1. Experience, Existence, and the Meaning of Life: Humanistic and Positive Psychology

2. © 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Objectives
Discuss the main issues of humanistic psychology
Phenomenology
Existentialsim
Discuss positive psychology
Discuss the implications of phenomenology
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

3. Psychology
The object of its scrutiny is also the one doing the scrutinizing.
The human mind is aware, and when it knows it is being studied, it has an effect.

4. Humanistic Psychology
To understand a person, you must understand his/her unique view of reality.
The way you experience the world is the most important psychological fact about you
If everybody’s view of the world is different, which one is right? What is reality?
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

5. © 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Phenomenology:
One’s conscious experience of the world; everything a person hears, feels, and thinks
Reality exists, but personal perception and awareness is more important
Free will: if the past is gone, the future is not here yet, we can choose what to think, feel, and do
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

6. Phenomenology
“We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are.” –Talmud
“It is not things in themselves that trouble us, but our opinions of them.” –Epictetus
“I do not react to some absolute reality, but to my perception of this reality. It is this perception which for me is reality.” –Carl Rogers

7. © 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Phenomenology
Construal: a person’s particular experience of the world
Everyone’s is different.
Form the basis of how you live your life
Free will is achieved by choosing your construal.
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

8. Existentialism
A reaction against rationalism, science, and the industrial revolution
Purpose: regain contact with the experience of being alive and aware
Key questions:
What is the nature of existence?
And what does it mean?

9. © 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Existentialism
Existential anxiety: the unpleasant feeling caused by contemplating the meaning of life and how one should spend one’s time, causing:
Anguish
Forlornness
Despair
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10. Existentialism: Bad Faith
Our moral imperative to face existential anxiety and seek purpose in spite of these emotions
Requires existential courage or optimistic toughness
BUT people can avoid this
Living in bad faith
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11. Living in Bad Faith: Research
Most people would rather live a meaningful life than be wealthy
Experiences promote happiness more than possessions
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12. Top 5 Regrets People make on their Deathbed
I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

13. The Alternative? Authentic Existence
Coming to terms with existence; being honest, insightful, and morally correct
However, this will not relieve loneliness and unhappiness
The essence of the human experience: understanding that you must die
Ask “What does life want from me?” instead of “What do I want from life?”

14. Existentialism
BUT existentialism is based on the Western focus on the individual and the difficulty of finding meaning in life.

15. The Eastern Alternative
Existentialism is fundamentally wrong.
The self is an illusion and this illusion is harmful.
True nature of reality is that everyone and everything are interconnected now, and across time.
Suggests immortality (we are part of something larger that will last forever).
Promotes caring for others the same as for yourself
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

16. Enter Humanism in Psychology…
Beginning in the 1940s
Reaction to Psychoanalytic and Behaviourist theories
Mixed existential philosophy, Eastern views of the self and American optimism

17. © 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Optimistic Humanism
Began with existential assumptions
Phenomenology is central.
People have free will.
Added another crucial idea
People are basically good.
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18. Self-Actualization: Rogers
People have a basic need to actualize
Maintain and enhance their own experience
Goal of existence is to achieve actualization (reach your full potential)
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19. The Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow
Agreed with the basic assumption: The ultimate need or motive is to self-actualize.
BUT can only do this if basic needs are met
Hierarchy of needs: how human motivation is characterized
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20. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Figure 13.1 Activity Hierarchy of needs
Maslow article in the reader: A theory of human motivation
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21. © 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
The Hierarchy of Needs
Practical applications
Career choice
Employee motivation
Understand happiness in different cultures
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22. The Fully Functioning Person
People who self-actualize
Be clearly aware of reality and yourself
Face the world without fear, self-doubt, or neurotic defenses
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

23. The Fully Functioning Person
Open to experience: both positive and negative emotions accepted.
Existential living: living for the moment.
3. Trust feelings: trust ourselves to make the right choices.
4. Creativity: creative thinking and risk taking
5. Fulfilled life: person is happy

24. The Fully Functioning Person
Importance of unconditional positive regard
 is where parents/ caregivers accept and love the person for what he or she is. 
Freedom to make mistakes
Conditions of worth
praise and approval depends on behaving in ways that are considered correct. 
Limits your freedom to act and think

25. Humanism: Psychotherapy
Goal: help the client become a fully functioning person
The therapist develops a genuine and caring relationship with the client and provides unconditional positive regard.
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

26. Humanism: Psychotherapy
Jobs of the therapist
Help the client perceive her own thoughts and feelings
Make the client feel appreciated
Goals
Allow insight
Remove conditions of worth
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

27. Flow: Csikszentmihalyi
The best way a person can spend time is doing activities that are enjoyable for their own sake.
Flow
Tremendous concentration, total lack of distractibility, and thoughts concerning only the activity at hand
Mood that is slightly elevated
Time seems to pass very quickly.
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

28. © 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Positive Psychology
Health means more than the absence of disease.
Traditional psychology overemphasizes psychopathology and malfunction and ignores positive phenomenon.
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

29. © 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Positive Psychology
Goal: improve quality of life and prevent pathologies
Investigates the traits, processes, and social institutions that promote a happy and meaningful life
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30. Happiness
True happiness comes from overcoming important challenges and building relationships
Avoiding unproductive rumination of negative events
Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky

31. The Implications of Phenomenology
Conscious experience cannot be explained by science and is difficult to describe in words.
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

32. The Implications of Phenomenology
Conscious experience cannot be explained by science and is difficult to describe in words.
Reminds us of the mystery of human awareness and experience
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

33. The Implications of Phenomenology
Conscious experience cannot be explained by science and is difficult to describe in words.
Reminds us of the mystery of human awareness and experience
Teaches us the only way to truly understand a person is to comprehend that persons unique view of reality (construals)
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

34. The Implications of Phenomenology
Discourages judgmental attitudes
Consequence: cultural and moral relativism
Do not judge the values and practices of other cultures from the perspective of your own.
© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.