The Descriptive Phenomenological Psychological Method

TLDR

The author, trained in experimental psychology, sought a non‑reductionistic, whole‑person approach and found Husserl’s phenomenology suitable for studying humans. He developed a phenomenological psychological method grounded in Husserl and Merleau‑Ponty and outlines it in this article.

Abstract

Abstract The author explains that his background was in experimental psychology but that he wanted to study the whole person and not fragmented psychological processes. He also desired a non-reductionistic method for studying humans. Fortunately he came across the work of Edmund Husserl and discovered in the latter’s thought a way of researching humans that met the criteria he was seeking. Eventually he developed a phenomenological method for researching humans in a psychological way based upon the work of Husserl and Merleau-Ponty. This article briefly describes the method.