Psychospiritual growth (Christianity)

Psychospiritual growth may defined as the structural development of psychological growth, together with or followed by the direction of spiritual growth. The sense of self is developed and differentiated from the false self which has been generated as a defence against the anxiety of being a true self. The false self tends to be defended; only the true self can be transcended, and it is in its transcending that it is ultimately discovered. During this process of development of self there may be spiritual response to deeper spiritual realities, but hearing and response will be hindered by psychological conflict or problems. Again, psychological growth is not always followed by spiritual growth as the individual may be too satisfied with the self-understanding achieved to see that this is not an end in itself but a by-product on the way to self-transcendence and surrender.

The self-encapsulation and self-preoccupation resulting from sin and from psychopathology block spiritual growth. Only when the false selves are seen for what they are can they be given up and the true self seen, when the need for surrender to God is understood. Both Christian spirituality and psychotherapy involve the crucifixion of the false self or self-centredness. Then God rather than the self can become the lord over life.

In the model of psychospiritual development put forward by David Benner, a number of [structural milestones]

(psychological development) and [directional milestones]

(spiritual development) are included.

[Structural milestones]

:< 1. Symbiotic dependency: undifferentiated psychological fusion with the mother.

2. Differentiation of self from the mother.

3. Relatedness and attachment to others in non-symbiotic ways, recognizing the separateness of one's self from others and preserving ego boundaries.

4. Individuation, as the conscious and unconscious parts of the self are allied, the true self only being discovered as hidden aspects of the self that one did not with to accept are acknowledged.

5. Self-transcendence and self surrender to some higher purpose.

6. Integration of personality.

[Directional milestones]

:< 1. Development of basic trust, choosing to open one's self to others and the world.

2. Awareness of call to self transcendence, of deep inner strivings together with a longing to surrender or to find one's place, knowing that this cannot be found in the material or the temporal.

3. Recognition of call as from God and that longings are for God.

4. Awareness of insufficiency of self (sinfulness) in comparison with God's holiness and the standards of His law, and understanding that to approach God a divine intervention of grace is needed.

These 4 are described as preparation.

5. Receipt of divine forgiveness through grace.

This is described as justification.

6. Progressive freedom from sin, involving spiritual warfare with the forces of darkness.

7. Progressive evidence of the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self-control.

8. Deepening intimacy with God, mystical unity which is the basis for spiritual unity and communion among all believers.

These 3 are described as sanctification.

Growth in neither sphere is linear, and growth in one sphere is dependent upon what is happening in the other. Growing spiritually presupposes a certain psychological maturity, and psychospiritual maturity is characterized by the integration of the personality in a context both of significant interpersonal relationships and of surrender to God, in which latter the true self is discovered. This integrated self is both an achievement and a gift, the self that God has given and what it was always intended one should be.