Eupsychian Versus Authoritarian Leadership: Existential–Humanistic Underpinnings and Empirical Support

Abstract

This article surveys Maslow’s views on eupsychian leadership and how his vision of eupsychia may be regarded as a contemporary expression of the Greek philosophical notion of the Good. This involves actively and ongoingly cultivating cultural conditions that promote awe-based creative living in accordance with human nature, authentic freedom, and social justice in the interest of developing character via self-determination. Then we outline essential qualities of Maslow’s notion of eupsychia as they have been empirically validated by Rego et al.’s qualitative study of the characteristics and outcomes of eupsychian (humanistic) versus antieupsychian (authoritarian) leadership. The findings thereof also provide a heuristic framework for integrating the results of numerous quantitatively-based research studies in recent international applied psychology literature. This applied leadership literature both (a) satisfies Maslow’s call for empirical research to guide perspective-taking and decision-making when considering the possible practical implementation of a eupsychian society and (b) provides empirical support for his dynamic systemic and synergistic theorizing on leadership.

Review of Life-enhancing anxiety: Key to a sane world.

“…Thus, it has been critiqued as inadvertently contributing to the very status quo it aims to overcome (Prilleltensky, 1992). Nonetheless, Schneider’s eudaimonic vision also serves as a contemporary iteration of the Greek philosophical notion of the Good—which refers to three dimensions of living in accordance with human nature that are particularly relevant today: authentic freedom, awe-based creative living, and social justice (Dillon, 2020; see also Bland & Swords, 2023).…”

“…He also provides exposure to advancements in existential and humanistic psychologies (for example, its contributions to peace psychology and overcoming polarization, as discussed above, and its interface with critical cultural psychology, as discussed further below) that, often, are omitted from students' educational experience. In addition, Schneider's work has the capacity to serve as the basis for further empirical research (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) to support existentialhumanistic principles, which is sorely needed today (Bland, 2023a;DeRobertis, 2016DeRobertis, , 2021Levitt, 2024;D. Spaeth, personal communication, April 16, 2021;Wong, 2017).…”

Review of Profiles of personality: Integration, paradox, and the process of becoming (2nd ed.).

“…Likewise, today, students need a solid foundation in HP theorizing-inrelation to prevent its contributions from becoming atrophied by scientistic monoculture in psychology education. Further, for a fast-paced, distracted, interpersonally-isolated, experientially avoidant, rating-and metric-centered, technocratic, polarized, systems blind, authoritarian, toxically-masculine, inequitized, post-truth zeitgeist (Bland, 2020(Bland, , 2022Bland & Swords, 2021), the relevance of HP is perhaps more relevant-and pressing-than ever. Its foci on cultivating the courage to live out an I-Thou way of being in an I-it world, on negotiating dialectics/paradoxes, on meaning-making, and on unfolding awareness of interdependent self-in-relation and social processes that promote (versus inhibit) that sensitivity are crucial as humanity collectively faces numerous existential threats on a global scale (Aanstoos, 2003;O'Hara, 2015) that arguably reflect Maslow's (1971) desacralization ("mistrust [of] the possibility of values and virtues," p. 47).…”

Transcending the Limitations of Abraham Maslow

“…What if it is time for humanistic psychology to embrace a community approach to address the problematic aspects of Maslow’s legacy by creating opportunities for dynamic discussion among willing humanistic scholars and practitioners? Maslow (1965; see also Bland & Swords, 2023) pointed out that societal change requires a slow simmer, but what sparks would emerge from an organized panel and participating audience? I would gladly partake in that discourse.…”