Chapter 19: Freudian & Humanistic Theories Introduction to Psychology Virginia Union University

Freud’s Theory as it would be applied Today Too comprehensive Theories can explain all aspects of behavior, but they cover too much to reliably predict behavior Difficult to test Some aspects (e.g. id being the source of energy & the Oedipus complex) are difficult to test, but other (e.g. influence of unconscious forces & long-term effects of early childhood) are easier to test & have received support Must be updated Including things like genetic factors and brain development as influential How important are the 1st 5 years? Freud concluded that personality development is complete after the 1st 5 years. Research on resilient children (children who beat the odds) & longitudinal studies (studies tracking people over time) show the opposite to be true

Freud’s Theory as it would be applied Today Are there Unconscious Forces? Much of what we do occurs outside of our awareness. Implicit (Nondeclarative) Memories Learning without awareness, such as occurs in experiencing emotional situations or acquiring motor habits Example: typing the phrase “most zebras cannot be extravagant” & recalling the 7 letters of the alphabet that appear at the bottom row of the keyboard Strong evidence for the influence of unconscious forces What was Freud’s Impact? Freud’s theory has had an enormous impact on society and the field of Psychology. Aspects of his theories are still in practice today

The Story of Cupcake Brown

Humanistic Theories Emphasize our capacity for personal growth, development of our potential, and freedom to choose our destiny

3 Characteristics of Humanistic Theories Phenomenological Perspective your perception or view of the world, whether or not it is accurate, becomes your reality Holistic View a person’s personality is more than the sum of the individual parts; instead, the individual parts form a unique & total entity that functions as a unit 3. Self-Actualization our inherent tendency to develop and reach our true potentials

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslow’s humanistic theory emphasized Our capacity for growth, or self actualization, and Our desire to satisfy a variety of needs According to Maslow, you must satisfy your biological and safety needs before using energy to fulfill your personal and social needs Needs can be divided into 2 categories Deficiency needs Physiological needs (e.g., food, sleep) and psychological needs (e.g., safety, love, esteem) that we try to fulfill if they are not met Growth needs Those that are at the higher levels and include the desire for truth, goodness, beauty, and justice Deficiency needs must be satisfied before we have the time and energy to satisfy our growth needs and move towards self actualization

Self Actualization The development & fulfillment of one’s unique human potential Self Actualized Individuals were able to reach this goal because they developed the following traits Perceive reality accurately Are independent & autonomous Prefer to have deep, loving relationships with only a few people Focus on accomplishing their goals Report peak experiences, which are moments of great joy & satisfaction Maslow believed that although very few people become self actualized, everyone has a self-actualizing tendency

Self/Self-Actualization Theory Carl Rogers Abandoned the psychodynamic approach in favor of a humanistic approach called self-theory, because of the emphasis on the self and self-concept Self (Self-Actualization) Theory Based on 2 major assumptions Personality development is guided by each person’s unique self-actualization tendency Each of us has a personal need for positive regard Self-actualization Tendency The inborn tendency for us to develop all of our capacities in ways that best maintain and benefit our lives Guides us towards positive rather than negative behaviors Relates to biological and psychological functions

Self/Self-Actualization Theory Self or Self-Concept How we see ourselves The self is made up of many self-perceptions, abilities, personality characteristics, and behaviors that are organized and consistent with one another Our self-concept influences our behaviors, feelings and thoughts Positive self concept Act, feel and think optimistically and constructively Negative self concept Act, feel and think pessimistically and destructively

Real Vs. Ideal Self There are two kinds of selves The Real Self According to Rogers, based on our actual experiences and represents how we really see ourselves The Ideal Self According to Rogers, based on our hopes and wishes and reflects how we would like to see ourselves Contradictions between the real and ideal self can result in personality problems Contradictions can be resolved by paying more attention to our actual experiences, working to have more positive experiences, and by paying less attention to the expectations of others

Positive Regard Dog owners appreciate the love that their dogs show them Health benefits in owning a pet (i.e., lowered stress levels and blood pressure) We all have the need to feel appreciated Positive Regard Includes love, sympathy, warmth, acceptance, and respect, which we crave from family, friends and people who are important to us Seen as essential to the healthy development of one’s self & for successful interpersonal relationships

Conditional & Unconditional Positive Regard Positive regard we receive if we behave in certain acceptable ways, such as living up to or meeting the standards of others Unconditional Positive Regard Warmth, acceptance, and love that others show you because you are valued as a human being, even though you may disappoint people by behaving in ways that are different from their standards or values or the way they think Rogers believed that development of a healthy & positive self-concept depends on receiving as much unconditional positive regard as possible

Evaluation of Humanistic Theories Impact Humanistic theories have had the greatest impact in counseling, clinical settings, and personal growth programs Have proven useful in developing healthy personalities & interpersonal relationships Widespread in the field of Positive Psychology Criticisms Criticized because no scientific evidence was provided to prove the inherent tendency for self-actualization really existed Describe behaviors rather than predict behaviors? Ignores the influence of genetic factors