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Significant scientific discoveries during the past two decades have made it necessary to revise extensively our concepts of the growth process. These advances have come not only from the field of psychoanalysis but from such allied fields as sociology and ethology. And these in turn have wide implications for our understanding of human emotional development. Time does not permit even a moderately comprehensive detailing of these areas, but a brief survey of some highlights is relevant.
According to current usage, growth process may refer to two distinct concepts. It may refer to the maturative, developmental process through which the individual passes from infancy to adulthood. Of course, we would focus on the emotional-psychological aspects of this process, rather than on the physical ones. Indeed, although physical changes may stimulate, or modify the emotional process, it is my belief that they do not correspond as closely as has often been claimed. In fact the attempt to correlate emotional or psychological changes with precise physical factors may limit our understanding of the total process.
Secondly, growth may refer to movements or changes in the individual having a positive direction, i.e., toward greater maturity, spontaneity and expression of optimal capacities. This occurs under the impetus of some innate tendency or force, having a creative or integrative quality, which has variously been called élan vital (Bergson), inherent maturational force (Gesell), growth principle (Rogers), need-gratification-health (Maslow), self-actualizing tendency (Goldstein), constructiveness and self-realization (Horney). Although this tendency is present in every individual, it can express itself under optimal environmental and intrapsychic conditions. The growth-inhibiting process is synonymous with neurotic or even psychotic patterns of development which are its symptomatic manifestation. It is this author's viewpoint—which has been presented in several recent papers and w