Humanistic Psychology In the 1960’s people became sick of Freud’s negativity and trait psychology’s objectivity. Along came psychologists wanted to focus on “healthy” people and how to help them strive to “be all that they can be”.

Humanistic Theory of Personality 2 1. Do not believe in Determinism (your actions are dictated by your past). 2.They believe that humans have free will (our ability to choose your own destiny). 3. We are innately good and as long as our self-esteem and self- concept are positive we will be happy.

Humanistic Perspective 2a By the 1960s, psychologists became discontent with Freud’s negativity and the mechanistic psychology of the behaviorists. http://www.ship.edu Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

Humanistic Psychology 2b Focus: human experience, problems, potentials, ideals Human nature: traits, qualities, potential Free choice: ability to choose that is NOT controlled by genetics, learning or unconscious forces Subjective experience Private perceptions of reality Self actualization Process of fully developing personal potentials Peak experiences Temporary moments of self actualiziation

Abraham Maslow’s Self Actualizing Person 3 Hierarchy of Needs Ultimately seek self- actualization (the process of fulfilling our potential). Maslow developed his ideas by studying what he termed “healthy people”.

Self-Actualizing Person 3a Maslow proposed that we as individuals are motivated by a hierarchy of needs. Beginning with physiological needs, we try to reach the state of self-actualization—fulfilling our potential. OBJECTIVE 10| Summarize Abraham Maslow’s concept of self-actualization, and explain how his ideas illustrate the humanistic perspective. Ted Polumbaum/ Time Pix/ Getty Images http://www.ship.edu

Self-Actualized People 4 Problem centered rather than self-centered. Focused their energies on a particular task. Few deep relationships, rather than many superficial ones.

Carl Rogers’s Person-Centered Perspective 5 People are basically GOOD. We are like Acorns Need Water, Sun and Nutrients to Grow into a big Oak Tree. We need genuineness, acceptance and empathy for us to grow.

Carl Rogers Person Centered Perspective 5a People are basically good and endowed with self actualizing tendencies People nurture our growth by being accepting – give use unconditional positive regard

Rogers: key concepts 5b Fully functioning Self Self image Incongruence Lives in harmony with feelings/ impulses Self Flexible/ changing perception of one’s identity Self image Total subjective perception of body & personality Incongruence Discrepancy between one’s experiences and self images Ideal self Idealized image of oneself

Growth and Fulfillment 6 Carl Rogers also believed in an individual's self-actualization tendencies. He said that Unconditional Positive Regard is an attitude of acceptance of others despite their failings. OBJECTIVE 11| Discuss Carl Roger’s person-centered perspective, and explain the importance of unconditional positive regard. Michael Rougier/ Life Magazine © Time Warner, Inc.

Self-Concept 7 If our self concept is positive…. Both Rogers and Maslow believed that your self-concept is at the center of your personality. If our self concept is positive…. We tend to act and perceive the world positively. If our self-concept is negative…. We fall short of our “ideal self” and feel dissatisfied and unhappy

Self-Concept 8 All of thoughts and feelings about ourselves trying to answer the question…. WHO AM I?

Self concept 8a There is an ideal self and there is a real self Incongruence – when your view of yourself doesn’t match reality

Genuineness 9 Being open with your own feelings. Dropping your facade. Being transparent and self-disclosing.

Genuineness 9a Rogers also a therapist Part of his therapy was developing this Open with feelings Transparent No one has to figure out what your motives are

Acceptance 10 An attitude of acceptance regardless of circumstances. Unconditional Positive Regard: An attitude of acceptance regardless of circumstances. Accepting yourself or others completely.

Acceptance 10a Unconditional positive regard Accept you as you This doesn’t change if situation changes Accepts others also

Empathy 11 Listening, sharing, understanding and mirroring feelings and reflecting their meanings.

Empathy 11a Key factor in being a therapist Ability to Listen Share Mirror feelings reflect

Self-Esteem 12 One’s feelings of high or low self-worth.

Self-Serving Bias 13 A readiness to perceive oneself favorable. People accept more responsibility for successes than failures. Most people see themselves as better than average.

Self serving bias 13a Always perceive oneself as favorable Accept the responsibility for success Most people see themselves as better than average Questions to ask: Who admits that he/she is wrong? Who is willing to apologize? Who is willing to change behavior?

Is individualism really better? Does culture play a part in our personality (according to humanistic psychologists)? Individualism: giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals. Defining your identity in terms of yourself. Collectivism: giving priority to the goals of a group and defining your identity as part of that group. Is individualism really better?