139 Chapter 11 Ppt Spring 2011

8/3/2019 139 Chapter 11 Ppt Spring 2011

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The Psychology of the PersonThe Psychology of the Person

Chapter 11 Humanistic ApproachChapter 11 Humanistic Approach

Naomi Wagner, Ph.DNaomi Wagner, Ph.D

Lecture OutlinesLecture OutlinesBased on Burger, 8Based on Burger, 8thth editionedition



The ³Third Force´The ³Third Force´

The Humanistic approach has emerged in theThe Humanistic approach has emerged in the

late 1960¶s, primarily as a reaction to the twolate 1960¶s, primarily as a reaction to the two

major views of humanity popular at that timemajor views of humanity popular at that time

TheThe FreudianFreudian perspective and its emphasis onperspective and its emphasis on

unconscious sexual and aggressive instinctsunconscious sexual and aggressive instincts

TheThe behavioralbehavioral perspective, and its emphasisperspective, and its emphasis

on the mechanical nature of responses to stimulion the mechanical nature of responses to stimuliin the environment. The humanistic perspective,in the environment. The humanistic perspective,

thus, as been called the ³third force´.thus, as been called the ³third force´.



Roots of the Humanistic ApproachRoots of the Humanistic Approach

1. Existential Philosophy1. Existential Philosophy

Existential philosophy addresses many of theExistential philosophy addresses many of the

questions that later became the cornerstone of questions that later became the cornerstone of

the Humanistic approach, such as, thethe Humanistic approach, such as, the

meaning of our existence, the role of free will,meaning of our existence, the role of free will,and the uniqueness of each individual.and the uniqueness of each individual.

The existentialists, such as Rollo May, focusedThe existentialists, such as Rollo May, focused

on existential anxietyon existential anxiety-- the feeling of dreadthe feeling of dread

associated with the realization that there is noassociated with the realization that there is no

meaning to one¶s life.meaning to one¶s life.



2. The clinical experiences of Carl2. The clinical experiences of Carl

Rogers and Abraham MaslowRogers and Abraham Maslow..

The founders of the Humanistic Approach, CarlThe founders of the Humanistic Approach, CarlRogers and Abraham Maslow, were bothRogers and Abraham Maslow, were boththerapiststherapists

At that time, the Freudian model of therapy was At that time, the Freudian model of therapy waspopular, viewing the therapist as an expert whopopular, viewing the therapist as an expert whotells the client what is the problemtells the client what is the problem

Rogers maintained that it was only the client thatRogers maintained that it was only the client that

is responsible for the therapeutic directionis responsible for the therapeutic directionThe therapist can create conditions for self The therapist can create conditions for self--exploration.exploration.



Key Elements of the HumanisticKey Elements of the Humanistic

Approach Approach

Emphasis on personal responsibility (You don¶tEmphasis on personal responsibility (You don¶t³have to´ do your homework, you have chosen³have to´ do your homework, you have chosento do so). You are not a victim of circumstances!to do so). You are not a victim of circumstances!

Emphasis on the need to function in the ³hereEmphasis on the need to function in the ³hereand nowánd now´± ± Do not be a captive of your past!Do not be a captive of your past!

Acknowledging the phenomenology of the Acknowledging the phenomenology of theindividualindividual-- -- the fact that it is only the client (inthe fact that it is only the client (intherapy) that can make decision for him/herself.therapy) that can make decision for him/herself.

Emphasis on personal growthEmphasis on personal growth²²Rogers calledRogers calledthis ´becoming a fully functioning, while Maslowthis ´becoming a fully functioning, while Maslowreferred to this idea as ³self referred to this idea as ³self--actualization´.actualization´.



Self Self--Actualization Actualization-- What is it?What is it?

There is more to life than the absence of There is more to life than the absence of

problemsproblems

The Humanistic perspective maintain thatThe Humanistic perspective maintain thatwe all have a drive toward ³self we all have a drive toward ³self--

actualizationáctualization´

To become that best we can become, inTo become that best we can become, in

the context of our life (you do not have tothe context of our life (you do not have to

receive the Nobel Prize).receive the Nobel Prize).



Carl Rogers and PersonCarl Rogers and Person--CenteredCentered

TherapyTherapy

The role of the therapist is to create anThe role of the therapist is to create anatmosphere of ³unconditional positive regardátmosphere of ³unconditional positive regard´to enable the client¶s self to enable the client¶s self--exploration andexploration andbecoming ³fully functioning´.becoming ³fully functioning´.

Paraphrasing and reflection of feelings wereParaphrasing and reflection of feelings weremethods to facilitate self methods to facilitate self--explorationexploration

Rogers described the ³fullyRogers described the ³fully-- functioningfunctioningperson´ as an ideal for healthy personality.person´ as an ideal for healthy personality.

Rogers saw anxiety as resulting from our Rogers saw anxiety as resulting from our inability to incorporate information that isinability to incorporate information that isinconsistent with our self inconsistent with our self--imageimage



Rogers (contRogers (cont--d)d)

Note his emphasis on socialNote his emphasis on social--

environmental causes of emotionalenvironmental causes of emotional

maladjustment (in contrast to the biologicalmaladjustment (in contrast to the biological

approach), when he sees parentalapproach), when he sees parental

conditional acceptance.conditional acceptance.

The Rogerian therapist would say to aThe Rogerian therapist would say to a

client: ³I do not like what you did, but I stillclient: ³I do not like what you did, but I stillrespect you as a human being´.respect you as a human being´.



Abraham Maslow Abraham Maslow

Abraham Maslow was interested in Abraham Maslow was interested inexploring the sources of happy, healthyexploring the sources of happy, healthypersonality.personality.

His approach was optimistic, regardingHis approach was optimistic, regardinghuman beings as freehuman beings as free--willed individuals,willed individuals,and not as captive by unconscious drivesand not as captive by unconscious drives

His contribution is in the hierarchy of His contribution is in the hierarchy of needs, and in the study of theneeds, and in the study of thepsychologicallypsychologically--healthy individuals.healthy individuals.



Maslow¶s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow¶s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow distinguished between DMaslow distinguished between D

(deficiency) needs and B (being) needs.(deficiency) needs and B (being) needs.

Physiological needsPhysiological needsSafety needsSafety needs

Love and Belongingness needsLove and Belongingness needs

Esteem needs (you value yourself, andEsteem needs (you value yourself, andothers also value you)others also value you)

Self Self--Actualization needs Actualization needs



Misconceptions about Maslow HierarchyMisconceptions about Maslow Hierarchy

You do not have to fulfill all the needs inYou do not have to fulfill all the needs in

one level to ³climb´ to the next levelone level to ³climb´ to the next level

Some people who starve for their lovedSome people who starve for their lovedone, or for their life workone, or for their life work

Te needs in each level are never fullyTe needs in each level are never fully

satisfiedsatisfied

There are cultural differences in the waysThere are cultural differences in the ways

the needs are regarded and are fulfilledthe needs are regarded and are fulfilled



The ³psychologicallyThe ³psychologically--Healthy´ PeopleHealthy´ People

Maslow¶s study of the psychologicallyMaslow¶s study of the psychologically--

healthy people was Not empiricallyhealthy people was Not empirically--basedbased

He examined his friends, whom he judgedHe examined his friends, whom he judgedto be psychologically healthy, as well asto be psychologically healthy, as well as

historical figureshistorical figures

His analysis was ³holistic´ and subjectiveHis analysis was ³holistic´ and subjective

Yet, it was relevant that he called attentionYet, it was relevant that he called attention

to the healthy aspects of human natureto the healthy aspects of human nature



Attributes of the Psychologically Attributes of the Psychologically--

Healthy peopleHealthy people

Sense of humor Sense of humor

CreativityCreativity-- not in artistic talent, but innot in artistic talent, but in

being able to perform mundane tasks inbeing able to perform mundane tasks ina nona non--routine manner.routine manner.

Open to new experiencesOpen to new experiences

Having ³peak experiences´Having ³peak experiences´-- whichwhichinvolve the transcendence of time andinvolve the transcendence of time and

place.place.



The Psychology of Optimal Experience andThe Psychology of Optimal Experience and

Positive PsychologyPositive Psychology

The legacy of the Humanistic Approach isThe legacy of the Humanistic Approach is

in the emergence of the new branch of in the emergence of the new branch of

psychology, Positive Psychologypsychology, Positive Psychology

This branch focuses of human virtues,This branch focuses of human virtues,

strengths, resilience, and coping withstrengths, resilience, and coping with

adversityadversity

An important topic is the pursuit of An important topic is the pursuit of

happinesshappiness-- What is happiness?What is happiness?



The Psychology of Optimal ExperienceThe Psychology of Optimal Experience

In searching for the meaning of happiness,In searching for the meaning of happiness,Csikszentmihlyi introduced the concept of Csikszentmihlyi introduced the concept of ³flow´, quite similar to Maslow¶s Peak³flow´, quite similar to Maslow¶s PeakExperienceExperience

It involves being totally absorbed in an activityIt involves being totally absorbed in an activitythat requires your full attention and utilizesthat requires your full attention and utilizesyour skills to the utmostyour skills to the utmost

You have a feeling you are in a state of ³flowÝou have a feeling you are in a state of ³flow´

There are 8 components of the ³flow´ (seeThere are 8 components of the ³flow´ (seetextbook).textbook).



Applications Applications

Rogers applied his ideas into a system of Rogers applied his ideas into a system of

therapy that emphasizes the creation of thetherapy that emphasizes the creation of the

right conditions to allow the client to acceptright conditions to allow the client to accept

him/herself, and to achieve personal growth.him/herself, and to achieve personal growth.Extending to the client ³unconditional positiveExtending to the client ³unconditional positive

regard´ facilitates this goal.regard´ facilitates this goal.

Maslow¶s hierarchy of needs has been appliedMaslow¶s hierarchy of needs has been applied

into understanding job satisfaction andinto understanding job satisfaction and

vocational choices.vocational choices.



Current StatusCurrent Status

Though the Humanistic Approach wasThough the Humanistic Approach was

quite popular when it first came out, andquite popular when it first came out, and

though it introduced therapeutic strategiesthough it introduced therapeutic strategies

that are still applied today, its popularitythat are still applied today, its popularity

had waned.had waned.

The positive tone of the approach, that isThe positive tone of the approach, that is

seen as the forerunner of Positiveseen as the forerunner of PositivePsychology, is certainly a plus.Psychology, is certainly a plus.



Limitations of the Humanistic ApproachLimitations of the Humanistic Approach

Many of the concepts do not lendMany of the concepts do not lendthemselves for operational definitionsthemselves for operational definitionsand for scientific study.and for scientific study.

A great deal of the studies conducted by A great deal of the studies conducted byMaslow and Rogers to support their Maslow and Rogers to support their ideas were based on their own subjectiveideas were based on their own subjective

impressions and intuition.impressions and intuition.The concept of free will has beenThe concept of free will has beenchallenged.challenged.



(cont(cont--d)d)

Some researchers questioned the effectivenessSome researchers questioned the effectivenessof the Rogerian therapy (how do you measureof the Rogerian therapy (how do you measuresuccess in therapy?). It may be moresuccess in therapy?). It may be more

appropriate for people in ³life transitions´ than for appropriate for people in ³life transitions´ than for deepdeep--seated psychological disordersseated psychological disorders

The appropriateness of relying on the client toThe appropriateness of relying on the client tomake accurate appraisals of themselves hasmake accurate appraisals of themselves hasbeen questioned.been questioned.

The naïve assumptions about the goodness of The naïve assumptions about the goodness of individuals.individuals.

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139 Chapter 11 Ppt Spring 2011