The Society for Humanistic Psychology came into being with initial reluctance. Some asked, “Isn’t the whole of psychology essentially committed to that which is human?”—and they urged that all energies should be directed to a further “humanizing” of APA overall, not just to the development of a distinct division. Yet, in the several decades of its eventual founding, existence, and growth, the society has become a visible focal point within APA’s structure, speaking—often in concert with other divisions, and, indeed, with other organizations outside APA—for that which is truly human and humane. In its impact, in both APA and society, we question artificial dichotomies between “hard” and “soft” methodologies as well as arbitrary splits between “the objective” and “the subjective.” Core values—including caring, commitment, trust, and realistic understanding of people in their complexity as individuals, in groups, organizations, and community—motivate the society's efforts.
Division 32 Mission Statement, 1985: “Humanistic psychology aims to be faithful to the full richness of human experience. Its foundations include philosophical humanism, existentialism, and phenomenology. Its approach to the science and profession of psychology accepts the challenge to develop a systematic and rigorous understanding of human beings. Humanistic psychologists are particularly sensitive to uniquely human dimensions, such as experiences of actualization and transcendence, and with the quality of human welfare. Accordingly, humanistic psychology is especially concerned with contributing to psychotherapy, education, theory and philosophy of psychology, research, organization and management, and social responsibility and change.”
