The Concept of Growth: An Introduction to a Philosophical Psychology

By Saji Chellimattam

To have growth is the plan of the creator about all living organisms. To the moment a seed is planted in the soil starts its growth. Minutes after the birth of a calf it tries to stand on its feet. Many of its first attempts fail and it lingers down many times. But soon it learns to stand up and move towards its mother's breast. Then in no time it learns to leap around. However, human beings are much different from other animals in terms of development. It is unlikely for a human child to stand, walk or run immediately after birth. The first stage of growth process is remarkable in humans, which lasts for days, weeks, and months. In other words, God has designed a very particular growth pattern in human beings compared to other living organisms.

What makes man different from other creatures? It is that intangible aspect of human personality that exists along with the concrete, material body. As the body grows, the other aspect also must grow in substantial proportion. As the body is nourished and grown day by day by the nourishment of nutritious food and drinks, the 'Inner Person' also must be nourished and grown by the influence of the environment, discipline, and experiences. The inner man is formed out of thoughts, feelings, reason, conscience and the capacity to relate to the Creator. Paul, the great philosopher and thinker of the first century CE, called this state in the humans as "the inner man." Paul wanted to exhort the comrades at Ephesus that the inner man also must grow strong along with the physical body.

Let us now consider what is 'growth' in psychological perspective. According to Clinebell, growth is the sustaining of the experience of wholeness in an individual. Through this process, a person can realise the potentialities in himself/herself. In other words, it is the awareness in a person as to who or what he/she is, what he/she can become or where he/she is going. This is called self understanding, self realisation or self actualisation.

In the perspective of the Bible, that is exactly what happens in the so called 'regeneration' experience. Spirituality is the most significant aspect of man's inner experience. Its speciality is the capacity to know God, the Creator and the ability to relate oneself with Him. The life of a person who relates with the Ultimate one will always be transforming as the person is constantly motivated to conform to His moral attributes. This is where perennial or eternal values originate. Conformity to such eternal values determines the health and growth of the inner personality. I would like to equate this with 'psychological health-a synonym for 'Growth'. It is a process in the present and an end to which each organism strives for. As a process it the obligation of each person and as the end it is the goal of life-the goal to achieve full humanness or total humanity. Psychologists called it self-actualisation. Theologians call it 'life in the spirit.'