The Humanistic The Humanistic PsychologyPsychology

Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow

Carl RogersCarl Rogers

11stst force: Psychodynamic Theory force: Psychodynamic Theory

22ndnd force: Behavioral Theory force: Behavioral Theory

33rdrd force: Humanistic Theory force: Humanistic Theory

Existentialist and Existentialist and Humanistic Theorists Humanistic Theorists

Both…Both… Believe in Free WillBelieve in Free Will

Humanist do not believe that human being are Humanist do not believe that human being are pushed and pulled by mechanical forces, either of pushed and pulled by mechanical forces, either of stimuli and reinforcements (behaviorism) or of stimuli and reinforcements (behaviorism) or of unconscious instinctual impulses (psychoanalysis).unconscious instinctual impulses (psychoanalysis).

Emphasize the uniqueness of each individualEmphasize the uniqueness of each individual Believe that humans strive for an upper level of Believe that humans strive for an upper level of

capabilities.capabilities. Humans seek the frontiers of creativity, the Humans seek the frontiers of creativity, the

highest reaches of consciousness and wisdom.highest reaches of consciousness and wisdom.

However…However…

On Human Nature…On Human Nature… Existentialists see it as non-existent or Existentialists see it as non-existent or

neutralneutral Humanists see it as basically goodHumanists see it as basically good

Optimism vs. PessimismOptimism vs. Pessimism Humanists optimistic about humanity and Humanists optimistic about humanity and

the futurethe future Existentialists tend to be much more gloomyExistentialists tend to be much more gloomy

Abraham Maslow on Abraham Maslow on Existential GloomExistential Gloom

““I do not think we need to take I do not think we need to take too seriously the European too seriously the European existentialists’ harping on existentialists’ harping on dread, anguish, despair, and the dread, anguish, despair, and the like, for which their only remedy like, for which their only remedy seems to be a stiff upper lip. seems to be a stiff upper lip. This high IQ whimpering on a This high IQ whimpering on a cosmic scale occurs whenever cosmic scale occurs whenever an external source of values an external source of values fails to work. They should have fails to work. They should have learned from the learned from the psychotherapists that the loss of psychotherapists that the loss of illusions and the discovery of illusions and the discovery of identity, though painful at first, identity, though painful at first, can ultimately be exhilarating can ultimately be exhilarating and strengthening.”and strengthening.”

BiographyBiography He was born April 1, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. He was born April 1, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York.

He was the first of seven children born to his parentsHe was the first of seven children born to his parents

His parents were uneducated Jewish immigrants from Russia.His parents were uneducated Jewish immigrants from Russia.

Maslow became very lonely as a boy, and found his refuge in books.Maslow became very lonely as a boy, and found his refuge in books. He married Bertha Goodman, his first cousin, against his parents He married Bertha Goodman, his first cousin, against his parents

wishes. Abraham and Bertha went on to have two daughters. wishes. Abraham and Bertha went on to have two daughters.

on June 8 1970, he died of a heart attack after years of ill health. on June 8 1970, he died of a heart attack after years of ill health.

To satisfy his parents, he first studied law at the City College To satisfy his parents, he first studied law at the City College of New York (CCNY).  After three semesters, he transferred of New York (CCNY).  After three semesters, he transferred to Cornell, and then back to CCNYto Cornell, and then back to CCNY

BA in 1930, MA in 1931, and PhD in 1934, all in psychology, BA in 1930, MA in 1931, and PhD in 1934, all in psychology, and all from the University of Wisconsin.  and all from the University of Wisconsin. 

Returned to New York to work with E. L. Thorndike at Returned to New York to work with E. L. Thorndike at Columbia.Columbia.

In 1951, served as the chair of the psychology department at In 1951, served as the chair of the psychology department at Brandeis for 10 years, where he began work in self-Brandeis for 10 years, where he began work in self-actualization. actualization.

Work with monkeys early in his career Work with monkeys early in his career

Some needs take precedence over others, e.g. Some needs take precedence over others, e.g. taking care of the thirst over hunger.  taking care of the thirst over hunger. 

Thirst is a “stronger” need than hunger.  Thirst is a “stronger” need than hunger. 

Maslow’s Three Types of Maslow’s Three Types of NeedsNeeds

Basic NeedsBasic Needs Needs to Know and UnderstandNeeds to Know and Understand Aesthetic NeedsAesthetic Needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic NeedsBasic Needs

Self-actualization Needs

Esteem Needs

Love & Belonging Needs

Safety Needs

Biological Needs

Physiological NeedsPhysiological Needs

Needs for food, water, air, etc.Needs for food, water, air, etc.

One function of civilization is to One function of civilization is to satisfy these needs so we can focus satisfy these needs so we can focus on the higher oneson the higher ones

Behavioral research usually studies Behavioral research usually studies at this levelat this level

Safety NeedsSafety Needs

Needs for safety, order, security, etc.Needs for safety, order, security, etc.

Focused on after physiological needs metFocused on after physiological needs met

Most commonly seen in childrenMost commonly seen in children

Seen in some mental disorders (e.g., Seen in some mental disorders (e.g., Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Dependent Personality Disorder)Disorders, Dependent Personality Disorder)

Belongingness & Love Belongingness & Love NeedsNeeds

The need for affiliation, for friends, The need for affiliation, for friends, supportive family, group supportive family, group identification, intimate relationshipsidentification, intimate relationships

This level and higher ones often not This level and higher ones often not satisfied even in affluent countriessatisfied even in affluent countries

These needs being unfulfilled at the These needs being unfulfilled at the root of many mental disturbances root of many mental disturbances (depression, Borderline Personality (depression, Borderline Personality Disorder)Disorder)

Need to receive and to Need to receive and to give give lovelove

Esteem NeedsEsteem Needs

Need to be held in high regard by Need to be held in high regard by self and others (not just “self-self and others (not just “self-esteem”)esteem”)

comes from mastery, achievement, comes from mastery, achievement, adequacy, feelings of competence, adequacy, feelings of competence, confidence, independenceconfidence, independence

Ideally this need met by the Ideally this need met by the deserved respect of othersdeserved respect of others

Self-Actualization NeedsSelf-Actualization Needs

A person must actualize, that is A person must actualize, that is make real, what exists inside them make real, what exists inside them as a potentialas a potential

Most other theorists wouldn’t see Most other theorists wouldn’t see this as a needthis as a need Freud would predict people would stop Freud would predict people would stop

at lower needsat lower needs Even Adler might predict stopping at Even Adler might predict stopping at

esteem needsesteem needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic NeedsBasic Needs

Self-actualization Needs

Esteem Needs

Love & Belongingness Needs

Safety Needs

Physiological Needs

Carl RogersCarl Rogers ““In a psychological In a psychological

climate which is climate which is nurturant of growth nurturant of growth and choice, I have and choice, I have never known an never known an individual to choose individual to choose the cruel or the cruel or destructive path….it is destructive path….it is cultural influences cultural influences which are the major which are the major factor in our evil factor in our evil behaviors.” behaviors.”

BiographyBiography Carl grew up on a farm in Illinois, developing an Carl grew up on a farm in Illinois, developing an

interest in biology & agriculture. interest in biology & agriculture.

Expressing emotions was not allowed in the Rogers Expressing emotions was not allowed in the Rogers household & it took its toll on Carl who developed household & it took its toll on Carl who developed an ulcer at 15.an ulcer at 15.

Rogers went to the University of Wisconsin to Rogers went to the University of Wisconsin to study agriculture in 1919.study agriculture in 1919.

Traveled to China and exposed to Eastern Traveled to China and exposed to Eastern religion----this is a turning point in his religious up-religion----this is a turning point in his religious up-bringing.bringing.

BiographyBiography He finished his degree and left for Union He finished his degree and left for Union

Theological Seminary in NY to become a ministerTheological Seminary in NY to become a minister..

1926 left seminary to study psychology.1926 left seminary to study psychology.

He gained recognition when he won the APA He gained recognition when he won the APA award for distinguished scientific contribution in award for distinguished scientific contribution in 1956.1956.

In 1963, he moved to La Jolla, California. In 1963, he moved to La Jolla, California. Developed the Center for Studies of the Person.Developed the Center for Studies of the Person.

He continued his scientific efforts, writing, holding He continued his scientific efforts, writing, holding workshops, etc. until he died in 1987. workshops, etc. until he died in 1987.

Carl Rogers: Person-Centered Carl Rogers: Person-Centered ApproachApproach

Rogers believed that humans are Rogers believed that humans are basically good.basically good.

He argued that we He argued that we have an innate have an innate drive to reach an optimal sense of drive to reach an optimal sense of ourselves & satisfaction with our ourselves & satisfaction with our lives.lives.

The Actualizing The Actualizing TendencyTendency

We do not behave irrationally, as We do not behave irrationally, as psychoanalysis assumed--we move with psychoanalysis assumed--we move with ordered complexity toward our goals ordered complexity toward our goals

This tendency leads to complexity, This tendency leads to complexity, independence, and social responsibilityindependence, and social responsibility

The motivation intrinsic to each person The motivation intrinsic to each person is basically good and healthyis basically good and healthy

Person-Centered Theory Person-Centered Theory - The Actualizing - The Actualizing

TendencyTendency A person who pays attention to the A person who pays attention to the

organismic valuing process is self-organismic valuing process is self-actualizing or actualizing or fully functioning fully functioning

A person who is fully functioning has A person who is fully functioning has several characteristics: several characteristics: openness to openness to experienceexperience, , existential livingexistential living, , organismic organismic trustingtrusting, , experiential freedomexperiential freedom, and , and creativitycreativity

Characteristics of a Fully Functioning Characteristics of a Fully Functioning PersonPerson

1. 1. These people are open to their These people are open to their experiences. They strive to experience life to experiences. They strive to experience life to its fullest & are willing to take some risks.its fullest & are willing to take some risks.

2. These people live in the present (here & 2. These people live in the present (here & now). now).

3. These folks trust their own feelings & 3. These folks trust their own feelings & instincts. They aren’t held back by old instincts. They aren’t held back by old standards or concern for what others might standards or concern for what others might think.think.

4. These folks are less concern with social 4. These folks are less concern with social conventions.conventions.

Conditions of Worth & Unconditional Conditions of Worth & Unconditional Positive RegardPositive Regard

Rogers argues that most of us grow Rogers argues that most of us grow up in an atmosphere where we are up in an atmosphere where we are given love & support as long as we given love & support as long as we behave the way we are expected to.behave the way we are expected to.

This is what he calls This is what he calls Conditional Conditional positive regard.positive regard. The emphasis is The emphasis is that love is given conditionally (with that love is given conditionally (with a string attached).a string attached).

If we don’t do what our parents want us If we don’t do what our parents want us to do?to do?

Rogers argued that in these cases, Rogers argued that in these cases, parents withhold their love from us. parents withhold their love from us.

As a result of this, children learn to As a result of this, children learn to abandon their true feelings, wishes, abandon their true feelings, wishes, & desires, for those of their parents.& desires, for those of their parents.

This paves the way for us to become This paves the way for us to become alienated from our true selves. alienated from our true selves.

Unconditional positive regardUnconditional positive regard

We need this to accept all parts of our We need this to accept all parts of our personality.personality.

With this we know we are loved & valued With this we know we are loved & valued for being who we are. for being who we are.

Parents can do this, by it clear that their Parents can do this, by it clear that their love is not contingent on the child’s love is not contingent on the child’s behavior (even when such behavior is behavior (even when such behavior is abhoredabhored). ).

Conditions in Person-Conditions in Person-Centered TherapyCentered Therapy

Direction comes from the client Direction comes from the client rather than from the therapist’s rather than from the therapist’s insights, so referred to as insights, so referred to as nondirective therapy, nondirective therapy, later later client-client-centered therapycentered therapy EmpathyEmpathy Congruence/GenuinenessCongruence/Genuineness Unconditional Positive RegardUnconditional Positive Regard