Chapter One
Introduction
This work addresses the need of a worldwide population of Christians to be served by a theory of psychology that is founded upon Christian beliefs expressed in a Biblical Worldview. In support of this need, literature from a variety of fields is presented that call for the development of Christian Psychology as the next theoretical movement in Professional Psychology. Christian Psychology is shown to be appropriately developed from contemporary Object Relations theory as practiced within Psychoanalytic Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. These related but differing schools of thought are compared and contrasted in establishing the Christian Psychology paradigm. Further critical foundations are discussed in the analysis of worldview implications and differentiation between denominational formalized “Church,” and the Culture of Christianity.
The paradigm of The Theory of Christian Psychology suggests structures including; foundations of mental illness, the concept of sin, the entities of fear, shame, and guilt in personality structures, Superego transformation, transference and counter transference dynamics, all within the construct of God as the preeminent Primary Object.
Christian Psychology then presents three related sub-theoretical concepts present in action in the field of practice of Professional Psychology, but only existing by reference in the literature. Theories are set forth, establishing a mental health Etiology of Diagnosis as psychologically developmental in cause and nature. This concept is presented as critical to the nature of the development of the appropriate treatment environment and therefore upon the success of the treatment.
The second sub-theory establishes a Christian Psychology Mental Health Continuum, for purposes of this work, emphasizing mental illness categorical relationship on the continuum relative to a continuum of attachment structures as seen in Psychoanalytic personality theory. Movement within and between categories is considered critical to the foundation of the theoretical basis for Christian Psychology resting upon a Biblical Worldview.
Contemporary research in support of Christian Psychology is presented as the research studies done document an 86% cure rate of the Christian drug rehabilitation program of Teen Challenge. Governmental Transpersonal Psychology-based program cure rates are compared at 5-10 %. An analysis of the Teen Challenge Program demonstrating the appropriateness of considering the program as applied research, suggests that the program is operationally Psychoanalytic Psychodynamic and establishes God as Primary Object. Teen Challenge, therefore is functioning within the Christian Psychology paradigm presented herein.