Bulgarian psychologist shows the path to a harmonious and active self

By: Svetlana Dicheva, National Bulgarian Radio

The book "Critical consciousness" by health and critical social psychologist Elena Mustakova-Possardt was one of the most interesting books presented on the recent Book fair in Sofia.

The Bulgarian psychologist lives for many years in the USA and is a renowned expert in the field of moral, social and spiritual development. Her rethinking of moral psychology in the context of the study of critical consciousness won her the 1995 Dissertation award of the Henry A. Murray Research Center for the Study of lives at Harvard University.

Mustakova-Possardt is currently professor at the Psychology department at State University of West Georgia and a licensed professional counselor with private practice. She has worked extensively with immigrant hispanic populations in rural West Georgia. In her study Mustakova-Possardt asserts that critical consciousness is in essence optimal consciousness, characterized by the integration of the intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual aspects of a human being. The study has taken the psychologist many years of research. Her aim is to apply her conclusions to the field of education in order to help children and adolescents to develop critical consciousness from an early age. Svetlana Dicheva from the Bulgarian National Radio asked Elena Mustakova to tell more details about her research: