Humanistic Personality Theories

AP Psychology

HUMANISTIC PERSONALITY

THEORIES

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 & self-fulfillment with an emphasis on human potential.

Sees people as innately good.Studies fulfilled and healthy individuals

rather than troubled peopleFelt other theories were too deterministic

and denied the importance of free will

HUMANISTIC PERSPECTIVE

ABRAHAM MASLOW SELF-

ACTUALIZATION

ABRAHAM MASLOW (1908-1970)

Humanistic psychologist who developed the hierarchy of needs

Believed that self-actualization is the ultimate psychological need of reaching one’s potential.

MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

• 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

ABRAHAM MASLOW: SELF-ACTUALIZATION

ANOTHER WAY TO THINK ABOUT THE HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

Carl Rogers

DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY

Actualizing tendency—the most basic human motive that is the innate drive to maintain and enhance the ourselves

CARL ROGERS-DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY

An example of the actualizing tendency is the “little voice” within us to try harder and never give up.

ACTUALIZING TENDENCY

Some people believe that competitiveness cannot be taught; but rather is something that resides inside a person. In other words, it is something you are born with, or is innate.

ACTUALIZING TENDENCY

Self-concept—how you think about yourself

Affected by….Positive regard—conditional and unconditional – the sense of be loved and valued by other people.

CARL ROGERS

Person is valued and loved only when the he/she behaves in a way that is acceptable to others.I will love you IF you get good grades.

CONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD

Can lead to incongruence – a state in which a child’s self-concept conflicts with their own experience.

CONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD WILL HELP TO CREATE…

An attitude of total acceptance toward another person despite their faults and failings

This is needed for one to grow up healthy and be congruent.

Based on genuineness & empathy

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD

Congruence – A person’s sense of self is consistent with their emotions & experiences.Your real self is similar to your ideal self

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD WILL HELP TO CREATE…

Carl RogersViewed 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.

Sigmund FreudPessimistically

viewed humans as hostile, antisocial, destructive & evilWe need society restraints/laws to keep humans in line and prevent the destruction of the human race.

COMPARING ROGERS TO FREUD

EVALUATING THE HUMANISTIC

PERSPECTIVE

EVALUATING HUMANISM

Humanism has influenced therapy, child-rearing, and the workplace

Laid the foundation for positive psychology – studying what is right about people

CRITICISMS OF HUMANISM

Difficult to test or validate scientifically

Tends to be too optimisticHas a hard time explaining some of the more destructive aspects of human nature wars & human cruelty