Psychology as a Field
Humanistic Perspective
Humanism developed in response to
• Pessimistic view of psychodynamic perspective
• Deterministic view of behavioral perspective
Humanism is a theoretical orientation that emphasizes the unique qualities of humans, especially their freedom and their potential for growth (text).
Key characteristics of humanistic theories
1. They emphasize the importance of personal responsibility (free will)
2. Don't deny the importance of past experience but they focus on the present or future
3. Emphasize the importance of personal growth and that people strive toward self-actualization
Humanistic Theories: The 2 most widely known theories are:
Carl Roger's Person-centered theory
Abraham Maslow – Need Hierarchy theory
• Focused on highly successful individuals
• Need for self-actualization is at top of hierarchy
Self-Actualizing Person - Maslow proposed that we as individuals are motivated by a hierarchy of needs. Beginning with physiological needs, we try to reach the state of self-actualization—fulfilling our potential.
Carl Rogers - Person- Centered Theory
Carl Rogers believes the people are basically good and each of us contain the potential for growth and fulfillment, unless something in our environment thwarts us
“On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy” was published in 1961
Basic Assumptions
• The formative tendency is the tendency of all matter, both organic and inorganic to evolve from simpler to more complex forms.
• The actualizing tendency is the tendency within all human beings to move toward completion or fulfillment of potentials
Self-actualization is a subsystem of this tendency
Leads to a “Fully functioning person”
A Fully Functioning Person
• Constantly growing and evolving
• Open to experience, avoid defensiveness, and accept experiences as opportunities to learn
• Trust themselves, and although they will seek guidance from other people
• Have harmonious relations with other people and will realize that they do not need to be well liked by everyone
• Live fully in the present rather than dwell on the past or live only for the future
Self-concept – is a collection of beliefs about one’s own nature, unique qualities, and typical behavior.
Key: Actual or Real self versus ideal self discrepancy
Assessing the Self
In an effort to assess personality, Rogers asked people to describe themselves as they would like to be (ideal) and as they actually are (real). If the two descriptions were close the individual had a positive self-concept.
Congruence: The greater the similarity (correlation) between the actual self-concept and the ideal self, the better adjusted the person is in their life
Self - Regard - As awareness of self emerges, the individual develops both self regard and a need for positive regard
Self regard is like self-esteem and includes feelings of confidence and self-worth
The source of positive self regard lies in positive regard received by others
Once positive self regard is established, it is autonomous and self-perpetuating
Positive Regard
The need for positive regard is the need to be loved, liked, or accepted by another person
This need is universal in humans, and pervasive and persistent
This is similar to Maslow’s social esteem needs
Self concept can be nurtured by what he calls unconditional positive regard by others
Unconditional positive regard is an attitude of total acceptance toward another person
Involves communication from others that they will respect and love us regardless of what we say or do.
Conditions of Worth - Anxiety is generated when our life experiences are inconsistent with our ideas about ourselves and we develop “Conditions of Worth”
Conditions of Worth are feelings that we are loved and accepted only if we meet the other person’s expectations and approval(You only love me when...)
3 Key to Healthy Relationships
• Unconditional positive regard
• Empathy – being a good listener and understanding another’s true feelings
• Genuineness – being open with our feelings and dropping any fake pretenses
Evaluating Humanistic Perspectives
Contributions
• Major impact on counseling, education, child-rearing, and management.
• Perception is key element of personality
• Consider the positive aspects of human nature
• Emphasize conscious experience
Criticisms
• Too optimistic about human nature
• Promotes self-love and narcissism
• Concepts in humanistic psychology are vague and subjective and lack scientific basis.
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