PERSONALITY PSY234 PERSONALITY PSY234

Lecture Lecture 44::Humanistic TheoriesHumanistic Theories

Dr Simon BoagDr Simon Boag

Email: Email: simon.boag@psy.mq.edu.ausimon.boag@psy.mq.edu.au

ReadingsReadings• Carver, C. S. & Scheier, M. F. (2004). Carver, C. S. & Scheier, M. F. (2004).

Perspectives on PersonalityPerspectives on Personality. (pp. 382-. (pp. 382-411)411)

Additional (non-assessable)Additional (non-assessable)• Rogers, C. R. (1961). Rogers, C. R. (1961). On Becoming a On Becoming a

PersonPerson. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.• Maslow, A. H. (1962). Maslow, A. H. (1962). Towards a Towards a

Psychology of Being.Psychology of Being. New York: Van New York: Van Nostrand.Nostrand.

Lecture OutlineLecture OutlineI. Introduction to Humanistic PsychologyI. Introduction to Humanistic PsychologyII. Carl Rogers’ theoryII. Carl Rogers’ theory• The The AActualising ctualising ttendency & the endency & the FFully-ully-

functioning personfunctioning person• EvaluationEvaluationIII. Abraham Maslow’s theoryIII. Abraham Maslow’s theory• The Hierarchy of needs & Self-The Hierarchy of needs & Self-

actualisationactualisation• EvaluationEvaluation

Learning OutcomesLearning OutcomesAfter this lecture you should be able toAfter this lecture you should be able to::• Outline what distinguishes humanistic Outline what distinguishes humanistic

psychology as the ‘third force’psychology as the ‘third force’• Explain & describe Roger’s theory of Explain & describe Roger’s theory of

the fully-functioning person & the the fully-functioning person & the development of psychopathologydevelopment of psychopathology

• Explain & describe Maslow’s hierarchy Explain & describe Maslow’s hierarchy of needs & its relationship to self-of needs & its relationship to self-actualisationactualisation

I. Humanistic PsychologyI. Humanistic Psychology• ““Third force” in psychologyThird force” in psychology• (Cf. psychoanalysis & behaviourism)(Cf. psychoanalysis & behaviourism)• Focus on “higher” end of human Focus on “higher” end of human

experienceexperience• eeg. creativity, human potentialg. creativity, human potential• Phenomenological Phenomenological (subjectivity)(subjectivity)• IntrospectiveIntrospective• Values unique person (idiographic)Values unique person (idiographic)• Non-deterministic: advocates free-willNon-deterministic: advocates free-will

II. Carl Rogers’ theoryII. Carl Rogers’ theory

Carl Rogers (1902-1987)Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

The Actualising TendencyThe Actualising Tendency“… “… the directional trend which is evident the directional trend which is evident

in all organic & human life—the urge to in all organic & human life—the urge to expand, extend, develop, mature—the expand, extend, develop, mature—the

tendency to express & activate all tendency to express & activate all capacities of the organism, or the self”capacities of the organism, or the self”

(Rogers, 1961, p.(Rogers, 1961, p. 351).351).• ‘‘Acorn to oaktree’ modelAcorn to oaktree’ model• Human motivation is fundamentally Human motivation is fundamentally

growth-directed & healthygrowth-directed & healthy

The Core of Personality is The Core of Personality is PositivePositive

““One of the most revolutionary One of the most revolutionary concepts to grow out of our clinical concepts to grow out of our clinical

experience is the growing recognition experience is the growing recognition that the innermost core of man’s that the innermost core of man’s nature, the deepest layers of his nature, the deepest layers of his

personality, the base of his “animal personality, the base of his “animal nature,” is positive in nature—is nature,” is positive in nature—is

basically socialised, forward-moving, basically socialised, forward-moving, rational and realistic”rational and realistic”

(Rogers, 1961, p. 91).(Rogers, 1961, p. 91).

Why Human Problems?Why Human Problems?• Negative socialisationNegative socialisation• Conditional positive regardConditional positive regard::• Children accepted by parents when ‘good’ Children accepted by parents when ‘good’

& rejected when ‘bad’& rejected when ‘bad’• We develop the viewWe develop the view: ‘I ought to be good’, : ‘I ought to be good’,

‘I have to be good’‘I have to be good’• We lose touch with our true nature (‘real We lose touch with our true nature (‘real

self’ & actualising tendency)self’ & actualising tendency)• Develop anDevelop an Ideal selfIdeal self:: Who we feel we Who we feel we

should be (should be (ccf. superego)f. superego)

IncongruityIncongruity• Conflict between real & ideal selfConflict between real & ideal self• ‘‘I am this but I should be that’I am this but I should be that’• Real self evaluated as a threatReal self evaluated as a threat• PsychopathologyPsychopathology & defence mechanisms & defence mechanisms• Defensive masksDefensive masks ( (False selFalse selvevess))• RepressionRepression/denial/denial: denying awareness to : denying awareness to

ourselves of who we really areourselves of who we really are• TherapyTherapy: reconnecting with who we : reconnecting with who we

really arereally are

Defensive Living UnsatisfyingDefensive Living Unsatisfying

““It seems to me that at bottom It seems to me that at bottom each person is asking, “Who am each person is asking, “Who am I, I, really?really? How can I get in touch How can I get in touch with this real self, underlying all with this real self, underlying all

my surface behaviour? How can I my surface behaviour? How can I become myself?” become myself?”

(Rogers, 1961, p. 108).(Rogers, 1961, p. 108).

Unconditional Positive Unconditional Positive RegardRegard

• Healthy/positive socialisationHealthy/positive socialisation• Parent etc. regards the ‘person’ Parent etc. regards the ‘person’

positively irrespective of their positively irrespective of their behaviourbehaviour

• ‘‘Person’ distinct from ‘behaviour’Person’ distinct from ‘behaviour’• Allows childAllows child/client/client to explore their to explore their

experienceexperience & potentials & potentials• OutcomeOutcome::Fully functioning personFully functioning person

“… “… the therapist feels this client to the therapist feels this client to be a person of unconditional self-be a person of unconditional self-

worth: of value, no matter what his worth: of value, no matter what his condition, his behaviour, or his condition, his behaviour, or his

feelings”feelings”(Rogers, 1961, p. 185)(Rogers, 1961, p. 185)

Fully-Fully-FFunctioning Personunctioning Person(1) (1) Openness to experienceOpenness to experience• Non-censoring/non-defensive attitudeNon-censoring/non-defensive attitude• Receptive to both subjective/objective Receptive to both subjective/objective

experienceexperience(2) (2) Existential livingExistential living“… “… an increasing tendency to live fully in an increasing tendency to live fully in

each moment” (Rogers, 1961, p.each moment” (Rogers, 1961, p. 188)188)• Living in the present; not past or futureLiving in the present; not past or future• Non-static, Non-static, constant process of constant process of becomingbecoming• “… “… a direction, not a destination” (p. 186)a direction, not a destination” (p. 186)

Fully-Fully-FFunctioning Person unctioning Person (cont).(cont).(3) (3) Organismic trustingOrganismic trusting• Trusting oneself; not relying on othersTrusting oneself; not relying on others• “… “… doing what ‘feels right’” (Rogers, doing what ‘feels right’” (Rogers,

1961, p. 189)1961, p. 189)(4) (4) Experiential freedomExperiential freedom• Subjective freedom of choice in each Subjective freedom of choice in each

momentmoment(5) (5) CreativityCreativity• Creative Creative productsproducts: eg. a: eg. arts, sciencerts, science• Creative Creative livingliving: living : living non-habitualnon-habituallyly

Evaluation of Roger’s TheoryEvaluation of Roger’s Theory

• ““It has been my experience that It has been my experience that persons have a basically positive persons have a basically positive directiondirection” (Rogers, 1961, p. 26).” (Rogers, 1961, p. 26).

• Naïve, overly-optimistic view of Naïve, overly-optimistic view of human nature?human nature?

• What of wars, brutality etc?What of wars, brutality etc?

Rogers’ Response:Rogers’ Response:““I am quite aware that out of defensiveness I am quite aware that out of defensiveness

& inner fear individuals can and do behave & inner fear individuals can and do behave in ways which are incredibly cruel, horribly in ways which are incredibly cruel, horribly destructive … anti-social, hurtful. Yet one of destructive … anti-social, hurtful. Yet one of the most refreshing and invigorating parts the most refreshing and invigorating parts

of my experience is to work with such of my experience is to work with such individuals and to discover the strongly individuals and to discover the strongly

positive directional tendencies which exist positive directional tendencies which exist in them, as in all of us, at the deepest in them, as in all of us, at the deepest

levels” levels” (Rogers, 1961, p. 27).(Rogers, 1961, p. 27).

Evaluation of Roger’s TheoryEvaluation of Roger’s Theory• ““Unconditional positive regard Unconditional positive regard

irresponsible”irresponsible”• eg. Greater drug experimentation in eg. Greater drug experimentation in

childrenchildrenClient-centered TherapyClient-centered Therapy: : • Contributed therapeutic techniquesContributed therapeutic techniques • eg. uncond. pos. regardeg. uncond. pos. regard• Testable therapeutic conceptsTestable therapeutic concepts• eg. measurement of self-perception, eg. measurement of self-perception,

ideal-self, and therapeutic effectivenessideal-self, and therapeutic effectiveness

Abraham Maslow’s TheoryAbraham Maslow’s Theory

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Maslow’s ApproachMaslow’s Approach• Rejection of mainstream Rejection of mainstream

psychology & scientific methodpsychology & scientific method• Science too limited for studying Science too limited for studying

human naturehuman nature• ‘‘Scientific attitudeScientific attitude’’ pathological pathological (eg. (eg.

Skinner’s)Skinner’s)• Began psychology career studying Began psychology career studying

‘dominance’ in monkeys‘dominance’ in monkeys• ““Psychopathology of the average”Psychopathology of the average”

Psychopathology of the Psychopathology of the AverageAverage

““Certainly it seems more & more Certainly it seems more & more clear that what we call “normal” clear that what we call “normal”

in psychology is really a in psychology is really a psychopathology of the average, psychopathology of the average, so undramatic & so widely spread so undramatic & so widely spread

that we don’t even notice it that we don’t even notice it ordinarily”ordinarily”

(Maslow, 1968, p. 21)(Maslow, 1968, p. 21)

Maslow’s ApproachMaslow’s Approach• We need to study psychologically healthy We need to study psychologically healthy

people to understand human nature, not people to understand human nature, not psychopathological ones (cf. Freud)psychopathological ones (cf. Freud)

• Identified colleagues & historical figures Identified colleagues & historical figures that he considered psychologically that he considered psychologically healthy (reaching ‘full potential’)healthy (reaching ‘full potential’)

• eg. George Washington, Albert Einsteineg. George Washington, Albert Einstein• Looked for common elements & identified Looked for common elements & identified

self-actualising qualitiesself-actualising qualities

Self-Actualisation & the Self-Actualisation & the Hierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of Needs

• Self-actualisationSelf-actualisation::“… to become “… to become everything that one is capable of everything that one is capable of becoming” (Maslow, becoming” (Maslow, 19681968, p., p.4646).).

• Persons must pass through various lower Persons must pass through various lower levels before attaining this highest stagelevels before attaining this highest stage

• Each level has a Each level has a basic needbasic need that must be that must be met before moving up the hierarchymet before moving up the hierarchy

• If lower needs are not met then growth If lower needs are not met then growth stopsstops

Hierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of NeedsSelf-actualisationSelf-actualisation

Esteem needsEsteem needs

Love & belongingness needsLove & belongingness needs

Safety needsSafety needs

Physiological needsPhysiological needs

Deficiency MotivationDeficiency MotivationEach need involves overcoming deficiencyEach need involves overcoming deficiency(1) (1) Physiological needsPhysiological needs • Food, water, sleep, sex etc.Food, water, sleep, sex etc.(2) (2) Safety needsSafety needs• Safe environmentSafe environment(3) (3) Belongingness & love needsBelongingness & love needs• Love, friendship, social lifeLove, friendship, social life(4) (4) Esteem needsEsteem needs• Respect from others & self-respectRespect from others & self-respect

Frustration & Anti-social Frustration & Anti-social BehaviourBehaviour

• Like Rogers, humans are basically good Like Rogers, humans are basically good natured & growth directednatured & growth directed

• Human problems arise not simply from Human problems arise not simply from socialisation (ie. Rogers’ theory)socialisation (ie. Rogers’ theory)

• FrustrationFrustration of deficiency needs leads to of deficiency needs leads to aanti-social emotions (enti-social emotions (eg.g. hostility, hostility, jealousy etc)jealousy etc)

• Choice b/w safety & growth (free-will)Choice b/w safety & growth (free-will)• Jonah ComplexJonah Complex: belief that we cannot : belief that we cannot

achieve anything importantachieve anything important

‘‘Being’ MotivationBeing’ Motivation• (5) (5) Need for Self-actualisationNeed for Self-actualisation• Requires first meeting deficiency needsRequires first meeting deficiency needs• Pinnacle of developmentPinnacle of development• Person needs to ‘actualise’ their potentialPerson needs to ‘actualise’ their potential• AestheticAesthetic & & truthtruth potentials potentials• Maslow (1968): 1 in 3000 uni studentsMaslow (1968): 1 in 3000 uni students• >1%>1% of population of population• MetapathologiesMetapathologies: depression, alienation, : depression, alienation,

cynicismcynicism

Self-ActualisersSelf-Actualisers(1) (1) Efficient perception of realityEfficient perception of reality• Seeing the world accuratelySeeing the world accurately• Judging people accurately/detectJudging people accurately/detectinging

deceptiondeception(2) (2) More acceptingMore accepting• More accepting of themselves & othersMore accepting of themselves & others(3) (3) SpontaneousSpontaneous(4) (4) Problem-centredProblem-centred• Not self-centred; focus on problem’s Not self-centred; focus on problem’s

outside of themselves eg. environmental outside of themselves eg. environmental concernsconcerns

Self-Actualisers (cont).Self-Actualisers (cont).(5) Need privacy (solitude)(5) Need privacy (solitude)(6) Enjoy intimate relationships(6) Enjoy intimate relationships(7) Act Independently of culture(7) Act Independently of culture• Non-conformistsNon-conformists(8) Peak experiences(8) Peak experiences• Intense experiential states of harmony, Intense experiential states of harmony,

joyjoy,, beauty beauty(9) Creative(9) Creative(10) Humour(10) Humour

Evaluation of Maslow’s Evaluation of Maslow’s TheoryTheory

• Maslow’s Maslow’s methodologymethodology: identified : identified self-self-actualisersactualisers based on his based on his own own personal personal preferencepreference/bias/bias

• Hierarchy of needsHierarchy of needs: some empirical : some empirical support that lower level needs are support that lower level needs are stronger than high-level when deprived stronger than high-level when deprived (eg. Wicker et al, 1993; Hagerty, 1999) (eg. Wicker et al, 1993; Hagerty, 1999)

• Exceptions to the hierarchy of needsExceptions to the hierarchy of needs• eeg. ‘starving artist’g. ‘starving artist’

SummarySummary• Humanistic psychology is the ‘third force’ Humanistic psychology is the ‘third force’

in psychologyin psychology• Emphasises mental health: fully-Emphasises mental health: fully-

functioning (Rogers); self-actualising functioning (Rogers); self-actualising (Maslow)(Maslow)

• In Roger’s theory, negative socialisation In Roger’s theory, negative socialisation (conditional positive regard) prevents (conditional positive regard) prevents mental healthmental health

• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs proposes Maslow’s hierarchy of needs proposes that lower needs must be met before that lower needs must be met before higher levels are obtainedhigher levels are obtained