The Humanistic Approach

The Humanistic Approach

Keeping the Person in Personality • Origins of humanistic approach are traced to desire to aid those in distress • “It is the meaning of the decision, which is essential to understanding the act” (Rogers, 1969) • Behavior is based on choices and the meaning we assign to choices • The meanings are created by the individual and not an outside viewer as Freud would believe

Birth of the Perspective • Originates in 1950’s • Blending of variety of theories including: • Existential • Phenomenological • Maslow-”Third Force” • Alternative to behaviorism and psychoanalysis • Dominant forces in Psychology at the time

Common Characteristics that make Humanistic Approach • Subjective experience of individual key to understanding their behavior • Phenomenological Approach • Past experience and current circumstances are not the only causes of behavior

Major Difference from Behaviorism and Psychoanalysis • Both of these perspectives share two details that are rejected by the Humanistic Approach • Determinism • Assumption all behavior has specific causes • Behaviorism- Environment (reinforcers) • Psychoanalysis- Unconscious innate drives • Individual is seen as being controlled by outside forces outside of their control • Lack of value for Subjective Experience • Psychologists have always traditionally been weary of subjective reports • Behaviorism- What people say or think is irrelevant to behavior only environment matters • Psychoanalysis-Behavior can not be explained because the causes are largely unconscious and any conscious understanding will be distorted by rationalization • Explanation of behavior ends up in the hands of the observer instead of the person behaving

Humanistic Answers to These Concepts • Determinism • Immediate situations and past experiences can influence behavior • Crucial element rests in individuals ability to respond based on subjective assessment of a situation (Can make choices=Free Will) • The way we think effects our behavior, independently of external factors • Value of Subjective Experience • Only individual can explain the meaning of a behavior • Subjective experience can be studied scientifically • All data being gathered by humans is subjective so there is not need for a third-party observer

How Can Subjectivity be Used in a Social Science? • Notion of Subjectivity establishes new criteria for scientific observation according to Rogers • Any observation agreed upon by two observers is valid despite each person operating under their own subjectivity • Called intersubjective verification • Basis for all human interaction including the scientific method

Meaning and its Importance in the Humanistic Perspective • Arises from concepts of choices and subjective look at behavior in approach • Meaning- the purpose or value that an individual attaches to their actions or experience • Traditionally Psychology has ignored the notion of meaning • Helps to keep ‘value-free’ environment of science • We have gotten to the point of acknowledging meaning post WWII, but many question whether Humanists have developed a framework for Understanding it.

Carl Rogers’ Theory • Built from his early experience and interest in counseling and treatment • Found that he was moving in a different direction than Psychoanalysis and Freudian Concepts in practice

Rogers and Self Theory • Based his practices on Self Theory as defined by G.H. Mead • Focus on self concept and subjective view of world • Develops Client-Centered Therapy • Person seeking treatment directs the process of therapy • Called a client rather than patient • Gets rid of notion of superior and inferior • While ideas develop in clinical context, his theory is intended as a general theory of behavior

Notions of the Organism and the Actualizing Tendency • Most fundamental aspect of human experience is the cycle of life • We have needs that arise from our biological being as organisms (food, water, shelter) • We also have a broader motive that directs our lives called the actualizing tendency • Reflects our desire to grow, develop, and enhance our capacities • Our connection to our actualizing tendency is our center for growth and creativity

The Phenomenal Field • Phenomenal Field- our unique perception of the world • Perceptions are based on our cognitive schema which allows us to see the world based on past experiences, needs, and expectations • The external world does not shape our lives, our perceptions of it actually guide our behavior • Often times people perceive external events differently which leads to conflict, or distort external events causing inappropriate behavior • It is important to note what someone perceives is their reality (This makes empathy key)

The Self • A fluid entity, not stable as we often think • Rogers definition of self-”an organized consistent gestalt, constantly in the process of forming and reforming” • Much different than the permanent construct assigned by many other theorists • Reflects our view of who we are at any given moment • Past is not central to this notion as in Psychoanalysis • Past is only as important as we perceive it to be • The individual can change the perception of the self through conscious choice

The Ideal Self • Refers to the aspect of our phenomenal field that deals with who we would like to be. • Can be similar to actual self or quite different • Constantly fluid just like the present notion of self • We are in harmony when the ideal self matches the actual self • Congruence-self and ideal self all lined up • Incongruence-self and ideal self out of whack

Personality Development and Conditions for Growth • Incongruence based on unhealthy growth • Development based on kind of social interactions an individual has • Essentials to human growth are social contact and positive relationships • Called Positive Regard

Conditions of Worth • Conditions of worth our restrictions that we put on our self-expression to earn positive regard • Can be created by self or others • Lead to people being out of touch with their emotions because they have internalized conditions of worth into the ideal self

Introjection of Values • When we accept others values via conditions of worth into our ideal self • Basis for incongruence • Pleasing others become more important than satisfying our own actualizing tendency

Would-Should dilemma • Begins when we internalize the values of others as part of our internal self (They then become our own) • Sometimes we face conflicts between our needs expressed through the actualizing tendency and the demands of others expressed through the ideal self • Leads to statements such as “I would like to______, but I should________

Conditional and Unconditional Positive Regard • Unconditional Positive Regard- extended to us simply because we are a human being • Conditional Positive Regard- when regard is only given for meeting certain standards • Too often we make statements that demonstrate lack of regard for the person and not for their actions. (Important to take note of) • Too much conditional positive regard can lead to incongruence as well. ( I am only valued when I…….)

Congruence and Conditions for Growth • Incongruence occurs through life experience • Congruence can be maintained through three things: • Unconditional Positive Regard • Openness • Empathy

Unconditional Positive Regard • Requires that no external demands be put on the individual • A person is fundamentally trustworthy • Rogers felt everyone needed at least one person to provide this • Allows you to take chances with feeling and behavior and explore your sense of self

Openness • A person freely expresses their self without playing a role • When we are open we free ourselves from social constraints and all parties gain • Teachers are not particularly good at this according to Rogers

Empathy • The ability to fully understand another’s point of view • When we assess behavior as personality driven rather than attributing to situational factors we are guilty of fundamental attribution error

Blending the Three Together • We can only be real about ourselves • We do not know the reality of others • The best way to gain a clear reality for all is to be open about oneself and how what is going on is being perceived by you

Human Potential and the Fully Functioning Person • Personality development naturally moves towards healthy growth, only negative external factors lead to distortions in personality • Fully Functioning Person is the norm not the exception • Completed by achieving congruence • Brings all of the benefits we think of with healthy personality traits (Self-esteem, Self- confidence which trigger openness central to growth)

Aggression • Is created by too much conditioned positive regard • Not a fundamental part of personality

Major Downfall • Does not show Cross-Cultural Support • Collectivist cultures view the world very differently • Change conception of self based on situation • A potential wrench in the engine

Abraham Maslow

Maslow’s Background • Born in New York • Studied at the University of Wisconsin under Harlow • Original focus on primate behavior • Focus shifted after WWII like all Humanists to social psychology and personality • Met many famous European Scholars (Adler, Horney, Fromm) while teaching in New York • Became Psych Chair of newly founded Brandeis in 1951 • Chaired APA in 1967-68

Maslow’s Theory • Internal force which directs human development towards its highest potential • Called Self Actualization-the full utilization of a person’s talents and capacities • The “Third Force” or the “Healthy Half” • Strives to understand and describe the limits of human potential • Felt psychology should be focused on the betterment of human life

Motivation • Core of Theory is a description of basic human needs • Influence every aspect of our behavior • Reflects a psychodynamic influence on Maslow’s thinking • Unlike Freud and others Maslow felt there was a plethora of needs that could influence our behavior • Only the individual can determine what course of action will best fulfill their needs • Lottery Example

Hierarchy of Needs • A hierarchical structure of different types of needs • Most basic are those linked to survival • Physiological • Nothing else matters if we don’t have these • Next in line are safety needs • Both Physical and Psychological • If Safety needs met we focus on love and belongingness • Giving and receiving acceptance and affection • If these needs met we move to esteem needs • Sense of self-respect and being competent at what you do as well as receiving regard • Interesting that love comes before self-esteem

Hierarchy of Needs • All of these needs contain Deficiency motives • We are driven to satisfy them because of the absence of underlying requirements • Similar to behaviorists and psychodynamic concepts who state all behavior fulfills a deficiency • Maslow rejected this notion believing there were metaneeds, which were based on a growth motive called self-actualization

Self Actualization • Based on using capacities to the fullest • Expression of the potential for growth which is a part of all life • Can never be fully satisfied because it is not based on a deficiency • It is a process not a goal

Is the Hierarchy Rigid? • No • Once people have moved on to a higher level of need they may become salient for it • Leads to them looking out for that need over all others • Most people will rarely if ever experience a strong need for self actualization • So hard to get through the other needs

Needs and Self-Development • Understanding Needs is an important part of self-development according to Maslow • Our perception of the world is based on our dominant need at that moment • Our frustrations are based on which needs are dominant • Aggression is a response to frustration • Should not occur in a healthy person living in a benign environment • Relationship between needs and environment essential to understanding behavior. • Only by identifying what needs are not being met can a person find a workable solution

Cultural-Conditioning • Can interfere with recognizing and satisfying needs • Western Society focus on Material Sources of satisfaction/leads to focus on base of pyramid of needs

Self Actualization and Peak Experiences • Self-Actualizaton • Reaching for the capacity of your ability • Can be a difficult journey • Maslow felt only 1% of world reached this state • Peak Experiences • Moments of deep intensity in which we feel ourselves most fully alive • Moments of insight into the potential of life • Plateau Experiences • Longer lasting form of heightened experience according to Maslow • Main characteristic is a change in perception of the world • “Live each day like its your last” You come to full understanding in this time

Maslow’s Concept of Healthy Growth • Based his description on 18 individuals, 9 historical and 9 contemporary • Self-Actualization is a process to which there is no end • Its about what you do not where you end up • 15 characteristics which no human being could attain

Criticism of Maslow • Did he look for individuals who exhibited the traits he felt were important creating bias • Looking for a universal ideal while admitting variability exists among individuals • Ideas more influential for capacity to inspire rather than for empirical foundation

Extending the Humanistic Approach • Maslow and Rogers best known, but there are other theorists • Share assumptions • Behavior only understood through subjective experience • Choice over determinism

Existential Psychology • Roots in WWI • Philosophers “Does life have any obectively definable purpose or meaning?” • Work of Jean Paul Satre influences a number of psychologists • Life has no purpose, unless given to it by an individual through their actions • Individuals have ability to make choices, choices create meaning • Primary difference from humanism is based on emphasis existentialists place on meaning • Human capacity for awareness makes us capable of reflecting on own lives and world around us • Creates 2 realizations • Both we and those we love will inevitably die • Suffering is an unavoidable part of life • Conclusion (Essential Question for Existentialists): What then makes life worth living? • Goal: Come to terms with this in our own way. There is no universal answer, but we kid ourselves by pretending there is. (Finding Meaning leads to healthy development)

Frankl and Logotherapy • Followed similar path to Freud, but rejected his assumptions about behavior • Instead behavior based on desire to find the meaning of life • Framework comes from a book he published about experiences in concentration camp • Called LOGOTHERAPY • Assumptions: • Man is not fully conditioned and determined but rather determines himself • The meaning of human experience can only be determined by the individual having the experience • There is only a specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment

Frankl and Logotherapy • The Search for Meaning leads to a certain degree of tension • Separates him from Rogers Self/Ideal Self Concept • Fits in with Maslow and Self Actualization, but Self Actualization is a side effect of seeking meaning to him • Meaning or its absence has a profound effect on a person’s life • Noogenic neuroses- conflicts within an individual based on existential frustrations • Can lead to pathology • Work with poor during economic downturn in 1930’s and belief regarding hand outs • Clinical study, but correlational in nature. • Life has meaning only in terms of how we relate to our surroundings • The more we lose our self in surroundings the more we actualize • Surroundings can also be the source of our problem • Cultural beliefs can negatively influence the search for meaning • Western Culture and Determinism • Human Values are completely subjective • Only individual can determine answers to questions surrounding responsibility • Leaves no fixed value system to defend

Frankl 3 ways meaning can be discovered in life • Achievement • Transcendent Experience • Attitude one takes to unavoidable suffering

The Humanistic Approach