The psychological humanities is a burgeoning field seeking to reshape psychological theory and practice.

As a discipline, it takes seriously the contributions of psychological science.

Yet it holds that science becomes a better version of itself when it dialogues with art and literature.

“I wish we would recognize the place of psychology at the intersection of all disciplines that deal with the human mind and the behavior of living things.” —James H. Korn, “Psychology as a Humanity”

“I wish we would recognize the place of psychology at the intersection of all disciplines that deal with the human mind and the behavior of living things.” —James H. Korn, “Psychology as a Humanity”

We are often asked to define the term “psychological humanities.” As scholars working in a Center that helps set the discourse for the field, it is understandable why. Yet as is the case with any of the disciplines that have emerged from the rich tradition of the liberal arts, the psychological humanities resists simplistic articulation. And as a field that seeks to enhance both our theoretical understanding of the human person and our practical approaches to caring for one another, it is an ever-evolving discipline – one that must be continuously imagined anew.

When we offer something like this in answer to the question What do you mean by “psychological humanities”?, however, we are typically met with sly smiles and quips about academics being good at talking around problems but not addressing them. It is important to us, therefore, to share some reflections on what constitutes the psychological........

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