Any comprehensive psychological and educational approach to the development of the whole person must draw from many traditions. Eastern and Western traditions, for example, come together in Psychosynthesis. While Eastern disciplines often have tended to emphasize the spiritual side of being, Western approaches usually have focused on the personality level.

Psychosynthesis thinking and skills help us recognize that we have a "transpersonal" essence, something greater than our "ordinary" selves. We know our purpose in life is to use all our parts and powers to manifest this essence, or Self. At the same time, we want to experience this Self as fully as possible in the world of everyday existence – we want to be fully present in our personal and social lives. We humans need to view our humanity as a single whole and accord each aspect its due importance.

Over the years, a number of conceptual points and a number of methods have proven themselves to be fundamental. These provide a working structure for Psychosynthesis. Prime examples are Assagioli’s expansive "Oval" diagram (or "Egg" diagram) showing the areas of the psyche, or mind, and his "Star" diagram, a picture of our main psychological capabilities or functions.