1. Humanistic Perspective Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow

2. The Humanistic Perspective

3. Humanistic Perspective A perspective that focuses on the study of conscious experience and the individual’s self awareness and freedom to choose. Interested in the capacity for personal growth Sees people as innately good. Studies fulfilled and healthy individuals rather than troubled people

4. Humanistic Measures Humanistic measures of personality center on evaluating a person’s self concept--all of our thought and feelings about ourselves Answer the question “Who Am I?”

5. The Humanistic Perspective: Abraham Maslow and Self-Actualization

6. Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) Humanistic psychologist who developed the hierarchy of needs Believed that self-actualization is the ultimate psychological need

7. Hierarchy of Needs Maslow’s pyramid of human needs, beginning at the base with physiological needs, proceeding through safety needs and then to psychological needs Higher-level needs won’t become active until lower-level needs have been satisfied.

8. Self-Actualization According to Maslow, the need to live up to one’s fullest and unique potential Characteristics include: –Self aware and self accepting –Open, spontaneous, loving, and caring –Not paralyzed by other’s opinions –Focused on a particular task

9. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

14. The Humanistic Perspective: Carl Rogers and the Person-Centered Approach

15. Carl Rogers (1902-1987) Humanistic psychologist who stressed the importance of acceptance, genuineness, and empathy in fostering human growth

16. Carl Rogers Actualizing tendency—the most basic human motive that is the innate drive to maintain and enhance the human organism Self-concept—set of perceptions you hold about yourself Positive regard—conditional and unconditional – the sense of be loved and valued by other people.

17. Conditional Positive Regard Person is valued and loved only when the he/she behaves in a way that is acceptable to others. Can lead to incongruence – a state in which a child’s self-concept conflicts with their own experience. Rogers did not believe in permissive parenting. He said parents can disapprove of a behavior without completely rejecting the child.

18. Unconditional Positive Regard An attitude of total acceptance toward another person despite their faults and failings

19. Genuineness Freely expressing one’s feelings and not being afraid to disclose details about oneself

20. Empathy Sharing thoughts and understanding Listening and reflecting the other person’s feelings

21. Unconditional Positive Regard will help to create… Congruence – A person’s sense of self is consistent with their emotions & experiences.

22. Comparing Rogers to Freud Rogers – Viewed people as positive, forward- moving, constructive, realistic and trustworthy. –People are innately good –Humans will choose to act in ways that serve to improve society and perpetuate the human race. Freud – Pessimistically viewed humans as hostile, antisocial, destructive & evil –We need society restraints/laws to keep humans in line and prevent the destruction of the human race.

23. The Humanistic Perspective: Evaluating the Perspective

24. Evaluating Humanism Humanism has influenced therapy, child-rearing, and the workplace Laid the foundation for positive psychology

25. Criticisms of Humanism Difficult to test or validate scientifically Tends to be too optimistic, minimizing some of the more destructive aspects of human nature