Chapter 12 Humanistic Personality Theories

Introduction  Dominant ways of thinking in field of psychotherapy were Psychoanalysis (Freud, Jung, Adler) and Behaviorism (Skinner, Watson)  Humanistic approach began in opposition to these approaches Believed Psychoanalysis and Behaviorism were too deterministic Believed humans had free will Believed if humans given right conditions, they will develop to fullest potential

Introduction (cont’d)  Two main theories Carl Rogers and Client-Centered Therapy Abraham Maslow and Hierarchy of Needs

Carl Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy  Introduction Originally trained as psychoanalyst Research on what caused change/progress in therapy  Not necessarily techniques  Certain conditions  unconditional positive regard, congruence, accurate empathic understanding (vicarious understanding of another’s emotional state) Developed system of therapy with goal of client understanding self

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Basic assumptions People suffer from conflict btn what they value in self and what they believe others value in them Left to own devices, humans show positive characteristics and move toward becoming fully-functioning ind’s People capable of change, given right conditions

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Starting point Actualizing tendency: built-in motivation to develop our potentials to fullest extent More than just survival We have it in our nature to do best we can Incorporates needs and motivations from other theorists

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Need for positive regard Significant idea Came from several experiences  Trained in seminary  Research in what conditions facilitated change in therapy  Experience as psychotherapist Believed we are all inter-dependent

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Need for positive regard (cont’d) Two types of regard:  Unconditional positive regard: unqualified acceptance of the worth of another person (despite behavior)  Conditional positive regard: qualified acceptance of worth of another—depends on behavior, contributions, etc. Conditions of worth: criteria ind must meet to receive positive regard What have you done for me lately? Source of problems

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Self Similar to concepts of ego, but more Image of who we are Includes beliefs about self Congruence: fit btn who I am and who I feel I should/could be  How well does who I actually am match who I would want to be?  I am versus I should be  Similar to Erikson’s notion of identity

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Self (cont’d) Problems occur when there is lack of congruence  Greater gap => more defensive, more limited  Smaller gap => more balanced, more comfortable Unconditional positive regard removes barriers to development and allows ind to develop into fully-functioning ind  How?  Provides safe place to explore, grow, and develop  Not protecting self

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Problems Incongruity btn real self and ideal self => threatening When put in threatening situation, experience anxiety Use defenses to deal with anxiety  Similar to Freud Types of defenses  Denial: block out threatening situation altogether  Perceptual distortion: reinterpret situation so that it appears less threatening

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Problems (cont’d) More defenses are used, greater gap (incongruence) btn real self and ideal self This is more threatening which causes more anxiety which leads to greater use of defenses, and so on.

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  “Fully-functioning person” When given unconditional positive regard, need to limit or protect self decreases (don’t worry what others think). Able to be self and to develop potential

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Fully functioning person (cont’d) Characteristics of ffp  Open to experience: Opposite of defensiveness Accurate perception of one’s experiences Accepts reality including feelings  Existential living Living in present (here-and-now) To get in touch with reality, avoid overly focusing on past and future Present is only reality we have

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  FFP (cont’d) Characteristics (cont’d)  Organismic trusting Ability to trust self and actualizing tendency Not simply do what feels good philosophy  Experiential freedom We feel free when we feel we have choices Freedom plus responsibility  Creativity Contribute to actualization of others Similar to Erikson’s concept of generativity and Adler’s concept of social interest

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Therapy “Client-centered” => client has capacity to figure out what is wrong and can find ways to change/improve Non-directive  therapist does not lead Supportive versus reconstructive If independence is goal, client will NOT achieve it if they become dependent on therapist Felt directive approach created dependence on therapist

Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (cont’d)  Therapy (cont’d) Reflective listening: mirroring client’s emotional communication  Communicate to client that therapist is listening, understands (empathy), and cares  Also lets client “hear” themselves—what client is communicating Rogers’ ideas on characteristics of effective therapist  “necessary and sufficient”  Congruent  Genuine  Empathic  Respectful

New Theory— Abraham Maslow & Hierarchy of Needs  Introduction Attended University of Wisconsin  Worked with Harry Harlow (of monkey fame) Originally trained as Freudian analyst Witnessing birth of his child changed his views Began to study characteristics of healthy individuals

Abraham Maslow and Hierarchy of Needs (cont’d)  Hierarchy of Needs Assumptions  We all strive to fulfill our needs  Some needs take precedence over others  We seek to fulfill more basic needs (e.g., for survival) first before we focus on more complex needs

Abraham Maslow and Hierarchy of Needs (cont’d)

 Hierarchy of Needs – Intro info Move from “deficit needs” to “being needs”  Deficit needs => if you don’t have it, you feel it. When you have it, feel nothing/satisfied  Being needs => once engaged, continue to be felt; want more

Abraham Maslow and Hierarchy of Needs (cont’d)  Hierarchy of Needs (from bottom to top) Physiological Needs  Need for food, water, oxygen, etc.  Need to sleep and other biological needs Safety Needs  Physical and emotional security  Includes place to be safe—where I live  Impact of economics—we focus on basic safety issues

Abraham Maslow and Hierarchy of Needs (cont’d)  Hierarchy of Needs (from bottom to top) Belonging Needs  Need to affiliate with others, to belong, to be accepted  Affection and relationships Esteem Needs  Lower esteem needs  Need for respect of others, need for status, attention  Higher esteem needs  self-respect, competence, mastery, achievement, etc.

Abraham Maslow and Hierarchy of Needs (cont’d)  Hierarchy of Needs (from bottom to top) Self-actualization  Fulfillment of one’s potential Includes not only needs of self, but others  Characteristics Reality-centered Accepting of self and others Spontaneous Problem-centered (life’s difficulties as problems demanding solutions, not personal) Autonomous Independent (versus conforming to others)

Abraham Maslow and Hierarchy of Needs (cont’d)

 Hierarchy of Needs (cont’d) Self-actualization (cont’d)  Peak experiences: Experience that takes you out of yourself Experience that connects you with life, nature, and God Gives feeling of being part of infinite and eternal Glimmer of what it would be like to be to have reached fullest potential Also called mystical experiences, transcendent experiences Kairos