersonal Psychology and Other Practices
Transpersonal psychology is linked to a psychotherapeutic practices such as psychosynthesis and transpersonal therapy, to techniques for self-exploration and personal growth such as meditation and visualisation, and to an interest in Eastern psycho-spiritual traditions such as Vedanta, Zen, and Tibetan and Theravadin Buddhism. Adhering to the objective methods of science, it nevertheless respects self-reports of inner experience, and recognises that science advances only if we remain aware that existing scientific laws are subject to revision in the light of new discoveries. Many transpersonal psychologists are also interested in Near Death Experiences (which may support post-mortem survival) and in concepts of non-locality and parapsychology (e.g. that mind is not identical with brain, and that abilities such as telepathy and clairvoyance exist).
Current Developments
The present author, together with Ingrid Slack and Martin Treacy of the Open University, has been instrumental in founding the Transpersonal Psychology Section within the British Psychological Society, which helps integrate the transpersonal within mainstream psychology. The Section
publishes The Transpersonal Psychology Review available to non-members (details from The British Psychological Society, St. Andrews House, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7DR, tel.: 0116 2549568, or from the Society's web site at www.bps.org.uk.
Another major focus for transpersonal psychology in the UK is The Centre for Transpersonal Psychology, which offers transpersonal counselling/psychotherapy, and trains counsellors in the subject (details from 86A Marylebone High St., London W1U 4QT, Tel: 020 7935 7350. Degree courses containing major transpersonal psychology elements are available at the Centre for Applied Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 15-21 Webster Street, Liverpool L3 2ET, tel.: 0151 2314036.
Leading transpersonal psychology institutions in the USA are The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, 744 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303, Tel.: 001 415 493 4430 (degree courses up to and including Ph.D.), and The Institute of Noetic Sciences, 475 Gate Five Road, Suite 300, Sausalito, CA 94965, tel.: 001 415 331 5673, which publishes the Noetic Sciences Review. Other indispensable publications are the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology (345 California Avenue (Suite No. 1, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA.), The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies (Panigada Press, PO Box 22877, Honolulu, Hawaii 96823-2877, USA), and Exceptional Human Experience (414 Rockledge Rd., New Bern, NC 28562, USA.).
Key Texts
Wilber, K. (2000). Integral Psychology. Boston and London: Shambhala. ISBN 1 57062-554-9.
Ken Wilber is a key author within transpersonal psychology, with a masterly knowledge of the whole field, combined with an extraordinary range of seminal ideas and models of his own. This book is a valuable summary of his ideas, but all his many books (e.g. The Marriage of Sense and Soul; Sex, Ecology and Spirituality; Up From Eden; The Atman Project; A Brief History of Everything; One Taste; No Boundary and The Spectrum of Consciousness ) are very highly recommended. His Collected Works is now available in eight volumes.
Walsh, R. and Vaughan, F. (1993) (eds) Paths Beyond Ego: The Transpersonal Vision, Los Angeles: Tarcher. ISBN 0 87477 678 3.
For an introductory text which draws together virtually all the major themes within transpersonal psychology this is difficult to beat. Most of the major writers in the field contribute chapters. Authored texts by both Walsh (e.g. Essential Spirituality , detailing in turn each of the seven major practices for spiritual development) and Vaughan ( The Inward Arc , providing a comprehensive guide to transpersonal psychotherapy) are landmarks in the
subject.
Tart, C. (1992) (ed.) Transpersonal Psychologies, New York: HarperCollins (3rd. edn.).
Charles Tart is one of the leading figures in transpersonal psychology, combining extensive scholarship with a rare for opening up new avenues of thought and discovery. Among his other books are Altered States of Consciousness; Body, Mind Spirit; Open Mind, Discriminating Mind; Waking
Up and Living the Mindful Life (the last two particularly good on practical techniques for transpersonal development) deserve the highest praise.
Murphy, M. (1992). The Future of the Body: Explorations Into the Further Evolution of Human Nature. New York: Tarcher/Putnam. ISBN 0 87477 730 5.
An extraordinary tour de force by the co-founder of the Esalen Institute (Big Sur, California) which has for long been a focal point for personal growth movements. Michael Murphy's book makes a compelling case for the existence in each of us vast untapped potential for perception, cognition, psychic abilities and spiritual development. A splendid book by every conceivable standard. In the Zone (co-authored with Rhea White), which looks at altered states of consciousness experienced by sportsmen and women
is also highly recommended.
Grof, S. (1998). The Cosmic Game: Explorations in the Frontiers of Human Consciousness. New York: State University of New York Press, and Dublin: Newleaf. ISBN 0 7171 2721 4.
Stan Groff has done more than any other scientist to research into the induction of altered states of consciousness using various different techniques. This book summarises some of his findings. See also The Adventure of Self-Discovery; The Stormy Search for the Self (with C. Groff), and Realms of the Human Unconscious.
Maslow A. (1987) Motivation and Personality, New York: Harper & Row (3rd edn.). ISBN 0 06 041987 3.
As the founding father of both humanistic and transpersonal psychology, Maslow's work deserves special attention. This book, edited by Robert Frager, James Fadiman and others, is the best introduction to his ideas, dealing as it does with seminal concepts such as self-actualisation, a psychological approach to science, love, normality, psychological health and human motivation. See also Maslow's The Farther Reaches of Human Nature , which deals with man's untapped potential and Religion, Values and Peak Experiences.
Braud, W. and Anderson, R. (Eds) (1998). Transpersonal Research Methods for the Social Sciences: Honoring Human Experience. London: Sage. ISBN 0 7619 1012 3 (also available in paperback ISBN 0 7619 1013 1).
The complete answer to any who claim that because of its person-centred approach, transpersonal psychology is not accessible to scientific research. William
Braud and Rosemarie Anderson have assembled an admirable collection of contributions from scientists actively engaged in transpersonal research. A highly informative, practical yet scholarly text which deserves the highest praise.
Fontana, D. (1992 and 1998). The Meditator's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Eastern and Western Meditation Techniques, Shaftesbury UK and Rockport USA: Element Books. ISBN 1 85230 320 4.
Meditation is one of the key practices for personal development taught and researched within transpersonal psychology. Books on the subject abound, many of them excellent, from within all the great spiritual traditions, but this one has the virtue of describing approaches from all these traditions, identifying the particular strengths and applicability of each. See also David Fontana's The Lotus in the City: Integrating Spirituality with Everyday
Life; Teaching Meditation to Children (with Ingrid Slack); Teach Yourself
to Meditate; and Meditation: An Introductory Guide to Relaxation for Mind
and Body.
Grosso, M. (1997). Soulmaking: Uncommon Paths to Self-Understanding. Charlottesville VA: Hampton Roads.
Michael Grosso is one of the very few leading philosophers and scientists prepared to use the term 'soul' within the context of serious enquiry.
Radin, D. (1997) The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of PsychicPhenomena. San Francisco: HarperEdge. ISBN 0 06 251502 0 (also in paperback ISBN 0 06 251526 8).
Some readers might be surprised that a book on psychical research (parapsychology, the paranormal) should feature among transpersonal psychology texts, but this book is a gem. Dean Radin surveys
the whole field of this research, presenting findings that put the existence of paranormal phenomena beyond any reasonable doubt. Such phenomena are of great importance to transpersonal psychology in that they support the idea of a non-material element in man and the possibility of consciousness existing outside the body, thus supporting the distinction between mind and brain.
Professor David Fontana is Visiting Professor of Transpersonal Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University, Chair of the British Psychological Society Transpersonal Section and a former President of the Society for Psychical Research.