The Fully Functioning Society: A Humanistic-Existential Vision of an Actualizing, Socially Just Future

M. Cooper

doi:10.1177/0022167816659755

The Fully Functioning Society: A Humanistic-Existential Vision of an Actualizing, Socially Just Future

M. Cooper

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to address the question, “What kind of future society would we, in the humanistic psychology movement, want to see?” The paper argues that a “good” society is one in which people can actualize their wants to a maximum extent, and where each person has an equal opportunity to do so. The paper suggests that suggest maximization of wants can be achieved through the development of synergies: means of actualizing wants that help, rather than hinder, others from actualizing their own wants. On this basis, it is argued that a future society should encourage the actualization of wants that are inherently synergetic -- such as the desire for relatedness and compassion for others -- while also helping people to find non-dysergetic ways of actualizing more individualistic wants. In particular, it is argued that a society that values creativity and diversity can help people to actualize needs for competence and significance without undermining this in others. The paper then goes on to consider strategies for ensuring equality of opportunity to actualize wants; before considering the role that humanistic psychology can play in this process.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	581-594
Journal	JOURNAL OF HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY
Volume	56
Issue number	6
Early online date	19 Jul 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167816659755
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2016

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10.1177/0022167816659755

humanistic society 2016-04-22Accepted author manuscript, 200 KB

http://jhp.sagepub.com/cgi/doi/10.1177/0022167816659755

Cite this

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title = "The Fully Functioning Society: A Humanistic-Existential Vision of an Actualizing, Socially Just Future",

abstract = "The aim of this paper is to address the question, “What kind of future society would we, in the humanistic psychology movement, want to see?” The paper argues that a “good” society is one in which people can actualize their wants to a maximum extent, and where each person has an equal opportunity to do so. The paper suggests that suggest maximization of wants can be achieved through the development of synergies: means of actualizing wants that help, rather than hinder, others from actualizing their own wants. On this basis, it is argued that a future society should encourage the actualization of wants that are inherently synergetic -- such as the desire for relatedness and compassion for others -- while also helping people to find non-dysergetic ways of actualizing more individualistic wants. In particular, it is argued that a society that values creativity and diversity can help people to actualize needs for competence and significance without undermining this in others. The paper then goes on to consider strategies for ensuring equality of opportunity to actualize wants; before considering the role that humanistic psychology can play in this process.",

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