A New Psychology of Love
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Promising no easy answers to lifeÆs problems or the processes of mental and spiritual growth, M. Scott Peck (2003) opens his book on love, values, and spiritual growth, The Road Less Taken, with the following statement: ôLife is not easy.ö Life presents each of us with problems, difficulties, and challenges. To Peck (2003) life is a series of problems and he asks, ôDo we want to moan about them or solve them?ö Choosing to solve them requires the development of specific competencies that Peck argues makeup the concept of discipline. Discipline encompasses a set of tools necessary for us to successfully overcome lifeÆs problems, discovering new strengths and healing as we do. According to Peck (2003), discipline encompasses the following tools or ôtechniques of sufferingö that enable us to face problems in a constructive manner: delaying of gratification, acceptance of responsibility, dedication to truth, and balancing.Peck discusses a variety of concepts in his book, including truth and reality, true love, grace, spiritual growth and the meaning of evil. In so doing he argues that ôUltimately love is everythingö (Peck 2003). Peck equates self-discipline with self-caring. Self-discipline is critical to spiritual and emotional growth which the psychologist views as one and the same. Our first experiences with love and discipline stem from our childhood interactions with our parents. If we experience our parents modeling self-discipline,
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true individual connection with the universe. To further oneÆs development on this path, it is essential one comes to view oneself as valuable, ôThe feeling of being valuable û æI am a valuable personÆ û is essential to mental health and is a cornerstone of self-disciplineàbecause when one considers oneself valuable one will take care of oneself in all ways that are necessary. Self-discipline is self-caringö (Peck 2003).
Strengths & Weaknesses
There are a variety of strengths and weaknesses in PeckÆs attempt to create a new psychology of love, values and spiritual growth. His theory is valuable in that it reexamines traditional definitions of love and attempts to replace them with a more realistic and enriching and less selfish one. His book is valuable in that it posits a humanistic view on spiritual and mental growth, combining the two into a whole that cannot come to balance without mutual development. Helping individuals become more aware of their perceptions of self and reality is beneficial in that it promotes more self-caring and caring toward others based on a true self. This true self is less selfish, less anguished, and more readily willing to use discipline as a means of self-love and love toward others. Focusin
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Approximate Word count = 1457
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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