ABSTRACT
In Chapter 3, the psycho-spiritual paradigm is elucidated by analysing transpersonal and humanistic psychology and how they related to the study of spirituality. Spirituality is multi- and interdisciplinary. These two psychological approaches help in the understanding of such paradigm.
The transpersonal concept is concerned with the awareness or consciousness states that are no longer confined exclusively to the individual ego. A review is done on the importance of transpersonal psychology as the study of human consciousness within the individual. William James, Emerson and the study of mysticism are also examined. A link analysis is proposed in which the experiences of the mothers interviewed relate to growing in consciousness in which the perception of self is expanded beyond the ego.
The humanistic concept in relation to investigating spirituality is also explored. An account of how the humanistic approach and theorists (Maslow, Rogers, Frankl, Assagioli, May) investigates human beings in terms of the meaning, values, freedom and potential, is analysed. To conclude the humanistic understanding of spirituality, theories from Professor of Religious Studies David Perrin and Professor of Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology Daniel Helminiak are explored. Their psychological approaches to spirituality can provide frameworks to the study of spirituality in the maternal transition.
