Skip to main content
Article
Humanistic Experience and Psychodynamic Understanding: Empirical Associations Among Facets of Self-Actualization and Psychological Mindedness
Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies
  • Mark Beitel, Yale University School of Medicine
  • Lana M. Wald, American University
  • Aida Midgett, Boise State University
  • Dovid Green, Fordham University
  • John J. Cecero, Fordham University
  • Ronit Kishon, Colombia University
  • Declan T. Barry, Yale University School of Medicine
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate empirical connections between humanistic psychology and psychoanalysis by exploring a single measurable construct from each discipline. Specifically, we examined the relationship between self-actualization (SA) and psychological mindedness (PM). A cross-sectional design was selected to explore interrelations among study variables at a single timepoint. The participants were 204 students enrolled at midsize Eastern (Fordham) and Western (Boise State) US universities. Participant volunteers filled out the following measures: the Psychological Mindedness Scale (PM Scale), the Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BPIM), the Brief Index of Self-Actualization – Revised (BISA-R), and the Short Index of Self-Actualization (SISA) along with a demographic form. SA and PM were not affected by demographic variables of age, gender, or ethnicity/race but were strongly and positively associated with one another. This study establishes empirical connections between humanistic psychology and psychoanalysis at the construct level. These connections have disciplinary and interdisciplinary implications.

Citation Information
Mark Beitel, Lana M. Wald, Aida Midgett, Dovid Green, et al.. "Humanistic Experience and Psychodynamic Understanding: Empirical Associations Among Facets of Self-Actualization and Psychological Mindedness" Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies (2015)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/aida_hutz/19/