THEORIES OF

PERSONALITY

HUMANISTIC THEORY BY ABRAHAM

MASLOW AND CARL ROGERS.
 humanistic theory

According to humanistic theory-

• Individual has free will.

• We can develop our self to our highest potential.

• We can attain self- actualization.

 HUMANISTIC THEORY
The primary difference between Freudians, behaviourist and humanistic theory are-

Humanism is a system of thought in which human interests and values are of primary importance.

Humanistic theory objected to psychoanalysis and behaviorism arguing that presented too limited
Findings that too only of overt behavior.

Humanistic theory focused on the conscious rather than the unconscious behavior.

It says that people are inherently good and that we are self-motivated to improve and we want to
improve cause we want to reach self-actualization.

They reasoned how we can never learn about positive human characteristics and qualities if we limited
our focus to only neurosis and psychoses.
HUMANISTIC THEORY.

Humanistic psychologists objected to this view, insisting that people were not laboratory rats or slow
computers. They believed studying Human behavior is too vast and profound to be explained solely by
the behaviorist’s methods

The humanistic approach emphasize human strength and aspirations, conscious free will, and the
fulfillment of human potential at its fullest.

They believe in an optimistic image of human nature and describes humans as active, creative beings
concerned with growth and self-development.

The humanistic approach to personality is represented by the works of Abraham Maslow and Carl
Rogers.
Abraham Maslow
 ABRAHAM MASLOW
 Abraham Maslow born in Brooklyn New York in 1908 is considered to be the founder
and spiritual leader of the humanistic psychology movement.
According to Maslow-
 each person has an essential nature that “presses” to emerge and that human nature
is far higher and transcendent in nature.
 His theories are based on the research of the creative, independent, self-sufficient,
fulfilled adults.
 that each person is born with the same set of instinctive needs that enable us to
grow, develop, and fulfill our potential.
 HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
 Maslow (1968, 1970b) proposed a hierarchy of five innate needs that activate or
direct human behavior. These needs can be affected or overridden by learning,
social experiences, expectations and fear.

 The major assumptions of the Hierarchy of Needs theory are when one need is
satisfied, another need emerges to be satisfied.

 Lower order needs must be satisfied, before a higher order need begins to
control a persons behaviour.

 Once when a need is satisfied, it ceases to motivate.

 Physiological Needs-

Most basic and the 1st in the hierarchy.

• Air, food , water and physical needs.

• when people have adequate food and shelter and when rest of the lower needs are satisfied that they are
motivated by needs that rank higher in the hierarchy.
 SAFETY NEEDS

SAFETY NEEDS-Second in the order.

• Protection from physiological danger.

• Economic security .
 BELONGINGNESS AND LOVE NEED

Is a reflection of the fact that people are social beings needing the company or
companionship of others.
 SELF-ESTEEM NEEDS

• SEEKING OF OUR OWN SELF-RESPECT.

• SEEKING RECOGNITION FROM OTHERS.

 SELF-ACTUALIZATION NEED

• Desire to reach full potential.

• Self - actualization is the desire to become all that one is capable

of becoming.
Conditions necessary in order for us to satisfy the self-
actualization need are-

 We must be free of constraints imposed by society and by ourselves.

 We must not be distracted by the lower-order needs.

 We must be secure in our self-image and in our relationships with

other people; we must be able to love and be loved in return.

 We must have a realistic knowledge of our strengths and weaknesses, virtues and vices.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SELF-ACTUALIZERS

• They perceive reality efficiently and can tolerate uncertainty

• Accept themselves and others for what they are

• Spontaneous, simplicity and naturalness in thoughts and action

• Problem-centred (not self-centred)

• Need for detachment and sense of privacy

• A freshness of appreciation

• Mystical or peak experiences

• Social Interest
 CHARACTERISTICS OF SELF-ACTUALIZERS

• Profound interpersonal relations

• A Democratic Character Structure

• Creativeness

• Resistance to Enculturation

Self- actualisation takes courage, effort, discipline, and self-control.

Thus, Self-actualizers will constantly test themselves by abandoning

secure routines and familiar behaviours and attitudes
Maslow has proposed second set of two additional levels of innate needs namely

Cognitive needs-To know, to understand, to explore-the need to know is stronger than

the need to understand.

Aesthetic needs-Symmetry Order and Beauty-Aesthetic needs are the needs to

express oneself in pleasing ways.
 CONCLUSION
The hierarchy of needs model is dynamic. It presents motivation as a constantly changing force,
expressing itself through the constant striving for fulfilment of new and higher level of needs.

Instead of resting on their laurels, when one goal is reached or a need is satisfied individuals
typically redirect their efforts and capabilities toward the attainment of still higher goals.
CARL ROGERS
 CARL ROGERS

Carl Rogers was an American psychologist known for his influential psychotherapy
method known as client-centred therapy

involves the therapist acting as a facilitator rather than a director of the therapy session.

Rogers was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. He continued his work with client-centered
therapy until his death in 1987
 SELF-ACTUALIZATION THEORY
Rogers believed people are motivated by an innate tendency to actualize, to maintain
and enhance the self. i.e., to fulfil one's potential and achieve the highest level of
'human-beingness' that we can.

The actualization tendency is responsible for maturation-the genetically determined

development of the body’s parts and processes-ranging from the growth of the foetus to the
appearance of the secondary sex characteristics at puberty.

Even though such changes are genetically determined, progress towards full human
development is neither automatic nor effortless rather it involves struggle and pain.
individuals persevere, despite the pain and struggles because the tendency to actualize is
stronger than the urge to regress because of the struggles, in the growth process.
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF
This is defined as "the organized, consistent set of perceptions and beliefs about oneself.“

This separate part, defined by the words I, me and myself, is the self or the self-concept.
The self-concept is also our image of what we are, what we should be, and what we would like
to be.

Positive regard is a need for acceptance, love and approval from other people, most notably
from the mother during infancy.

Unconditional regard is the approval granted regardless of a person’s behaviour.

When love and approval are conditional, a state of conditional positive regard exists.

Positive regard comes from ourselves that is, in time, positive regard will come more from within
us than from other people, this is called as Positive self-regard.
 Development Of The Self
Conditions of worth -They view themselves as worthy or unworthy, good or bad, based on
the terms their parents defined, thus learning to avoid behaviour that otherwise may be
personally satisfying to them.

Incongruence-When our self-image does not line up with our ideal self or true self or our
experiential world, then we are in a state of incongruence.

Thus , Our level of psychological adjustment and emotional health is a function of the
congruence or compatibility between our self-concept and our experiences

An Individual can develop and actualize all facets of the self, proceeding towards the goal of
becoming a fully functioning person.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FULLY FUNCTIONING PERSON.

 Fully functioning person are aware of their experience

 Fully functioning persons trust in their own organism (self)

 Fully functioning persons live fully and richly in every moment

 Fully functioning persons feel free to make choices without constraints or

inhibitions
 CHARACTERISTICS OF FULLY FUNCTIONING PERSON

 Fully functioning persons are creative and live constructively and adaptively as
environmental conditions change

 Fully functioning persons may face difficulties

 Being fully functional is

“a direction, not a destination.
 PERSON-CENTERED THERAPY
Carl Rogers originated a type of psychotherapy
Called non-directive or person-centred therapy.

Rogers assessed the subjective experiences.

Explored the clients feelings and attitudes towards the self
and other people.

• Listened without preconceptions.

• No theoretical structure to fit the patients problems.

• Accepted as they are.

• Unconditional positive regard.
• Everything centres on the client.
• Client’s inherent values and worth is given at most
importance.
Person – Centred Therapy

During process the client becomes more aware of their true

feelings and experiences

Their self-concept becomes more congruent with the total

experiences of the self.

If complete congruence is achieved, then the client can be, a

fully functioning person.
 Implication of Humanistic theory.

 Person-centred therapy is used in treating emotional disturbances and enhancing

self-image.

 Used for training managers

 Used to train clinical psychologists, social workers and counsellors.

 Served well to make “self” as an object of empirical investigation.

Implications of Humanistic Theory.

Maslow’s hierarchy of need theory are

Used in motivational theory.

Used in various class room settings and educational institutions.

Used in various organizations to ensure successful business .

Used to asses human behaviour.