Psychology of the Future: Lessons from Modern Consciousness Research (S U N Y Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)

Summarizes Grof's experiences and observations from more than forty years of research into non-ordinary states of consciousness. This accessible and comprehensive overview of the work of Stanislav Grof, one of the founders of transpersonal psychology, was specifically written to acquaint newcomers with his work. Serving as a summation of his career and previous works, this entirely new book is the source to introduce Grof's enormous contributions to the fields of psychiatry and psychology, especially his central concept of holotropic experience, where holotropic signifies "moving toward wholeness." Grof maintains that the current basic assumptions and concepts of psychology and psychiatry require a radical revision based on the intensive and systematic research of holotropic experience. He suggests that a radical inner transformation of humanity and a rise to a higher level of consciousness might be humankind's only real hope for the future. "It's rare to find a textbook that is both extremely informative and enjoyable to read. Psychology of the Future has to be one of the first ones I've ever come across … Each chapter brought an entirely new concept, theory, or method that was just as engaging as the previous one." — Dr. Tami Brady, TCM Reviews "This book is by a pioneering genius in consciousness research. It presents the full spectrum of Grof's ideas, from his earliest mappings of using LSD psychotherapy, to his clinical work with people facing death, to his more recent work with holotropic breathing, to his latest thoughts about the cosmological implications of consciousness research and the prospects for dealing with an emerging planetary crisis. Grof has always been one of the most original thinkers in the transpersonal field, and his creativity has kept pace with the maturity of his overall vision." -- Michael Washburn, author of Transpersonal Psychology in Psychoanalytic Perspective "Grof offers an outstanding contribution to the ever-growing debate about the nature of human consciousness and about the place of humankind in the cosmos. If more psychiatrists could be persuaded that human consciousness transcends the limitations of the physical brain, and instead is but an aspect of what may best be described as 'cosmic consciousness,' we could not only expect treatment modalities to change, but we could also anticipate the possibility of culture-wide rethinking of the basic presuppositions of modern cosmology, the cosmology that grounds Western institutions, ideologies, and beliefs about the nature of personhood." -- Michael E. Zimmerman, author of Contesting Earth's Future: Radical Ecology and Postmodernity Stanislav Grof, MD, is a psychiatrist with more than fifty years of experience in research of non-ordinary states of consciousness. He has been Principal Investigator in a psychedelic research program at the Psychiatric Research Institute in Prague, Czechoslovakia; Chief of Psychiatric Research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University; and Scholar-in-Residence at the Esalen Institute. He is currently Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, conducts professional training programs in holotropic breathwork, and gives lectures and seminars worldwide. He is one of the founders and chief theoreticians of transpersonal psychology and the founding president of the International Transpersonal Association (ITA). In 2007, he was granted the prestigious Vision 97 award from the Vaclav and Dagmar Havel Foundation in Prague. He is the author and editor of many books, including The Adventure of Self-Discovery: Dimensions of Consciousness and New Perspectives in Psychotherapy and Inner Exploration; Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science; Beyond the Brain: Birth, Death, and Transcendence in Psychotherapy; The Cosmic Game: Explorations of the Frontiers of Human Consciousness; and Human Survival and Consciousness Evolution; all published by SUNY Press. This Overview Of The Work Of Stanislav Grof, One Of The Founders Of Transpersonal Psychology, Was Specifically Written To Acquaint Newcomers With His Work. Serving As A Summation Of His Career And Previous Works, This Entirely New Book Is The Source To Introduce Grof's Enormous Contributions To The Fields Of Psychiatry And Psychology, Especially His Central Concept Of Holotropic Experience, Where Holotropic Signifies Moving Toward Wholeness. Grof Maintains That The Current Basic Assumptions And Concepts Of Psychology And Psychiatry Require A Radical Revision Based On The Intensive And Systematic Research Of Holotropic Experience. He Suggests That A Radical Inner Transformation Of Humanity And A Rise To A Higher Level Of Consciousness Might Be Humankind's Only Real Hope For The Future.--jacket. Healing And Heuristic Potential Of Nonordinary States Of Consciousness -- Cartography Of The Human Psyche : Biographical, Perinatal, And Transpersonal Domains -- Architecture Of Emotional And Psychosomatic Disorders -- Spiritual Emergency : Understanding And Treatment Of Crises Of Transformation -- New Perspectives In Psychotherapy And Self-exploration -- Spirituality And Religion -- Experience Of Death And Dying : Psychological, Philosophical, And Spiritual Perspectives -- Cosmic Game : Exploration Of The Farthest Reaches Of Human Consciousness -- Consciousness Evolution And Human Survival : Transpersonal Perspective On The Global Crisis. Stanislav Grof. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 323-330) And Index.

Convinced that the study of nonordinary consciousnesses represents a fundamental challenge to the prevailing psychological interpretations of consciousness, Grof (California Institute of Integral Studies) introduces the reader to his work in the study of nonordinary consciousness, especially those brought about by psychotropic substances such as LSD and that brought about by the author's own "holotropic breathwork." He explores the therapeutic potential of these states and makes an argument that these aspects of the psyche could not possibly arise from a purely physiological basis, thus "consciousness is a primary attribute of existence... [that] participates in a larger universal field of cosmic consciousness that permeates all existence." Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

"This overview of the work of the author was written to acquaint newcomers with his work. Serving as a summation of his career and previous works, this entirely new book is the source to introduce his contributions to the field of psychiatry and psychology, especially his central concept of holotropic experience, where holotropic signifies "moving toward wholeness."."