ABSTRACT
Psychology’s individual level of analysis and its embrace of the philosophy of individualism have resulted in an incomplete and flawed understanding of the human psyche. Specifically, the individualistic assumptions of atomism, self-determinism, and autonomy as well as an individualistic ethic have led many psychologists, even those advocating “holistic psychology,” to ignore and fail to properly appreciate and include “the between” in their theorizing. The between is the dynamic relationship of parts and the wholes. This relationship is not derived from or secondary to individuals but has primary properties and meanings owing in large part to the physical, social, cultural, and moral context that co-constitutes and is necessary to accounting for psychological phenomena. A truly holistic psychology requires the alternative assumption of strong relationality. This assumption means, in part, taking the constituting and constraining context seriously, including the oft-neglected but fundamentally important constraints of moral context. The implications of strong relationality for a truly holistic psychology are contrasted with the limitations of weak relationality using examples from social psychology, educational psychology, developmental/family, and clinical psychology. Applications of strong relationality across many domains of psychology are cited to further demonstrate the capacity of this approach to advance psychological knowledge and to provide a resource for those interested in learning more about a truly holistic psychology.
