Joining Inner and Outer Approaches to Freedom

Abstract

Humanistic psychology is distinguished as a discipline that champions freedom, dignity, and positive growth. Based on her case study of a participatory community development project in Guatemala, the author argues that existential-humanistic definitions of freedom and self-determination do and do not speak to the experience of the world’s developing communities and that humanistic psychology’s focus on the existential and experiential aspects of freedom must be balanced with attention to economic, social, and political freedoms. The work of human development theorists Sen and Max-Neef are introduced. The author suggests that through both its theoretical framework and its explorations of the experience of human freedom and oppression, humanistic psychology can make important contributions toward the theoretical approach and practice of participatory community development in the developing world.