Humanist Approaches to Personality

CP PsychologyMrs. Bradley

Humanistic Psychology: the Third Force

Psychoanalysis has sometimes been called the "first force" in psychology

Behaviorism was the second force Both first and second forces are

deterministic in their view of people Humanistic psychology saw itself as the

third force, stressing human freedom and human potential

What is Humanistic Psychology?

An optimistic view of human beings, as persons who have the ability to grow

Though it does not deny the effect of the environment, it sees human beings as able to transcend it to some degree

It stresses health and actualization It is a reaction against a deterministic

view of human beings

Abraham Maslow

Forerunner of positive psychology.

Radically different view of human nature.

Maslow rejected Freud’s ideas

Psychoanalysis based on what went wrong.

Theories based on clinically ill patients.

Abraham Maslow

Abraham Maslow was interested in exploring the sources of happy, healthy personality. His approach was optimistic, regarding human beings as free-willed individuals, and not as captive by unconscious drives

Case studies

Began with study of two close friends. Expanded to 10 other anonymous living

persons. Historical figures: Lincoln, Jefferson. Examined biographies, writings and

interviewed those still living.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Self-Actualization

Physiological

Safety

Belongingness

Esteem

Guiding principles 1. Needs arranged according to potency

and strength. Lower needs stronger and more urgently felt.

2. Lower needs appear earlier in development.

Babies concerned with biological, toddlers with safety, seniors more likely to be self-actualized.

Hierarchy of needs

Needs are filled sequentially, lowest to highest.

Maslow did not believe that you had to completely satisfy each level before moving to a higher one.

Example: work for safety when 60% of physiological needs met.

Physiological needs

Body needs Hunger and thirst Need met by most people in

US. But may take dominance in

emergencies. Natural disasters. Hurricane Katrina

Safety needs

Security in our environment. Stability and protection. Job security, insurance,

retirement plans. Stock market crash wipes out

nest egg. Pathologies: OCD: no sense of

security,panic attacks.

Black Monday, 1987

Love and Belongingness

Friends, life partner, children, social clubs, religious communities.

Stunting of this need leads to most behavior problems.

Importance of social bonds. Some question whether you

can love others until you love yourself Esteem needs

Esteem needs has two levels

Lower level need for respect from others Such as recognition, attention, appreciation. Higher level self respect Such as confidence, competence, mastery. Pathologies: inferiority complex, depression. Question: Can others respect you if you don’t

respect yourself?

Self-Actualization- What is it?

There is more to life than the absence of problems The Humanistic perspective maintain that we all have a drive toward “self-actualization”To become that best we can become, in the context of our life (you do not have to receive the Nobel Prize).

Misconceptions about Maslow Hierarchy

You do not have to fulfill all the needs in one level to “climb” to the next level Some people who starve for their loved one, or for their life workThe needs in each level are never fully satisfiedThere are cultural differences in the ways the needs are regarded and are fulfilled

More on Maslow Need hierarchy is wildly popular. Education, management,

psychotherapy, and nursing. Any research to suggest it’s true? Maslow’s research case studies – not

empirical. Others have done studies or larger and

more diverse groups.

Client-Centered Therapy

Carl Rogers (1902-1987) Humanistic attitude. Unconditional positive

regard. Nondirective approach. Reflective listening. Healing will occur

naturally.

Carl Rogers

As a sophomore in college, went to an international Christian student conference in Beijing. Moved away from conservative Christianity to very liberal beliefs.

Studied at Union Seminary in NY, then transferred to Columbia to study psychology

Carl Rogers

Unconditional positive regardA situation in which the acceptance and love one receives from significant others is unqualified

Conditional positive regardA situation in which the acceptance and love one receives from significant others is contingent upon one’s behavior

Carl Rogers and Person-Centered Therapy

The role of the therapist is to create an atmosphere of “unconditional positive regard” to enable the client’s self-exploration and becoming “fully functioning”. Rogers described the “fully- functioning person” as an ideal for healthy personality. Rogers saw anxiety as resulting from our inability to incorporate information that is inconsistent with our self-image

Rogers

The Rogerian therapist would say to a client: “I do not like what you did, but I still respect you as a human being”.

The Fully Functioning Person, for Rogers

Is aware of all experiences Lives in the moment Trusts in his/her self Experiences freedom in choices Is creative and adapts well Is still growing and experiencing

difficulties

Criticism of Rogers’ theories

The appropriateness of relying on the client to make accurate appraisals of themselves has been questioned. The naïve assumptions about the goodness of individuals.

Limitations of the Humanistic Approach

Many of the concepts do not lend themselves for operational definitions and for scientific study. A great deal of the studies conducted by Maslow and Rogers to support their ideas were based on their own subjective impressions and intuition. The concept of free will has been challenged.

Third Wave

Positive side Optimistic view of

humankind. Human abilities. Growth potential. Healthy personality. Pyramid of needs

Negative side Non-scientific. Philosophy rather

than psychology. Need evidence to

support beliefs. Self-actualizers rare. Practical applications.