| CODE | MRT5844 | ||||||
| TITLE | Psychospiritual Growth | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Moral Theology | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Psychospiritual growth can be defined as the structural and directional development of both psychological and spiritual growth in the discovery of one’s true self in a gradual process towards freedom from the deception of a false self. Generally, within this developmental process towards freedom, in which psychological and spiritual growth are not always in parallel, an awakening takes place as a response to the deeper reality of life. This awakening empowers the person in its capacity for self-transcendence in surrendering and giving oneself to the Other, overcoming the anxiety caused by the preoccupational need for self-preservation. In spiritual and religious terms, this can be refered to as illusion or sin, respectively. In psychological terms, this can be defined as blockages or forms of immaturity. The study-unit will explore psychospiritual milestones and psychological and spiritual developments in terms of structural and directional movements which enable selfunderstanding and growth into a meaningful existence in the context of the Christian faith. Study-Unit Aims: - To explore how the psychological stages towards maturity could be parallel but not identical to the spiritual; - To identify qualities of the true-self and the false-self; - To assess psychological growth in terms of its structure, and spiritual growth in terms of its direction. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognise the properties of developmental stages in both the psychological and spiritual processes of growth; - Classify the structure and the direction in the psychospiritual dynamic movement towards the discovery of one’s true self; - Relate both dimensions to the categories of self-transcendence and self-preservation. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Establish specific correlations between psychology and spirituality; - Articulate the basic theoretical framework for human growth from a psychological and spiritual perspective; - Develop empathic self-reflection which capacitates congruence and positive regard to self and to others; - Identify individual personality characteristics in the process of psychospiritual growth within the context of religious faith and spiritual worldview. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - David Benner, Human Being and Becoming: Living the Adventure of Life and Love (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2016). - David Benner, Spirituality and the Awakening Self: The Sacred Journey of Transformation (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2012). Supplementary Readings: - James W. Fowler, Faith Development and Pastoral Care, Theology and Pastoral Care Series (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987). - James W. Fowler, Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1995). - Gordon Rixon, “Bernard Lonergan and Mysticism,” in Theological Studies 62 (2001): 479-97. - The Psychospiritual Clinician’s Handbook: Alternative Methods for Understanding and Treating Mental Disorders, ed. Sharon G. Mijares and Gurucharan Singh Khalsa (New York: The Haworth Reference Press, 2005). - Timothy J. Ussett et alii, “Psychospiritual Developmental Risk Factors for Moral Injury,” Religions 11, no. 484 (2020): 2-11. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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