The Psychology of the PersonThe Psychology of the PersonChapter 11 Humanistic ApproachChapter 11 Humanistic Approach

Naomi Wagner, Ph.DNaomi Wagner, Ph.DLecture Outlines Lecture Outlines

Based on Burger, 8Based on Burger, 8thth edition edition

The “Third Force”The “Third Force”

The Humanistic approach has emerged in the The Humanistic approach has emerged in the late 1960’s, primarily as a reaction to the two late 1960’s, primarily as a reaction to the two major views of humanity popular at that timemajor views of humanity popular at that time The The Freudian Freudian perspective and its emphasis on perspective and its emphasis on unconscious sexual and aggressive instinctsunconscious sexual and aggressive instinctsThe The behavioralbehavioral perspective, and its emphasis perspective, and its emphasis on the mechanical nature of responses to stimuli on the mechanical nature of responses to stimuli in the environment. The humanistic perspective, in the environment. The humanistic perspective, thus, as been called the “third force”. thus, as been called the “third force”.

Deterministic Perspective of Human Deterministic Perspective of Human Nature Nature

The role of the unconscious is a hypothetical The role of the unconscious is a hypothetical concept that cannot be empirically validated concept that cannot be empirically validated The manipulation of human beings on the The manipulation of human beings on the basis of classical and operant conditioning basis of classical and operant conditioning was an ideas based on studies of rats that was an ideas based on studies of rats that learned to run in a maze to find food.learned to run in a maze to find food.The food was the reward that affected the The food was the reward that affected the learning learning

Roots of the Humanistic Approach Roots of the Humanistic Approach 1. Existential Philosophy 1. Existential Philosophy

Existential philosophy addresses many of the Existential philosophy addresses many of the questions that later became the cornerstone of questions that later became the cornerstone of the Humanistic approach, such as, the the Humanistic approach, such as, the meaning of our existence, the role of free will, meaning of our existence, the role of free will, and the uniqueness of each individual. and the uniqueness of each individual. The existentialists, such as Rollo May, focused The existentialists, such as Rollo May, focused on existential anxiety- the feeling of dread on existential anxiety- the feeling of dread associated with the realization that there is no associated with the realization that there is no meaning to one’s life. meaning to one’s life.

Existential Anxiety- What is there to life? Existential Anxiety- What is there to life?

2. The clinical experiences of Carl 2. The clinical experiences of Carl Rogers and Abraham MaslowRogers and Abraham Maslow. .

The founders of the Humanistic Approach, Carl The founders of the Humanistic Approach, Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, were both Rogers and Abraham Maslow, were both therapists therapists At that time, the Freudian model of therapy was At that time, the Freudian model of therapy was popular, viewing the therapist as an expert who popular, viewing the therapist as an expert who tells the client what is the problemtells the client what is the problemRogers maintained that it was only the client that Rogers maintained that it was only the client that is responsible for the therapeutic directionis responsible for the therapeutic directionThe therapist can create conditions for self-The therapist can create conditions for self-exploration. exploration.

The Freudian Model of Psychotherapy The Freudian Model of Psychotherapy

The therapist as the “know- al” expert The therapist as the “know- al” expert

Viktor Frankl Viktor Frankl

All of Frankl’s family died in the Nazi All of Frankl’s family died in the Nazi concentration campconcentration campFrankl survived, and struggled to search for Frankl survived, and struggled to search for meaning in the face of horrible adversitymeaning in the face of horrible adversityHe believed the examining the finiteness of He believed the examining the finiteness of our existence and inevitable mortality adds our existence and inevitable mortality adds meaning to life, as we ask ourselves- Why meaning to life, as we ask ourselves- Why do we exist? What do we want from life? do we exist? What do we want from life?

What is the best way to spend the time that What is the best way to spend the time that is left?is left?

Frankl concludes that the Frankl concludes that the meaning of life is is found in every moment of living; life never found in every moment of living; life never ceases to have meaning, even in suffering ceases to have meaning, even in suffering and death and death http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_Search_for_Meaning%27s_Search_for_Meaning

From the Ashes to Hope From the Ashes to Hope

Viktor Frankl Conclusion Viktor Frankl Conclusion

““Love is the highest and ultimate goal to Love is the highest and ultimate goal to which man can aspire which man can aspire The Salvation of man is in love and through The Salvation of man is in love and through love love A man who has nothing left in this world still A man who has nothing left in this world still may know bliss, if only for a brief moment in may know bliss, if only for a brief moment in the contemplation of the beloved” the contemplation of the beloved” Frankl's meaning in life is to help others find Frankl's meaning in life is to help others find theirs. theirs.

Cognitive-Restructuring Cognitive-Restructuring

Frankl’s ideas have been translated into Frankl’s ideas have been translated into the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Key Elements of the Humanistic Key Elements of the Humanistic ApproachApproach

The Humanistic Perspective has not The Humanistic Perspective has not presented a comprehensive presented a comprehensive framework, but rather a collection of framework, but rather a collection of major principles that can be seen as major principles that can be seen as directive to life.directive to life.

Key Elements of the Humanistic Key Elements of the Humanistic Perspective Perspective

Emphasis on personal responsibility (You Emphasis on personal responsibility (You don’t “have to” do your homework, you don’t “have to” do your homework, you have chosen to do so). You are not a have chosen to do so). You are not a victim of circumstances!victim of circumstances!

Key Elements (cont-d) Key Elements (cont-d)

Emphasis on functioning in the “here and Emphasis on functioning in the “here and now”– Do not be a captive of your past!now”– Do not be a captive of your past!

Key Elements (cont-d) Key Elements (cont-d)

Acknowledging the phenomenology of the Acknowledging the phenomenology of the individual- - the fact that it is only the client individual- - the fact that it is only the client (in therapy) that can make decision for (in therapy) that can make decision for him/herself. him/herself.

Key Elements (cont-d) Key Elements (cont-d)

Emphasis on personal growth—Rogers Emphasis on personal growth—Rogers called this ”becoming a fully functioning, called this ”becoming a fully functioning, while Maslow referred to this idea as “self-while Maslow referred to this idea as “self-actualization”.actualization”.

Self-Actualization- What is it? Self-Actualization- What is it?

There is more to life than the absence of There is more to life than the absence of problems problems The Humanistic perspective maintain that The Humanistic perspective maintain that we all have a drive toward “self-we all have a drive toward “self-actualization”actualization”To become that best we can become, in To become that best we can become, in the context of our life (you do not have to the context of our life (you do not have to receive the Nobel Prize). receive the Nobel Prize).

Carl Rogers and Person-Centered Carl Rogers and Person-Centered TherapyTherapy

The role of the therapist is to create an The role of the therapist is to create an atmosphere of “unconditional positive regard” atmosphere of “unconditional positive regard” to enable the client’s self-exploration and to enable the client’s self-exploration and becoming “fully functioning”. becoming “fully functioning”. Paraphrasing and reflection of feelings were Paraphrasing and reflection of feelings were methods to facilitate self-explorationmethods to facilitate self-explorationRogers described the “fully- functioning Rogers described the “fully- functioning person” as an ideal for healthy personality. person” as an ideal for healthy personality. Rogers saw anxiety as resulting from our Rogers saw anxiety as resulting from our inability to incorporate information that is inability to incorporate information that is inconsistent with our self-imageinconsistent with our self-image

Rogers (cont-d) Rogers (cont-d)

Note his emphasis on social-Note his emphasis on social-environmental causes of emotional environmental causes of emotional maladjustment (in contrast to the biological maladjustment (in contrast to the biological approach), when he sees parental approach), when he sees parental conditional acceptance. conditional acceptance. The Rogerian therapist would say to a The Rogerian therapist would say to a client: “I do not like what you did, but I still client: “I do not like what you did, but I still respect you as a human being”. respect you as a human being”.

Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow

Abraham Maslow was interested in Abraham Maslow was interested in exploring the sources of happy, healthy exploring the sources of happy, healthy personality. personality. His approach was optimistic, regarding His approach was optimistic, regarding human beings as free-willed individuals, human beings as free-willed individuals, and not as captive by unconscious drivesand not as captive by unconscious drivesHis contribution is in the hierarchy of His contribution is in the hierarchy of needs, and in the study of the needs, and in the study of the psychologically-healthy individuals. psychologically-healthy individuals.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow distinguished between D Maslow distinguished between D (deficiency) needs and B (being) needs.(deficiency) needs and B (being) needs.Physiological needsPhysiological needsSafety needs Safety needs Love and Belongingness needs Love and Belongingness needs Esteem needs (you value yourself, and Esteem needs (you value yourself, and others also value you)others also value you)Self-Actualization needsSelf-Actualization needs

Hierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of Needs

Misconceptions about Maslow Hierarchy Misconceptions about Maslow Hierarchy

You do not have to fulfill all the needs in You do not have to fulfill all the needs in one level to “climb” to the next level one level to “climb” to the next level Some people who starve for their loved Some people who starve for their loved one, or for their life workone, or for their life workTe needs in each level are never fully Te needs in each level are never fully satisfiedsatisfiedThere are cultural differences in the ways There are cultural differences in the ways the needs are regarded and are fulfilledthe needs are regarded and are fulfilled

The “psychologically-Healthy” PeopleThe “psychologically-Healthy” People

Maslow’s study of the psychologically- Maslow’s study of the psychologically- healthy people was Not empirically-based healthy people was Not empirically-based He examined his friends, whom he judged He examined his friends, whom he judged to be psychologically healthy, as well as to be psychologically healthy, as well as historical figureshistorical figuresHis analysis was “holistic” and subjectiveHis analysis was “holistic” and subjectiveYet, it was relevant that he called attention Yet, it was relevant that he called attention to the healthy aspects of human natureto the healthy aspects of human nature

Attributes of the Psychologically-Attributes of the Psychologically-Healthy peopleHealthy people

Sense of humor Sense of humor Creativity- not in artistic talent, but in Creativity- not in artistic talent, but in being able to perform mundane tasks in being able to perform mundane tasks in a non-routine manner. a non-routine manner. Open to new experiences Open to new experiences Having “peak experiences”- which Having “peak experiences”- which involve the transcendence of time and involve the transcendence of time and place. place.

The Psychology of Optimal Experience and The Psychology of Optimal Experience and Positive Psychology Positive Psychology

The legacy of the Humanistic Approach is The legacy of the Humanistic Approach is in the emergence of the new branch of in the emergence of the new branch of psychology, Positive Psychologypsychology, Positive PsychologyThis branch focuses of human virtues, This branch focuses of human virtues, strengths, resilience, and coping with strengths, resilience, and coping with adversityadversityAn important topic is the pursuit of An important topic is the pursuit of happiness- What is happiness? happiness- What is happiness?

The Psychology of Optimal Experience The Psychology of Optimal Experience

In searching for the meaning of happiness, In searching for the meaning of happiness, Csikszentmihlyi introduced the concept of Csikszentmihlyi introduced the concept of “flow”, quite similar to Maslow’s Peak “flow”, quite similar to Maslow’s Peak ExperienceExperienceIt involves being totally absorbed in an activity It involves being totally absorbed in an activity that requires your full attention and utilizes that requires your full attention and utilizes your skills to the utmostyour skills to the utmostYou have a feeling you are in a state of “flow”You have a feeling you are in a state of “flow”There are 8 components of the “flow” (see There are 8 components of the “flow” (see textbook).textbook).

ApplicationsApplications

Rogers applied his ideas into a system of Rogers applied his ideas into a system of therapy that emphasizes the creation of the therapy that emphasizes the creation of the right conditions to allow the client to accept right conditions to allow the client to accept him/herself, and to achieve personal growth. him/herself, and to achieve personal growth. Extending to the client “unconditional positive Extending to the client “unconditional positive regard” facilitates this goal. regard” facilitates this goal. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has been applied Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has been applied into understanding job satisfaction and into understanding job satisfaction and vocational choices.vocational choices.

Current Status Current Status

Though the Humanistic Approach was Though the Humanistic Approach was quite popular when it first came out, and quite popular when it first came out, and though it introduced therapeutic strategies though it introduced therapeutic strategies that are still applied today, its popularity that are still applied today, its popularity had waned. had waned. The positive tone of the approach, that is The positive tone of the approach, that is seen as the forerunner of Positive seen as the forerunner of Positive Psychology, is certainly a plus. Psychology, is certainly a plus.

Limitations of the Humanistic Approach Limitations of the Humanistic Approach

Many of the concepts do not lend Many of the concepts do not lend themselves for operational definitions themselves for operational definitions and for scientific study.and for scientific study. A great deal of the studies conducted by A great deal of the studies conducted by Maslow and Rogers to support their Maslow and Rogers to support their ideas were based on their own subjective ideas were based on their own subjective impressions and intuition.impressions and intuition. The concept of free will has been The concept of free will has been challenged. challenged.

(cont-d) (cont-d)

Some researchers questioned the effectiveness Some researchers questioned the effectiveness of the Rogerian therapy (how do you measure of the Rogerian therapy (how do you measure success in therapy?). It may be more success in therapy?). It may be more appropriate for people in “life transitions” than for appropriate for people in “life transitions” than for deep-seated psychological disordersdeep-seated psychological disordersThe appropriateness of relying on the client to The appropriateness of relying on the client to make accurate appraisals of themselves has make accurate appraisals of themselves has been questioned. been questioned. The naïve assumptions about the goodness of The naïve assumptions about the goodness of individuals. individuals.