The
Human Potential Movement (
HPM) arose out of the
counterculture milieu of the 1960s and formed around the concept of cultivating extraordinary potential that its advocates believe to lie largely untapped in all people. The movement took as its premise the belief that through the development of "human potential", humans can experience an exceptional quality of
life filled with
happiness,
creativity, and
fulfillment. As a corollary, those who begin to unleash this assumed potential often find themselves directing their actions within society towards assisting others to release their
potential. Adherents believe that the net effect of individuals cultivating their potential will bring about positive
social change at large.