The Promise of a Flourishing Theoretical Psychology

Theoretical psychology has developed and matured tremendously in recent years, putting its members in the position to deeply contemplate what a flourishing theoretical psychology might look like. This article examines that question through an Aristotelian lens, following the argument that flourishing is a matter of the excellent expression of a being or collective's natural functions. The discussion identifies 4 key functions of theoretical psychologists, researching, reflecting upon, reexamination of, and reformulation of psychological theory, research, and practice. The excellent expression of these functions is presented as the way to achieve the central goods of theoretical psychology, with 4 goods highlighted: knowledge, identity, communion, and meaningful contributions. The conclusion is that theoretical psychology can flourish as a subdiscipline by remaining true to its nature and functions.