Humanistic Personality

Psychology Personality Art Test

Personality - Humanistic Perspective By 1960s psychologists had become discontented with Freud’s negativity and mechanistic psychology of behaviorists. Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers Humanistic Theory: Emphasizes that individuals control their own behavior and focuses on conscious experiences

On the second sheet of paper write down your ideal self is or who you want to be. On the first sheet of paper describe your perceived self? (So who you think you are) Who am I?

You probably haven’t achieved your ideal self yet since you are still in the process of finding who you are How similar is your ideal self to your actual self? Who am I?

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow Self-Actualization not just a tendency, it is a NEED. ➢ We must meet our basic needs, before moving up on the triangle ➢ After meeting our needs for self-esteem can we obtain self-actualization “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”-- We move UP the hierarchy Basic at Bottom ---- Self-Actualization at Top

Self-Actualization Self-Actualizing Person - Motivation to fulfill potential Maslow believed that we tried to reach the state of self-actualization to fulfill our potential. He believed this desire exists in all people but it is often prevented by one’s environment. Characteristics: - accepts self unconditionally - spontaneous and natural - democratic in nature - like privacy - focus on problems outside of themselves - strong ethical and moral sense - close, yet limited number of friends - very realistic

Carl Rogers Believed in individuals personal growth tendencies. People are naturally good. Central feature of personality = self- concept For an individual to grow, Rogers said must have: 1. Genuineness: being open with feelings 2. Empathy: Sharing and mirroring our feelings and reflecting meanings 3. Acceptance: Get rid of conditions of worth. Must have/offer unconditional positive regard Unconditional Positive Regard - an attitude of total acceptance toward another person

Assessing the Self in Humanism According to Carl Rogers In an effort to assess personality, Rogers asked people to describe themselves as they would like to be (ideal) and as they actually are (real). If the 2 descriptions are close, the individual had a positive self-concept. All our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, boils down to the answer of a single question: “Who am I?” Refers to self-concept He suggested that the actualizing tendency is the driving force behind human behavior.

Quick Review 1.What do the humanistic perspective focus on when explaining personality? 2.Describe Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and self- actualization. 3.Why is it so difficult to become self-actualized? 4.Describe Carl Rogers perspective on personal growth. 5.What is unconditional positive regard? 6.Explain how humanistic psychologists assessed personality.

Answers 1.Emphasizes that individuals control their own behavior and focuses on conscious experiences 2.Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs, ranging from the most basic needs to the ultimate need for self actualization. He believed that after fulfilling other needs, people will be motivated to achieve their highest potential – self-actualization 3.Our environment is constantly changing (e.g. lose your job) which sets us back in reaching our self-actualization 4.We can promote others’ growth toward a deeper self- awareness and a more realistic and positive self-concept by being accepting, genuine, and empathic (AGE) 5.Part of being accepting, is unconditional positive regard— an attitude of total acceptance toward the other person 6.Questionnaires on which people reported their self- concept, for example, by comparing their actual self with their ideal self

Evaluating the Humanistic Approach ★ Consistent with how many people view themselves. ★ Inspired forms of psychotherapy. ★ Criticized for being naïve, romantic, and unrealistic. ★ Criticized for emphasizing culture, specific ideas about mental health: very individualistic. 1. Humanistic psychology had pervasive impact on counseling, education, child-rearing, and management. 2. Concepts in humanistic psychology are vague and subjective and lacked scientific basis. 3. Individualism can lead to self-indulgence, selfishness, and corruptions. So need to be careful of emphasis. What about the collective?