Journal of Humanistic Psychology

In this article, the author chronicles the emergence of two interrelated themes that crystallized in his investigations of the phenomenology of emotional trauma over the course of more than 19 years. One pertains to the context embeddedness of emotional trauma and the other to the claim that the possibility of emotional trauma is built into our existential constitution. The author finds a synthesis of these two themes—trauma’s contextuality and its existentiality—in the recognition of the bonds of deep emotional attunement we can form with one another in virtue of our common finitude. Grasping the relationality of finitude holds significant ethical implications.

This article is a qualitative exploration of how auditory hallucinations have been experienced as meaningful to individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. This theoretical perspective is supported by the survey of the literature, which suggests that for many centuries, individuals experiencing auditory hallucinations have been given much more credence than their counterparts in modern society. Most recent studies on auditory hallucinations indicate that auditory hallucinations themselves are not debilitating. Romme proposes instead that the fear of not being able to control or manage the auditory hallucinations can be disabling to the individual. Using a case example from the author’s own work, as well as drawing from other researchers and theorists, the article provides concrete illustrations of how individuals have derived insight from their auditory hallucinations. It is expected that the article may help clinicians better understand auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia, particularly with regard to clinical treatment, as well as shed light on the phenomena of auditory hallucinations.

In his philosophical writings, Eugene Gendlin has developed a way of thinking about human experience that inextricably connects the body to language and thought. His work has stemmed out of a frustration with the limited scope of rationalism and deconstructionism, both of which currently dominate discourse in the human sciences. Gendlin has drawn on the work of a rich and diverse array of thinkers, from Aristotle to Heidegger, to develop a novel approach to understanding the subjective processes that propel the meanings that we create and live by during our existence. This article explores the philosophical influences on Gendlin’s thought, as well as the significance of his experiential phenomenological philosophy for our understanding of the human body, the process of thinking, and language. It concludes with a discussion of the implications of Gendlin’s philosophy for psychotherapeutic practice.

Multiracial self-concept is conceptualized using an existential framework. First, the authors offer an analysis of how existential concerns are revealed within the multiracial experience, employing the theoretical constructs of terror management and social identity theories. Expanding on this foundation, they apply Heideggerian notions of human existence and self to multiracialness. And finally, using the aforementioned analysis as a backdrop, the authors discuss the emergence of existential themes in psychotherapy with multiracial individuals.

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the African American’s experience following Imago education. Six women and six men were interviewed for this study. Qualitative data analysis resulted in the following themes: (a) improved communication between partners, (b) increased understanding of self, (c) increased understanding of partner, (d) increased understanding of one’s own and one’s partner’s childhood, (e) revealed more of one’s authentic self, and (f) expressed need for more education about Imago therapy within the African American community. Information gained from this study will be of value to the field of psychology, providing culturally pertinent insight about African Americans and how they experience relationships and psychotherapy. The findings are presented and summarized through themes, individual quotes, a composite depiction, and a creative synthesis. Future research in this area would examine the long-term effects of Imago education in this population.

This study examines the impetuses for altruistic behavior of Colombian human rights activists, all of whom experienced politically based trauma. Thirty-five human rights activists participated in individual interviews conducted between 1998 and 2009. Results of the analysis are illustrated in nine themes: affirmation of self despite fear, indignation, a search for meaning, spirituality, justice to build peace, leaving a legacy of peace and agency for the next generation, support by others, and recognition and equity for ethnic minorities and for women. It is the hope of the author that these results contribute to the examination of how healing and altruism endure even in times of civil conflict and often as a result of such times, all of which ultimately leads to the betterment of community life.

Can philosophy help provide insight or understanding in relation to questions and dilemmas frequently encountered in the individual’s life? A blurring of the boundaries between the disciplines of philosophy and psychology may result in the enrichment of both schools of thought, especially as they relate to concrete human experience. This article examines how Nietzsche’s theory of eternal recurrence may be applied to personal experience in everyday life, particularly in relation to the commonly posed question, “Am I happy with my life?” An examination of the theory in this context concludes with a “nonphilosophical” questioning of its validity and relevance.