1. Unit 10: Personality Section 2: Humanistic Perspective on Personality

2. Psychoanalysis was too negative for some psychologists to accept. They wanted to view human development from a more positive perspective.

3. Two men, Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers were two leading humanists that focused on the human potential rather than human limitations.

4. Instead of looking at the pain, failings, weaknesses, and traumas of psychologically unhealthy people, humanists tried to focus on the components psychologically healthy people have in common.

5. Trends they found in psychologically healthy people… -Self awareness -Self-accepting -Loving and caring to others -Not paralyzed by what others thought of them (took criticism well) -Focused themselves on one problem at a time regarding it as their mission in life -Have a few deep relationships rather than many superficial ones

6. Humanists believed that humans are like acorns which, under the right environmental conditions, are equipped for growth and self-actualization.

7. The environment matters in the humanistic perspective. -Acorns need soil, water, and sunlight as part of their healthy environment to reach their potential. -Humans need genuineness, acceptance, and empathy as part of their environment to reach their potential.

8. Unconditional positive regard – the people who matter most to us can help to nurture us by treating us with unconditional positive regard. (No judgment as we express ourselves authentically.) THERAPY PARENTING

9. The goal of humanistic therapy is to raise a persons self-concept so that they accept and feel positive about who they are.

10. Carl Rogers “Can I” Questions Toward Self- Actualization 1) Can I be perceived by others to be trustworthy, dependable, and consistent? 2) Can I express myself in a way that allows me to communicate clearly with others? 3) Can I express positive attitudes of warmth, caring, interest, and respect for another person? 4) Can I be secure enough in myself to let others be themselves? 5) Can I be empathetic to the needs and situations of others, without casting judgment or criticism? 6) Can I act with enough sensitivity so that my behavior is not interpreted as a threat? 7) Can I accept others in their process of becoming, or do I hold onto their past?

11. Critics of humanistic psychology would say… Look it up yourselves!