Personal crisis: growth or pathology?

The aim of this article is to present an emerging theoretical framework for viewing certain types of personal crises as developmentally healthy rather than as psychopathological. These types of crises are referred to as "spiritual emergence" and "spiritual emergency."

Selected literature from psychology, psychiatry, and philosophy is used to describe the new paradigm, which views the development of human consciousness across the life span as going beyond the well-adjusted and productive adult ego. The intent is to introduce this paradigm and some of its implications for further critical consideration by health promotion professionals. It is not the authors' purpose to critically evaluate the relevant theoretical literature in this article.

The new paradigm represents an expanded theory of human development that explicitly recognizes a spiritual dimension in personal growth and health. Within this paradigm, spiritual emergence and spiritual emergency are viewed as signs of transitional, personal growth rather than as symptoms of psychopathology. Accordingly, signs of growth need to be differentiated from symptoms of pathology. The first step in doing this is to contextualize human experience in a larger developmental framework.

Health promotion professionals may benefit personally and professionally by being aware of the new developmental paradigm which differentiates spiritual growth from pathological symptoms. Further theoretical clarification and research will be needed before detailed recommendations for practice can be made.