Before Abraham Maslow, the psychological world was focused on behaviorism and psychoanalysis. One of Maslow's most important contributions to psychology was his theory of human needs, developed in the late 1960's. This theory explained that human needs were hierarchical in nature. He believed that humans strive to reach the highest levels of their capabilities.

Maslow set up a hierarchical theory of needs. The animal or physical needs were placed at the bottom, and the human needs at the top. This hierarchic theory can be seen as a pyramid. Each level of the pyramid is somewhat dependent on the previous level for most people. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs includes five levels:

FOOD & WATER CLOTHING & SHELTER SECURITY & COMFORT FREEDOM FROM FEAR FRIENDS & FAMILY LOVE, AFFECTION, BELONGING PRAISE AWARDS RESPECT MORALITY, CREATIVITY, SPONTANEITY, PROBLEM SOLVING, LACK OF PREJUDICE, ACCEPTANCE OF FACTS

MOST TIME IN LIFE IS SPENT DEALING WITH THE LOWER LEVELS THOSE THAT DO NOT REACH HIGHER LEVELS TEND TO: - BE SELF-CENTERED - BE FOLLOWERS - USE PEOPLE - BEHAVE LIKE ROBOTS

Carl Rogers pioneered the move away from traditional psychoanalysis, and developed client-centered psychotherapy, which recognizes that “each client has within him or herself the vast resources for self- understanding, for altering his or her self-concept, attitudes, and self-directed behavior.”

CONCEPT OF SELF ALL HUMANS ARE UNIQUE WE ARE DEFINED BY: -MATERIAL SELF – POSSESSIONS - SOCIAL SELF – HOW OTHERS VIEW US - SPIRITUAL SELF – REASON AND EMOTION

ROGERS BELIEVED THAT WE SEE OURSELVES IN TWO DISTINCT WAYS: - WE HAVE A VISION FOR OUR IDEAL SELF - WE KNOW OUR REAL SELF IN ORDER TO BECOME A FULLY FUNCTIONING PERSON WE MUST MATCH THESE TWO (SELF- ACTUALIZATION).

CARL ROGERS DEVELOPED CLIENT- CENTERED PSYCHOTHERAPY TO ASSIST WWII VETERANS RETURNING FROM COMBAT. IN THIS FORM OF THERAPY THE THERAPIST TRIES TO LET THE CLIENT WORK OUT SOLUTIONS TO HIS/HER OWN PROBLEMS.

THERAPIST DOES NOT ADVISE OR SUGGEST SOLUTIONS (NON-DIRECTIVE) PEOPLE IN THERAPY ARE CLIENTS NOT PATIENTS THERAPY IS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENT NOT SOCIETY OR FAMILY UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD