Transpersonal ecology
Encyclopedia
Transpersonal ecology is largely associated with Warwick Fox
, although the work of some other people, such as Rupert Sheldrake
and James Lovelock
, has some relevance to the field.
The contributions of Fox emphasise the importance of experience of nature for an understanding of eco-philosophy. His work shows the influence of Arne Naess
. The contributions of Fox to the field are evident in Fox (1990), in an article in which Fox deals with questions of values and nature. This approach to transpersonal ecology met with criticism by Stavely and McNamara (1992), who questioned whether greater respect for nature will necessarily result from cosmological or transpersonal identification with nature, as Fox assumed. Although since the early articles in "Journal of Transpersonal Psychology" on this field, few articles appeared on this field in "Journal of Transpersonal Psychology" for the next decade (1992 to 2002), there are signs that there have been recent revivals of interest in this field. For example, Bache (2000), in an article which appears to take a very negative view of how well humans are prepared to an oncoming environmental catastrophe, has compared the likely human response to the concept, in Christian mysticism
, of the Dark Night of the Soul
, coining the phrase "Dark Night of the Species-Soul" for human response. More recently, Hutton (2003), in reviewing Fisher's book on the subject, has written very favourably of transpersonal ecology, and notes that while eco-psychology has been around for at least 40, 000 years, it was not until 1992 that Theodore Roszak
coined the term "eco-psychology". It would appear in Bache's view that the individual patient in transpersonal therapy should be considered part of the wider community(see Hastings' (2003) review of a book by Bache); this can be extended to think of individual human beings as being part of nature.
Boucovolas (1999), in her paper on how transpersonal psychology
may be considered one of a number of transpersonal disciplines
, has mentioned transpersonal ecology. It would appear that in the views of both Hutton and Boucovolas, Fox is right to emphasise identification with nature as something which will lead to greater respect for nature (Fox is careful to distinguish "identification" from "identity"), although a greater discussion of what Fox means by "identification" is offered by Stavely and McNamara. Boucovolas also suggests that literature on sacred places, such as that by Paul Devereux
, may be germane to this field. Boucovolas also notes how transpersonal social work may relate to this field, insofar as social workers may consider concern for the environment in their discussion of social welfare issues.
movement and eco-philosophy. They note how the eco-psychological model of the self is based on these assumptions:
These authors found significant positive correlations between scores on their measure of Nature Inclusive Self-Concept and scores on three scales used in transpersonal psychology
, such as the Self-Expansiveness Level Form (SELF) of Friedman (1983; cited in
St. John & MacDonald, 2007), the East-West Quesionnaire of Gilgen and Cho (1979) and the Ego Grasping Scale of Knoblauch and Falconer (1986). They also found correlations between scores on their scale and scores on the Mental, Physical and Spiritual Well-Being Scale (MPSWBS). Using factor analysis
, they found the NIM yielded two factors, which they called "nature inclusiveness" and "nature stewardship". The first related to a sense of unity with nature
; the second related to a belief that humans can take responsibility for environmental matters, and do positive actions to show environmental concern.
Warwick Fox
Warwick Fox is an Australian philosopher and ethicist. He is the author of Toward a Transpersonal Ecology and A Theory of General Ethics: Human Relationships, Nature, and the Built Environment....
, although the work of some other people, such as Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake is an English scientist. He is known for having proposed an unorthodox account of morphogenesis and for his research into parapsychology. His books and papers stem from his theory of morphic resonance, and cover topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, memory,...
and James Lovelock
James Lovelock
James Lovelock, CH, CBE, FRS is an independent scientist, environmentalist and futurologist who lives in Devon, England. He is best known for proposing the Gaia hypothesis, which postulates that the biosphere is a self-regulating entity with the capacity to keep our planet healthy by controlling...
, has some relevance to the field.
The contributions of Fox emphasise the importance of experience of nature for an understanding of eco-philosophy. His work shows the influence of Arne Naess
Arne Naess
Arne Naess may refer to:*Arne Næss , philosopher, mountaineer, and founder of deep ecology*Arne Næss, Jr. , nephew of the above, businessman, mountaineer, former husband of Diana Ross...
. The contributions of Fox to the field are evident in Fox (1990), in an article in which Fox deals with questions of values and nature. This approach to transpersonal ecology met with criticism by Stavely and McNamara (1992), who questioned whether greater respect for nature will necessarily result from cosmological or transpersonal identification with nature, as Fox assumed. Although since the early articles in "Journal of Transpersonal Psychology" on this field, few articles appeared on this field in "Journal of Transpersonal Psychology" for the next decade (1992 to 2002), there are signs that there have been recent revivals of interest in this field. For example, Bache (2000), in an article which appears to take a very negative view of how well humans are prepared to an oncoming environmental catastrophe, has compared the likely human response to the concept, in Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions...
, of the Dark Night of the Soul
Dark Night of the Soul
Dark Night of the Soul is a treatise by Saint John of the Cross containing a commentary explaining his poem of the same name.-Poem and treatise by Saint John of the Cross:...
, coining the phrase "Dark Night of the Species-Soul" for human response. More recently, Hutton (2003), in reviewing Fisher's book on the subject, has written very favourably of transpersonal ecology, and notes that while eco-psychology has been around for at least 40, 000 years, it was not until 1992 that Theodore Roszak
Theodore Roszak
Theodore Roszak may refer to*Theodore Roszak , Polish-American sculptor and painter*Theodore Roszak , historian and author of The Making of a Counterculture...
coined the term "eco-psychology". It would appear in Bache's view that the individual patient in transpersonal therapy should be considered part of the wider community(see Hastings' (2003) review of a book by Bache); this can be extended to think of individual human beings as being part of nature.
Boucovolas (1999), in her paper on how transpersonal psychology
Transpersonal psychology
Transpersonal psychology is a form of psychology that studies the transpersonal, self-transcendent or spiritual aspects of the human experience....
may be considered one of a number of transpersonal disciplines
Transpersonal disciplines
The question of whether transpersonal psychology should be considered one of a number of transpersonal disciplines appears to be answered affirmatively by Boucovolas...
, has mentioned transpersonal ecology. It would appear that in the views of both Hutton and Boucovolas, Fox is right to emphasise identification with nature as something which will lead to greater respect for nature (Fox is careful to distinguish "identification" from "identity"), although a greater discussion of what Fox means by "identification" is offered by Stavely and McNamara. Boucovolas also suggests that literature on sacred places, such as that by Paul Devereux
Paul Devereux
Paul Devereux is an author, researcher, lecturer, broadcaster, artist and photographer based in the Cotswolds, England. Devereux is a Research Fellow with the International Consciousness Research Laboratories group at Princeton University....
, may be germane to this field. Boucovolas also notes how transpersonal social work may relate to this field, insofar as social workers may consider concern for the environment in their discussion of social welfare issues.
Use of psychometric scales
St. John and MacDonald (2007) have proposed the use of psychometrics in transpersonal ecology, designing the 30-item Nature Inclusiveness Measure (N.I.M.) to assess "nature inclusive self-concept", which these authors define as the extent to which individuals "include aspects of nature as residing in their selves" (St. John & MacDonald, 2007, p50). They begin their article in which they propose this scale by referring to related fields such as eco-psychology, the deep ecologyDeep ecology
Deep ecology is a contemporary ecological philosophy that recognizes an inherent worth of all living beings, regardless of their instrumental utility to human needs. The philosophy emphasizes the interdependence of organisms within ecosystems and that of ecosystems with each other within the...
movement and eco-philosophy. They note how the eco-psychological model of the self is based on these assumptions:
- The boundary between self and nature is flexible
- A self-concept that is inclusive of nature is linked with increased well-being.
These authors found significant positive correlations between scores on their measure of Nature Inclusive Self-Concept and scores on three scales used in transpersonal psychology
Transpersonal psychology
Transpersonal psychology is a form of psychology that studies the transpersonal, self-transcendent or spiritual aspects of the human experience....
, such as the Self-Expansiveness Level Form (SELF) of Friedman (1983; cited in
St. John & MacDonald, 2007), the East-West Quesionnaire of Gilgen and Cho (1979) and the Ego Grasping Scale of Knoblauch and Falconer (1986). They also found correlations between scores on their scale and scores on the Mental, Physical and Spiritual Well-Being Scale (MPSWBS). Using factor analysis
Factor analysis
Factor analysis is a statistical method used to describe variability among observed, correlated variables in terms of a potentially lower number of unobserved, uncorrelated variables called factors. In other words, it is possible, for example, that variations in three or four observed variables...
, they found the NIM yielded two factors, which they called "nature inclusiveness" and "nature stewardship". The first related to a sense of unity with nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
; the second related to a belief that humans can take responsibility for environmental matters, and do positive actions to show environmental concern.
External links
- http://www.ecopsychology.org/journal/ezine/ep_origins.html
- http://www.ecobooks.com/books/transeco.htm
- http://www.johnvdavis.com/ep/thpeptp.htm
- http://www.warwickfox.com