Humanistic Perspective

Kiran Randhawa (24) 2k20 M.Sc previous

Definition

 Psychologists who take a humanist approach to personality focus on our

uniquely human capacity to determine our own actions and futures.

 The belief that biology and parental influence are real factors, but

ultimately we have the free will go beyond these forces.

 Each individual is responsible for his/her own outcome.

History of Humanism

 Created in early 1960s

 Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers and Rollo May

 This was created to replace psychoanalysis and behaviorism with third

force in psychology

 They wanted to draw a fuller picture of human potential and personality.

Abraham Maslow
 Abraham Maslow

 Maslow believed psychology ignores many positive aspects in life such

as joy, laughter, love, happiness and beauty

 He didn't value the big five traits, but instead qualities of the self-

actualized person

 Self-actualization - striving for a life that is meaningful, challenging and

satisfying
 Self Actualization

 Maslow saw personality development as the slow progression toward

self-actualization

 He argued most psychologists had an imbalanced view of human nature.

 i-e. Studying only emotional problems and negative traits like insecurity.
 The Hierarchy of needs
"If you deliberately plan on being less than you are
capable of being , then I warn you that you'll be
unhappy for the rest of your life."
Abraham Maslow (1908- 1970)
 Carl Rogers

 Rogers, like fraud , derived many of his ideas from

observing his clients in therapy

 He was interested in not only why some people cannot

function well but also on fully functioning individuals

 f\fully functioning people experience congruence, which is

harmony between what they project to others and their
true feelings and wishes

 fully functioning people are trusting, warm and open

rather than defensive or intolerant.
Rogers Continued

 How do we become fully functioning individuals?

 Unconditional positive regard - love and support for the people we are
without strings(conditions) attached
 Ex). Sarah kicks her brother over and over when she's angry with him.
She also throes out her dinner from the window because she hates peas
-----the parents can correct her behaviors WITHOUT withdrawing love
from the child
 The child can learn through this that the behavior is bad and needs to be
changed, not that Sarah herself is an awful person
 Saying 'violence is not allowed in this home' is very different to 'Sarah,
you are a horrible, stupid child'
 Rogers observations

 Through his extensive experience giving therapy, he observed many

children are raised with conditional positive regard--- this is obviously
not good(if you have been listening in class)

 Ex). I will love you Sarah only if you behave well

 Adults often engage in this repeatedly too

 Those treated with conditional regard begin to suppress or deny feelings

or actions that they believe are unacceptable to those they love
 So what happens?

 Conditional love= changing what you really say you feel to someone---

as a result you fell out of touch with your feelings (incongruence) and

realize you're not being true to your real self-= low self-regard,

defensiveness, and unhappiness

 Rollo May

 Also, believed in free will

 But emphasized some of the unavoidable difficult and tragic aspects of

human condition- Existentialism

 i-e. Loneliness, anxiety and alienation

 Also, the search for meaning of life, the need to confront death and

living with the burden of responsibility for our actions.

 The consequences of free will

 Free will cries a price though, which is why is why so many people often try to
escape their freedom and blame others for their misfortunes

 Our personalities reflect the way we cope with our struggles to find meaning in
existence, to use our freedom wisely and to face suffering and death bravely

 May made the following humanist idea popular:

 We can choose to make the best of ourselves by drawing on inner resources

such as love and courage but can never escape the harsh realities of life and
loss
Thank
You