Abstract

Discusses the significance of the concept of dignity for psychology. The article is grounded in the writings of E. Husserl and the humanism of Sartre and examines the humanistic position underlying psychology with that of positivism and determinism. Through an examination of Sartre's formulation of the cogito and intersubjectivity, the authors argue that humanism more than any other orientation current in psychology is concerned with the human status of the individual and the recognition of dignity as central to that status. The authors further argue that dignity is fundamental to the structure of human existence and is achieved only by holding the other as human in status rather than reducing the other to the status of an object. 2012 APA, all rights reserved)