Ch 12. Humanistic Psychology Flashcards
the psychological study of awareness, free will, happiness, and the many related aspects of the mind that are uniquely human and give life meaning
humanistic psychology
to overcome the paradox of studying humans
(implications of self-awareness)
the goal of humanistic psychology
one’s conscious experience of the world; everything a person hears, feels, and thinks
Phenomenology (basis of humanism)
one’s conscious experience of the world; everything a person hears, feels, and thinks
Phenomenology (basis of humanism)
Phenomenology is psychologically more important than the world itself.
Free Will is the most important
The central insight of humanistic psychology
someone’s particular unique experience of the world. the way in which individuals interpret, understand, and make sense of the world around them.
Construal (free will is achieved by choosing your construal)
observation of one’s own awareness and thought-processes
Introspection
Purpose: regain contact with the experience of being alive and aware and to do all you can to better the human condition, even in the face of life’s
uncertainties.
Key questions:
What is the nature of existence?
How does it feel?
And what does it mean?
What does life want from me?
Existentialism (philosophical mode of thought)
- Thrown-ness: the time, place, and circumstances into
which you happened to be born - Angst: the unpleasant feeling caused by contemplating the meaning of life and how one should spend one’s time; also called existential anxiety
- Living in Bad Faith: ignoring the existential questions and our moral imperative (creates problems such as living a cowardly life, unhappiness)
three points that existentialism deals with
People have one basic tendency and striving: to actualize, maintain, and enhance their own experience (self-actualization)
(focus on free-will and people are basically good)
Optimistic Humanism
Hierarchy of needs: how human motivation is characterized – Lower needs must be met first.
Basic assumption: The ultimate need or motive is to self- actualize.
The Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow (optimistic humanism)
The individual theories of each person based on how their construals are assembled; bipolar dimensions along which people or objects can be arranged
Based on how one’s cognitive system assembles various construals of the world into individually held theories
Help to determine how new experiences are construed
Personal Constructs: Kelly
a branch of psych that focuses on promoting well being and and optimal functioning.
- Mindfullness
- Flow
- Awe
Positive Psychology
seek to maximize pleasure and minimize pain
Hedonic
seeking a meaningful life
Eudaimonic well-being
