The Fully Functioning Society

Abstract

The aim of this article is to address the question, “What kind of future society would we, in the humanistic psychology movement, want to see?” The article argues that a “good” society is one in which people can actualize their wants to a maximum extent, and where each person has an equal opportunity to do so. The article suggests that this maximization of wants can be achieved through the development of synergies: means of actualizing wants that help, rather than hinder, others from actualizing their own wants. On this basis, it is argued that a future society should encourage the actualization of wants that are inherently synergetic—such as the desire for relatedness and compassion for others—while also helping people find non-dysergetic ways of actualizing more individualistic wants. In particular, it is argued that a society that values creativity and diversity can help people actualize their desires for competence and significance without undermining this in others. Finally, the article considers strategies for ensuring equality of opportunity to actualize wants, before discussing the role that humanistic psychology can play in this process.

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