SOME HISTORICAL SOURCES OF THE TERM "TRANSPERSONAL"

This article documents various historical psychological and philosophical uses of the term "transpersonal, " some of which have only recently been uncovered. It also reports the original construction and use of the term by the American philosopher and psychologist, William James. the choice of the founding editors As the distinguishing term in the title of this Journal, "trans-personal " was selected in 1968 by the founding editors, Anthony Sutich, Abraham Maslow and others, after much deliberation (Sutich, 1976). The choice expressed their philo-sophical position and reflected a vision of a "new and proper the area of psychological inquiry " (Sutich, 1969). Abraham Maslow had used "transpersonal " in a communication to Sutich in 1967, and in 1968 in a letter referring to an editors meeting with Stanislav Grof: The main reason I am writing is that in the course of our conversations we thought of using the word "transpersonal " instead of the clumsier word "transhumanistic " or "transhuman. " The more I think of it, the more this word says what we are all trying to say, that is, beyond individuality, beyond the development of the individual perso