1. RG 10b
Modified PowerPoint from: Aneeq Ahmad -- Henderson State University. Worth Publishers © 2007

2. Humanistic Perspective
By 1960s psychologists had become discontented with Freud’s negativity and the mechanistic psychology of the behaviorists.
Abraham Maslow
( )
Carl Rogers
( )

3. Humanistic Theory
Emphasizes idea that individuals’ control their own behavior
Views human nature in a much more positive light…believes we are all innately good
Very popular perspective at its time because it was so person-centered (think of societal ideas in the 1960s)

4. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Self-actualization
personal growth and fulfilment
Esteem needs
achievement, status, responsibility, reputation
Belongingness and Love needs
family, affection, relationships, work group, etc.
Safety needs
protection, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc.
Biological and Physiological needs
basic life needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.
© design Alan Chapman , based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Move up hierarchy from bottom, basic needs toward top, self-actualization

5. Self-Actualizing Person
Ultimately Maslow believed that we try to reach the state of self-actualization or fulfilling our unique potential.
He believed this desire exists in all people but is often thwarted by one’s environment.
Self-actualizing characteristics
accept self unconditionally
spontaneous and natural
democratic nature
like privacy
focus on problems outside self
strong ethical and moral sense
close, yet limited number of friends
very realistic

6. Carl Rogers
Rogers also believed in individual's personal growth tendencies and idea that people are naturally good.
Central feature of personality = self-concept (our perception of our abilities, behaviors and characteristics if self- concept positive, we tend to act in positive ways)
Michael Rougier/ Life Magazine © Time Warner, Inc.

7. Growth and Fulfillment
For an individual to grow, Rogers said must have:
Genuineness
Be open with feelings and drop facades
Acceptance
Get rid of conditions of worth
Must have/offer unconditional positive regard
Empathy
Sharing and mirroring our feelings and reflecting meanings

8. Assessing the Self
In an effort to assess personality, Rogers asked people to describe themselves as they would like to be (ideal) and as they actually are (real). If the two descriptions were close the individual had a positive self-concept.
All our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in an answer to the question, “Who am I?” refers to Self-Concept.

9. Evaluating the Humanistic Perspective
Humanistic psychology had pervasive impact on counseling, education, child-rearing and management.
Concepts in humanistic psychology are vague and subjective and lacked scientific basis.
Individualism can lead to self-indulgence, selfishness and corruptions…so need to be careful of emphasis.