Organismic theories in psychology are a family of holistic psychological theories which tend to stress the organization, unity, and integration of human beings expressed through each individual's inherent growth or developmental tendency. The idea of an explicitly "organismic theory" dates at least back to the publication of Kurt Goldstein's The organism: A holistic approach to biology derived from pathological data in man in 1934. Organismic theories and the "organic" metaphor were inspired by organicist approaches in biology. The most direct influence from inside psychology comes from Gestalt psychology. This approach is often contrasted with mechanistic and reductionist perspectives in psychology.
Examples of organismic theories and theorists
- Kurt Goldstein's organismic theory
- Ludwig von Bertalanffy's organismic psychology within his general systems theory
- Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development
- Heinz Werner's orthogenetic principle of development
- Andras Angyal's biospheric model of personality
- Abraham Maslow's holistic-dynamic theory
- Carl Rogers' person-centered therapy and actualizing tendency
- Fritz Perls and Laura Perls's Gestalt therapy
- Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan's self-determination theory
- Murray Bookchin's dialectical naturalism
See also
- Arnold Gesell
- Ego psychology
- G. E. Moore § Organic wholes
- James Mark Baldwin
- John Dewey
- Organic unity
- Organicism
- Phenomenal field theory
Notes
- Goldstein, Kurt. (1995) [1934]. The organism: A holistic approach to biology derived from pathological data in man. New York: Zone Books. ISBN 0-942299-97-3.
- Bertalanffy, Ludwig von. (1968). Organismic Psychology and Systems Theory. Worcester: Clark University Press.
- Deci, Edward L.; Ryan, Richard M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum. ISBN 0-306-42022-8.
References
- Hall, Calvin & Lindzey, Gardner. (1970). Theories of Personality. (Second Edition)
- Maslow, Abraham. Motivation and Personality (1st ed.: 1954, 2nd ed.: 1970)
- Perls, F., Hefferline, R., & Goodman, P. (1951). Gestalt Therapy: Excitement and Growth in the Human Personality.
- Rogers, Carl. (1951). Client-centered therapy: Its current practice, implications and theory. London: Constable. ISBN 1-84119-840-4.
- Werner, H. (1957). The concept of development from a comparative and organismic point of view. In D. Harris (Ed.), The concept of development. Minneapolis, Minn: University of Minnesota Press
Further reading
- Harrington, Anne: Reenchanted Science: Holism in German Culture from Wilhelm II to Hitler, Princeton University Press, 1999.
Organismic theories in psychology are a family of holistic psychological theories which tend to stress the organization unity and integration of human beings expressed through each individual s inherent growth or developmental tendency The idea of an explicitly organismic theory dates at least back to the publication of Kurt Goldstein s The organism A holistic approach to biology derived from pathological data in man in 1934 Organismic theories and the organic metaphor were inspired by organicist approaches in biology The most direct influence from inside psychology comes from Gestalt psychology This approach is often contrasted with mechanistic and reductionist perspectives in psychology Examples of organismic theories and theoristsKurt Goldstein s organismic theory Ludwig von Bertalanffy s organismic psychology within his general systems theory Jean Piaget s theory of cognitive development Heinz Werner s orthogenetic principle of development Andras Angyal s biospheric model of personality Abraham Maslow s holistic dynamic theory Carl Rogers person centered therapy and actualizing tendency Fritz Perls and Laura Perls s Gestalt therapy Edward L Deci and Richard M Ryan s self determination theory Murray Bookchin s dialectical naturalismSee alsoArnold Gesell Ego psychology G E Moore Organic wholes James Mark Baldwin John Dewey Organic unity Organicism Phenomenal field theory Psychology portalNotesGoldstein Kurt 1995 1934 The organism A holistic approach to biology derived from pathological data in man New York Zone Books ISBN 0 942299 97 3 Bertalanffy Ludwig von 1968 Organismic Psychology and Systems Theory Worcester Clark University Press Deci Edward L Ryan Richard M 1985 Intrinsic motivation and self determination in human behavior New York Plenum ISBN 0 306 42022 8 ReferencesHall Calvin amp Lindzey Gardner 1970 Theories of Personality Second Edition Maslow Abraham Motivation and Personality 1st ed 1954 2nd ed 1970 Perls F Hefferline R amp Goodman P 1951 Gestalt Therapy Excitement and Growth in the Human Personality Rogers Carl 1951 Client centered therapy Its current practice implications and theory London Constable ISBN 1 84119 840 4 Werner H 1957 The concept of development from a comparative and organismic point of view In D Harris Ed The concept of development Minneapolis Minn University of Minnesota PressFurther readingHarrington Anne Reenchanted Science Holism in German Culture from Wilhelm II to Hitler Princeton University Press 1999
