humanistic Flashcards
What is the Humanistic Perspective, and how does it differ from other psychological approaches?
The Humanistic Perspective emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and free will, focusing on conscious experiences and individual potential.
🔹 Differences:
Opposes Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory, which focuses on unconscious conflicts.
Opposes Behaviorism, which focuses on external reinforcements rather than internal experiences.
What is Phenomenology, and how does it relate to personality?
Phenomenology is the study of conscious experience from an individual’s perspective.
According to Carl Rogers, people construct their own reality based on personal needs, beliefs, and experiences.
🔹 Example: Two people may experience the same event differently based on their own perceptions and life experiences.
What are the two aspects of self in Rogers’ theory?
Actual Self – How a person perceives themselves in the present.
Ideal Self – The person they aspire to be.
🔹 Example: A person who wants to be confident (ideal self) but sees themselves as shy (actual self) may experience psychological distress.
What is Self-Actualization, and why is it important?
Self-Actualization is the innate drive toward personal growth and reaching full potential.
It is the core motivation in Rogers’ Humanistic Theory.
🔹 Example: A musician who pursues music for personal fulfillment, rather than fame or money, is self-actualizing.
What is Unconditional Positive Regard, and how does it influence self-esteem?
Unconditional Positive Regard means acceptance and love without conditions.
It fosters a healthy self-concept and promotes psychological well-being.
🔹 Example: Parents who support their child regardless of academic performance help them develop high self-esteem.
What happens when someone experiences Conditional Positive Regard?
Love and approval are given only if certain conditions are met.
This leads to “Conditions of Worth,” where a person feels valued only if they meet external expectations.
🔹 Example: A child who is only praised for high grades may tie their self-worth to academic success, leading to stress and anxiety.
What are two defense mechanisms people use against incongruence?
Denial – Ignoring experiences that contradict self-concept.
🔹 Example: A student who fails an exam blames the teacher rather than accepting their lack of preparation.
Distortion – Changing the meaning of experiences to fit self-concept.
🔹 Example: A person who sees themselves as kind justifies being rude by blaming stress.
What is Client-Centered Therapy, and what are its core principles?
Developed by Carl Rogers, this therapy helps individuals achieve congruence between their actual and ideal self.
✅ Core principles:
Empathy – Understanding the client’s emotions.
Genuineness – The therapist is open and authentic.
Unconditional Positive Regard – Acceptance without judgment.
What is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and how does it relate to self-actualization?
Physiological Needs – Food, water, shelter.
Safety Needs – Security, stability.
Belongingness & Love Needs – Relationships, acceptance.
Esteem Needs – Self-respect, achievement.
Self-Actualization – Personal growth and fulfillment.
What is Flow, and how does it contribute to well-being?
Flow is a state of deep concentration and engagement in an activity.
People experience intrinsic enjoyment and lose track of time.
🔹 Example: A painter so immersed in their work that they forget to eat or check the time.
What is the core idea of Carl Rogers’ Humanistic Personality Theory?
Rogers believed that personality develops through conscious experiences, free will, and personal growth rather than unconscious conflicts or conditioned behaviors.
🔹 Example: A person shapes their own identity by pursuing personal goals and self-improvement, rather than being defined by past trauma or external rewards.
What is the phenomenological approach in Rogers’ theory?
Phenomenology is the study of conscious experience from the individual’s perspective.
Rogers emphasized that each person constructs their own reality based on personal needs, values, and beliefs.
🔹 Example: Two people experience the same event differently based on their unique perceptions and interpretations.
What are the two aspects of the self in Rogers’ theory?
Actual Self – How a person perceives themselves in the present.
Ideal Self – The person they aspire to be.
🔹 Example: If a person sees themselves as shy (actual self) but wants to be confident (ideal self), they may experience incongruence and distress.
What is Self-Actualization, and why is it important?
Self-Actualization is the innate drive toward growth, personal fulfillment, and reaching one’s full potential.
It is the core motivation in Rogers’ theory.
🔹 Example: A musician who pursues music for personal fulfillment, rather than fame or money, is self-actualizing.
What are Congruence and Incongruence in self-concept?
Congruence: When a person’s self-perception aligns with reality, leading to psychological well-being.
Incongruence: When self-perception conflicts with reality, leading to distress and low self-esteem.
🔹 Example: A person who believes they are successful but constantly fails at work may feel incongruent and anxious.
What is Unconditional Positive Regard, and how does it affect personality?
Unconditional Positive Regard is accepting and valuing a person without conditions or judgment.
It helps build self-esteem and confidence.
🔹 Example: A child who is loved and supported regardless of their grades develops a healthy self-concept.
What happens when someone experiences Conditional Positive Regard?
Approval and love are given only if certain conditions are met.
Leads to “Conditions of Worth,” where a person feels valued only if they meet external expectations.
🔹 Example: A child who is only praised for high grades may feel their worth depends on academic success, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem.
What are the three essential conditions in Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy?
Congruence (Genuineness): The therapist is open and authentic.
Unconditional Positive Regard: The therapist accepts the client without judgment.
Empathic Understanding: The therapist truly understands the client’s emotions.
🔹 Example: A therapist saying, “I hear that you’re feeling lost. It sounds like you’re struggling with self-doubt. Let’s explore this together.”
What is the GROW Model, and how does it help personal development?
✅ Answer:
The GROW Model is a structured approach for self-improvement and goal-setting:
✅ G – Goal – What do you want to achieve?
✅ R – Reality – Where are you now? What challenges exist?
✅ O – Options – What strategies can you explore?
✅ W – Will – What action steps will you take?
🔹 Example: A person wanting a career change might use the GROW model to set clear goals, analyze obstacles, explore options, and commit to action.
How does Rogers’ theory differ from Freud’s and Behaviorism?
✅ Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory: Focuses on unconscious conflicts from childhood shaping personality.
✅ Behaviorism: Focuses on learned behaviors from external reinforcements.
✅ Rogers’ Humanistic Approach: Emphasizes conscious choice, personal growth, and self-actualization.
🔹 Example: Instead of seeing personality as fixed by childhood (Freud) or shaped by rewards and punishments (Behaviorism), Rogers believed people actively shape their own personality through experiences and growth.
What is the main goal of humanistic personality assessment?
To explore self-concept, emotions, and attitudes toward self and others.
Focuses on conscious and unconscious subjective experiences.
Used in client-centered therapy, where the therapist does not judge or give advice but helps the client understand their experiences.
🔹 Example: A therapist asks, “How do you feel about yourself?” instead of analyzing the client’s behavior.
What is Carl Rogers’ Q-Sort Technique, and what does it measure?
A self-assessment tool used to measure self-concept (actual vs. ideal self).
Developed by William Stephenson and used by Carl Rogers.
Involves sorting statements about personality into categories from Most Characteristic of Me to Least Characteristic of Me.
🔹 Example:
A person sorts “I am confident” under Least Characteristic of Me, showing low self-confidence.
How does the Q-Sort Technique reveal psychological distress?
The test is taken twice:
Sorting statements based on actual self.
Sorting statements based on ideal self.
A bigger gap between actual and ideal self means higher incongruence, which can cause emotional distress.
🔹 Example: A person sees their actual self as shy but wants to be outgoing, leading to internal conflict and anxiety.
What are two key insights provided by the Q-Sort Technique?
Measures self-perception – How a person sees themselves in the present.
Identifies incongruence – The gap between actual self and ideal self.
🔹 Application: Helps therapists track self-concept changes over time in therapy.
How did Maslow measure self-actualization?
Maslow used multiple methods:
✅ Interviews – Conversations about personal growth.
✅ Observations – Watching real-life behaviors.
✅ Projective Tests – Analyzing responses to ambiguous stimuli.
✅ Biographical Studies – Studying successful, self-actualized individuals (e.g., Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt).
🔹 Example: Maslow studied how creative thinkers approached problems differently from others.
What is the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), and what does it measure?
A self-report questionnaire designed to measure self-actualization.
Captures aspects of a healthy personality, focusing on:
Time Competence – Living in the present rather than dwelling on the past or future.
Inner-Directedness – Relying on internal values rather than external approval.
🔹 Example POI Question:
“I trust my instincts when making decisions.”
How does Maslow’s Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) assess self-actualization
POI scores indicate level of personal growth, independence, and self-awareness.
Higher scores suggest self-confidence and authenticity.
Lower scores suggest self-doubt and dependence on external validation.
🔹 Example: A person with low POI scores may constantly seek approval from others, showing a lack of self-actualization.
What is the key difference between Rogers’ and Maslow’s assessment methods?
Example: Rogers focused on how people see themselves, while Maslow focused on how fully they reach their potential.
How are humanistic assessments used in real life?
Therapy – Helps therapists understand clients’ self-perception and personal growth.
Education – Used to study self-esteem and motivation in students.
Leadership & Business – Identifies self-actualized individuals who are independent and creative.
🔹 Example: A school counselor uses the Q-Sort Technique to help a student struggling with low self-esteem.
What is the main takeaway from humanistic personality assessments?
Humanistic assessments focus on self-awareness, self-concept, and personal growth rather than diagnosing mental disorders.
Rogers (Q-Sort Technique): Measures self-concept and incongruence.
Maslow (POI & Biographical Studies): Measures self-actualization and psychological well-being.
🔹 Example: These tools help people understand themselves better and achieve their full potential.
