The Humanistic Perspective

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The Humanistic Perspective
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The Humanistic Perspective

• The humanistic perspective was embraced due to
  discontent with Freud.
• Humanistic perspective believes that people are
  innately good and claims that people choose their
  destinies through free will.

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Abraham Maslows Self-Actualization (remember
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
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Abraham Maslows Self-Actualization (remember
hierarchy of needs?)

• We ultimately strive for self-actualization once
  our other needs are met (physiological, safety,
  love, self-esteem)
• Self-actualization The motivation to fulfill
  ones potential. Maslow claims this is the
  ultimate psychological need. VIDEO- Unlocking
  You, Human Needs, Self Actualization, How to,
  Maslow, Humanistic Psychology - YouTube
• Maslow studied healthy subjects.
• Maslow based his definition for
  self-actualization on successful people that led
  productive lives
• Ex. Lincoln, Jefferson, Eleanor Roosevelt
• These people were self-aware and motivated by
  peak experiences

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Carl Rogers Person Centered Theory

• People are innately good
• To grow, people need a healthy climate which
  includes genuineness, acceptance, and empathy

"In my early professionals years I was asking the
question How can I treat, or cure, or change
this person? Now I would phrase the question in
this way How can I provide a relationship which
this person may use for his own personal growth?
Carl Rogers
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To self-actualize

• Our growth toward self-actualization is fostered
  through genuine people
• Transparent, real, open about feelings
• To self-actualize people need unconditional
  positive regard (acceptance)
• Q What does it mean to be judgemental?
• Ex. your parents love you no matter what
• Unconditional positive regard is extending grace.
• Just like on Maslows hierarchy of needs, people
  need to feel loved and a sense of belongingness
  before they can self-actualize.
• Growth is nurtured through empathy
• Empathy is the feeling of concern for another
  person/ imagining yourself in their circumstances

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Carl Rogers
Video Carl Rogers discussing key concepts
before the Gloria session.
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Carl Rogers (cont.)

• Self-concept our thoughts and feelings about
  ourselves that answer the question, Who am I?
• Rogers believes that we should all try to help
  one another realize who we are and accept that
  person.
• High self-concept high self-esteem
• Self-concept develops through our interaction
  with others.

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Evaluation and Criticism of the Humanistic
Perspective

• Influenced several realms of psychology
  (counseling, parenting, etc.)
• Many have embraced the positive self-concept
  idea that we are innately good
• Humanistic perspective concepts are subjective
  and vague (2nd para. 589)
• The humanistic perspective leads to
  self-indulgence. 60s/70s generation.
• Perspective fails to acknowledge our capacity for
  evil.
• Ex. People say explain Hitler
• Rogers responds with the belief that evil
  springs from toxic cultural influences

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Behaviorist Perspective on Personality

• Personality is determined by our environment not
  internal conflicts.
• Reinforcement and punishment shape your
  personality.
• By changing our environments, we can change our
  personality, according to the behaviorists.

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Behaviorists and Personality

• Believed that humans do NOT have free will.
• Ex. You are respectful and friendly to people
  when you are young, your parents reinforce you
  through complements such as what a nice boy.

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Behaviorist Perspective on Personality

• Thorndike Law of Effect
• Rewarded behavior is more likely to occur
• Skinner
• Shaping behavior through reinforcement and
  punishment
• Positive and negative reinforcement
• Positive and negative punishment

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Behaviorist Perspective on Personality

• Our personality is largely a by-product of
  watching others and through rewards
• Complete Behaviorists/Humanists sheet.

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Biological Perspective on Personality

• Our personality is determined by our genes and
  body types.  
• Genes can play a role in our temperaments
  emotional style of dealing with the world.
• According to biological theorists, babies are
  born with varying temperaments.
• Temperaments affect our personality

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Biological Perspective on Psychology

• William Sheldon
• Somatotype theory our body types are associated
  with our personality
• Fat (Endomorphs) friendly, outgoing, tolerant,
  sociable, relaxed, need for affection
• Muscular (Mesomorphs) aggressive, courageous,
  assertive, bold, competitive

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Biological perspective on Personality

• Thin (Ectomorphs) shy, secretive, artistic,
  thoughtful, introverted, inhibited
• Criticism is that Sheldons research only shows a
  correlation between body type and personality.
  This theory is not widely accepted due to lack of
  research and validity.
• REMEMBER Correlation does not equal causation