The humanistic approach to personality grew out of ...



Chapter 11

The humanistic approach to personality grew out of discontent with the psychoanalytic and behavioral descriptions of human nature prominent in the 1950s and 1960s. Humanistic psychology has its roots in European existential philosophy and the works of some American psychologists-- Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

Although many approaches to psychotherapy have been described as humanistic, four criteria used for classifying a theory under humanistic:

an emphasis on personal responsibility

an emphasis on the here and now

focusing on the phenomenology of the individual

emphasizing personal growth

Humanistic Psychology: emphasizes internal experiences—feelings, thoughts, and own sense of basic worth; people are naturally good, and possess a positive drive toward self-fulfillment

Carl Rogers introduced the notion of a fully functioning person.

Fully Functioning person: a psychologically healthy individual who is able to enjoy life as completely as possible

Open to experience, not very defensive, aware and sensitive to self and external world, and for most, harmonious relationships with others. Rogers: we all progress toward a state of fulfillment and happiness unless derailed by life's obstacles.

People who encounter evidence that contradicts their self- concepts often rely on distortion and denial to avoid the anxiety this might create. People who grow up in families that give only conditional positive regard may come to deny certain aspects of themselves.

Carl Rogers’ self-concept theory

• self-concept: all the information and beliefs about own nature, qualities, and behavior; the most important component of personality

poor mental health, maladjustment, and low self-esteem develop from an incongruence between self-concept and experiences in life

conditional love: when affection and acceptance is contingent upon behaving in certain ways or expressing only certain feelings which distorts self-concept and self-esteem because child blocks the existence of negative impulses or feelings

unconditional positive regard: acceptance of someone no matter what they say or do; positive behavior without any contingencies attached; acceptance of a person’s positive nature while discouraging specific self-destructive or hostile behaviors

Rogers advocated the use of unconditional positive regard by parents and therapists to overcome this denial

Growth promoting climate requires 3 conditions: genuineness—being open with feelings, dropping facades and pretenses. Acceptance—being positive toward person regardless of person’s behavior

and empathy—sensitive listener, attempt to understand their true feelings.

Abraham Maslow introduced a hierarchy of human needs---where people progress up the hierarchy as lower needs are satisfied.

Deficiency Motive: A need that is reduced when the object of the need is attained. Hunger, thirst

Growth Need: A need that leads to personal growth and that persists after the need object is attained. Unselfish giving of love to others—not satisfied once object of need is found.

5 Basic categories of needs—both deficiency and growth---Hierarchy of Needs: In Maslow's theory, the order in which human needs demand attention.

Maslow examined psychologically healthy people. He found several characteristics typical of these self-actualized individuals, including the tendency by some to have frequent peak experiences

Peak experience: experiences that can best be defined as mystic of profound. A kind of “oceanic” feeling. Feel focused yet open to unlimited experiences.

Maslow : self actualized: A state of personal growth in which people fulfill their true potential. People who are well adjusted seek to “actualize” themselves—live in a way that enhances their own growth and fulfillment.

Characteristics of the individual who is self-actualized

Misconceptions: exceptions to the order of needs being met—some higher need for self-esteem before love relationship. Creative people—sacrifice lower needs

Lower needs satisfied 100% before moving up to next level. Needs only partially satisfied most of the time.

85% physiological

70% safety

50 % belongingness

40 % self esteem

10 % self actualization

Cultural variations in satisfying needs—differences in how needs satisfied—not basic needs

Behavior result of multiple motivations

Psychology of Optimal Experience

Optimal experience

One recent outgrowth of the humanistic approach to personality is presented by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He find people describe the happiest and most rewarding moments in their lives in terms of a "flow" experience.

Csikszentmihalyi argues that turning one's life into a series of challenging and absorbing tasks, what he calls optimal experiences, is the key to happiness and personal fulfillment.

Optimal Experience: A state of happiness and satisfaction characterized by absorption in a challenging and personally rewarding task. Lose track of time

Flow: what makes experiences genuinely satisfying is this state of consciousness, flow. Concentration so focused that is amounts to absolute absorption in an activity.

8 characteristics of optimal experiences identified by Csikszentmihalyi.

what everyday activities are more likely to be flow experiences

One of Rogers' contributions to psychology is the person-centered approach to psychotherapy. Rogers said the therapist's job is to create the proper atmosphere for clients' growth .

This is accomplished by entering a genuine relationship with clients, providing unconditional positive regard, and helping clients hear what they are saying.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs concept has been applied to the problem of job satisfaction. He argued that one's career provides an opportunity for personal growth and that employers should arrange working situations to better meet employees' higher-order needs

Strengths with humanistic approach to personality: the attention given to the positive side of personality and the influence this approach has had on psychotherapy and job satisfaction.

Criticisms include the unscientific reliance on free will to explain behavior and the difficulty in dealing with many of the poorly defined constructs used by humanistic theorists. Some therapists have challenged the usefulness of person-centered therapy.

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