Towards an Integrated View of the Necessity of Human Interdependence: Perspectives From Theology, Philosophy, and Psychology

• Published in: Journal of spirituality in mental health Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 166 - 180
• Main Authors: Knabb, Joshua J., Welsh, Robert K., Alexander, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2012; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Christians; Discipline; Heuristic; Interdependence; Intersubjectivity; Necessity; phenomenology; Philosophy; psychoanalysis; Psychology; social Trinity; Theology
• ISSN: 1934-9637; 1934-9645
• DOI: 10.1080/19349637.2012.697370

In this article, we attempt to formulate an integrated view of the necessity of human interdependence from the disciplines of theology, philosophy, and psychology. First, we discuss the social personalist model of the Trinity so as to understand the utility of relatedness from a theological perspective. Next, we review the philosophical concept of phenomenology in order to make sense of the relationship between humans and the world in which they interact and live. Finally, we explicate the psychoanalytic concept of intersubjectivity so as to offer Christian therapists a relational heuristic for working with Christian clients in psychotherapy. Overall, we suggest that drawing from these three disciplines can better elucidate the lifelong, legitimate need that humans have for intimate connection with, and nurturance from, one another in order to ameliorate the shame attached to the necessity of human interdependence in Western societies that commonly promote increased individualism and autonomy.