Understanding Personality: The Humanistic/Existential Perspectives
What is ‘personality’? unique way a person thinks, acts and feels throughout life unique way a person thinks, acts and feels throughout life is stable over time is stable over time many perspectives in personality, we will focus on humanistic and psychodynamic perspectives many perspectives in personality, we will focus on humanistic and psychodynamic perspectives
A ‘Phenomenological’ approach Behavior is determined by the phenomenological reality of a person Behavior is determined by the phenomenological reality of a person Must know what the world is like for that person, no two people are the same Must know what the world is like for that person, no two people are the same
Abraham Maslow’s Need Hierarchy
Abraham Maslow (p ) peak experiences peak experiences criticism? criticism?
Carl Rogers’ Person-Centered Approach we all need love and approval we all need love and approval we all have a desire to develop our unique potential- a “self- actualizing tendency” we all have a desire to develop our unique potential- a “self- actualizing tendency”
Carl Rogers’ Person-Centered Approach self- concept: the ‘real’ and ‘ideal’ selves self- concept: the ‘real’ and ‘ideal’ selves Unconditional Positive Regard Unconditional Positive Regard empathy, genuineness empathy, genuineness mirroring mirroring
Existential Approaches free will and choice, leading to responsibility free will and choice, leading to responsibility the search for meaning the search for meaning
Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy finding meaning in life finding meaning in life not so much mental illness as existential frustration not so much mental illness as existential frustration
Frankl’s Logotherapy (cont.) the existential vacuum the existential vacuum ultimate goal is SELF-TRANSCENDENCE ultimate goal is SELF-TRANSCENDENCE