Spiritual Psychology

Spirituality and religion are often very important parts of any culture. Faith and religion even helps some people going during rough times in their lives. The simple fact is that spirituality has a huge impact on people's thoughts and behaviors.Spiritual Psychology is a blend of spirituality and science. It uses elements of both traditional psychology and spirituality in order to help individuals feel better and more content with their lives. 

Spiritual Psychology is a blend of spirituality and science. It uses elements of both traditional psychology and spirituality in order to help individuals feel better and more content with their lives.

 Abraham Maslow and Stanislav Grof and is called Transpersonal Psychology, which can be succinctly defined as the “psychology of spirituality” or “spiritual psychology”. Transpersonal psychology concerns itself with three primary areas of study (Hartelius, 2007):

(1) Beyond (trans) Ego Psychology
Expansion of self, development of compassion and altruism and our highest potential

(2) Wholistic/Integrative Psychology
Wellbeing and health requires a balance of nurturing the body, mind, heart and spirit

(3) Psychology of Transformation
Personal and spiritual growth is about transformation of the self, the person, towards higher and more optimal ways of experiencing, perceiving and living in, the world

Self-transcendent emotions include:

• Compassion
• Awe
• Gratitude
• Appreciation
• Inspiration
• Admiration
• Elevation
• Love

 

The Psychology of religion refers to the study of religious issues, just as there might be the psychological study of social or family or developmental issues. The psychology of religion includes efforts to understand, predict and control the thoughts, words, feelings and actions of people when they are acting religiously from their faith convictions.

The relationship between psychology and religion has often been fraught with tension and animosity. Psychologists have sometimes allowed their personal conflicts with religion to color their research and theorizing, and religious persons have often permitted their anxieties about psychology’s reductionist methods, to lead them to conclude that psychology is inherently hostile to religion. Sigmund Freud’s uncharitable views on religion are well known.