Will Project Outline

In The Act of Will, Roberto Assagioli outlined the Will Project, describing it as a “program of research on the will and its applications.” He saw the purpose of the will project as a way to help in actualizing the immense resources of the human will.

There was the intention for an international group to act as a focal point for the Will Project, and for another book, dealing with the practical applications of the will in many different areas of activity, especially psychology, psychotherapy, and education.

Will Project

Program of Research on the Will and Its Applications

Outline

I. History of the Theories, Beliefs, and Doctrines on the Will

II. The Will in Modern Psychology

III. Nature and Aspects of the Will

1. Strong Will
2. Skillful Will
3. Good Will
4. Transpersonal Will
5. Individual Will identified with the Universal Will

IV. Qualities of the Will

1. Energy—Dynamic Power—Intensity
2. Mastery—Control—Discipline
3. Concentration—Attention—OnePointedness— Focus
4. Determination—Decisiveness—Resoluteness— Promptness
5. Persistence—Endurance—Patience
6. Initiative—Courage—Daring
7. Organization—Integration—Synthesis

V. Stages of the Volitional Act

1. Purpose—Aim—Goal—Valuation—Motivation —Intention
2. Deliberation
3. Choice—Decision
4. Affirmation—Command
5. Planning and Programing
6. Direction of the Execution

VI. Relationships of the Will with the Other Psychological Functions
Sensory-Motor— Impulses—Drives and Desire— Emotions and Feelings— Imagination—Thought— Intuition

VII. Methods for the Development and Training of the Will

1. Physical Activities: Manual labor—Gymnastics—Rhythmic movements—Sport
2. “Useless” exercises
3. Training the Will in daily life
4. Use of External Aids: Words and phrases—Images—Music
5. Concentration—Meditation—Invocation
6. Affirmation—Command
7. Creative activities

VIII. Fields of Application of the Will

1. Individual:
   • Psychotherapy
   • Education
   • Self-actualization (Personal psychosynthesis)
   • Self-realization and Spiritual psychosynthesis
2. Interpersonal and Social relationships
   • Between two individuals
   • Family group
   • Communities and social groups of various kinds
   • Racial groups
   • Religious groups
   • National groups
   • International relationships
3. Planetary relationships (ecology) between the four kingdoms of nature: Mineral—Vegetable —Animal—Human
4. Relationship between the human will and the Universal Will

IX. Experimentation
By individuals and groups—reports of result

X. Collections of Examples of the Use of the Will and Its Results

1. Historical figures
2. Individuals
   • Self-actualizing
   • Self-realizing
   • Clients
   • Pupils

XI. Bibliography on the Will
In various languages

XII. Specific Projects

1. By individuals
2. By groups

Organization and Execution of the Program Through:

I. Foundations—Institutes—Centers—Groups

1. For the whole program
2. For specialized research, experimentation, and application. Location and fields of work: local— national—according to language areas

II. Communication and Diffusion
Through: Lectures—Publications (articles—pamphlets—books—international journals)—Conferences—Symposia—Associations

III. Coordination and Utilization

See Also

• The Act of Will

Last modified: 19 January 2023