Our Journal: Self & Society

This new issue of Self and Society (volume 40 [2]) is the second since the journal was recently re-designed, and this new issue is at least as compelling and richly diverse as the previous issue.

What a wonderfully creative gift for Christmas – a subscription to this excellent leading-edge journal! (see here for full details of how to subscribe).

In this new issue, you’ll find some outstanding pieces on the future, the roots and the foundations of Humanistic Psychology. Specifically, there are three highly creative and original takes on the ‘Future of Humanistic Psychology’ theme, penned by two ‘old friends’ of S&S who need no introduction – Gaie Houston and Dr Dina Glouberman – and an article from Professor Harris Friedman from the USA – so cementing our new-found link with our humanistic friends and colleagues across the pond, a trend which we initiated in the previous issue.

Another of our much-respected ‘elders’, John Rowan, writes a detailed and engaging article for our ’Roots of Humanistic Psychology in the UK’ series, following on from John Heron’s hugely informative piece in the previous issue.  John also features strongly in our Letters pages, in a thought-provoking and lively exchange with Jim Hansen John and Jim’s encounter centres on the cultural and philosophical foundations of Humanistic Psychology, particularly the question of if and how Humanistic Psychology is related to (secular) humanism. This is exactly the kind of challenging and stimulating debate we wanted our series on the future of Humanistic Psychology to precipitate – and we hope for many more such dialogues and exchanges in the journal.

The current issue leads off with Professor Larry Davidson’s marvellously erudite guide to this whole area in an article titled ‘The philosophical foundations of Humanistic Psychology’, which he originally penned over a decade ago. We’re also excited to have contributions in this issue from our Reviews Editor, Manu Bazzano, on what he calls ‘the affective turn’ in therapy, touching on developmental neuroscience and attachment theory in the process; and a thought-provoking piece on the experience and resonances of motor-cycling, from Jane Barclay (Zen and the art of motorcycling, perhaps?…). Add to this our regular features – stimulating book reviews, a ‘Retro Classic’ review of Jerome Frank’s classic text Persuasion and Healing, poetry by Jean Clark, a riveting Ethical Dilemmas section expertly edited by Andy Rogers, and the AHP co-chair’s page.  We also have two outstanding appreciations of the late, great James Hillman, from Tree Staunton and Professor David Tacey, and an obituary for Jerome Liss.

Self & Society is our international journal for humanistic psychology, published by AHP and edited by Richard House, Jennifer Maidman and David Kalisch.

Self & Society is currently published quarterly as part of the membership package offered by AHP.  If you would like to receive a regular copy of Self & Society, details of AHP membership options are available here.  If your would like to contribute an article to be considered for inclusion in Self & Society, contact [email protected]