Religions, Values, and Peak-Experiences
Abraham H. Maslow
Appendix B. The Third Psychology
The following description of the "Third Psychology"
is taken from the Preface of my book Toward a Psychology of
Being. [1]
A word about contemporary intellectual currents in psychology
may help to locate this book in its proper place. The two comprehensive
theories of human nature most influencing psychology until recently
have been the Freudian-and the experimentalistic-positivistic-behavioristic.
All other theories were less comprehensive and their adherents
formed many splinter groups. In the last few years, however, these
various groups have rapidly been coalescing into a third, increasingly
comprehensive theory of human nature, into what might be called
a "Third Force." This group includes the Adlerians,
Rankians, and Jungians, as well as the neo-Freudians (or neo-Adlerians)
and the post-Freudians (psychoanalytic ego-psychologists as well
as writers like Marcuse, Wheelis, Erikson, Marmor, Szasz, N. Brown,
H. Lynd, and Schachtel, who are taking over from the Talmudic
psychoanalysts). In addition, the influence of Kurt Goldstein
and his organismic-psychology is steadily growing. So also is
that of Gestalt therapy, of the Gestalt and Lewinian psychologists,
of the general-semanticists, and of such personality-psychologists
as G. Allport, G. Murphy, J. Moreno and H. A. Murray. A new and
powerful influence is existential psychology and psychiatry. Dozens
of other major contributors can be grouped as Self-psychologists,
phenomenological psychologists, growth-psychologists, Rogerian
psychologists, humanistic psychologists, and so on and so on and
so on. A full list is impossible. A simpler way of grouping these
is available in the five journals in which this group is most
apt to publish, all relatively new. These are the Journal of
Individual Psychology (University of Vermont, Burlington,
Vt.), the American Journal of Psychoanalysis (220 W. 98th
St., New York, N. Y.), the Journal of Existential Psychiatry
(679 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111.), the Review of Existential
Psychology and Psychiatry (Duquesne University, Pittsburgh,
Pa.), and the newest one, the Journal of Humanistic Psychology
(Station A, P.0. Box 11772, Palo Alto, Calif.). In addition,
the journal Manas (P. O. Box 32,112, El Sereno Station,
Los Angeles, Calif.) applies this point of view to the personal
and social philosophy of the intelligent layman.
This brief statement of the purposes of the Journal of Humanistic
Psychology was made by its editor, Anthony Sutich, and agreed
to by its editorial board:
The Journal of Humanistic Psychology publishes papers dealing
with Humanistic Psychology, defined as "primarily an orientation
toward the whole of psychology rather than a distinct area or
school. It stands for respect for the worth of persons, respect
for differences of approach, open-mindedness as to acceptable
methods, and interest in exploration of new aspects of human behavior.
As a "third force" in contemporary psychology it is
concerned with topics having little place in existing theories
and systems; e.g., love, creativity, self, growth, organism, basic
need gratification, self actualization, higher values, being,
becoming, spontaneity, play, humor, affection, naturalness, warmth,
ego transcendence, objectivity, autonomy, responsibility, meaning,
fairplay, transcendental experience, peak experience, courage,
and related concepts. (This approach finds expression in the writings
of such persons as Allport, Angyal, Asch, Buhler, Fromm, Goldstein,
Horney, Maslow, Moustakas, Rogers, Wertheimer, and in certain
of the writings of Jung, Adler, and the psychoanalytic ego psychologists,
and existential and phenomenological psychologists).
For additional statements on the Third Psychology, see the Bibliography,
entries 4, 9,12, 13, 20, 24, 29, 34, 70, 75, 80, and 82.
Footnote
1. From Maslow's Toward a Psychology of
Being, Copyright 1962, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton,
N. J. (back)