Humanistic Approach of Personality Comparing theories of personality & psychopathology

Question 1

Asumptions for existential humanistic approach

Answer 1

Individuals have capacity to shape their own self (obs self not personality to emphasise the subjectivity)

Question 2

Describe existentialism (philosophy)

Answer 2

meaningfulness of human existence - truth is subjective and values etc can be chosen from own self

Question 3

Who brought in existentialism in psychology?

Answer 3

Ludvig Binswanger & Medard Boss

Question 4

Aims of humanistic psychology

Answer 4

1) everyone has potential for growth and development
2) No one is inherently bad or good
3) To help people realise that they can grow (=self-actualisation - Carl Rogers)

Question 5

Self-actualisation theory: People who are self-actualising are:

Answer 5

Fully functioning, trust their feelings and open to experiences, know about own inperfections, aware that relationships requires effort, have meaning in life

Question 6

Self-actualisation theory: Need for positive regard

Answer 6

Especially from significant others.

Conditional (not unconditional) positive regard can interfere with self-actualisation

Question 7

Self-determination theory (Duci): 3 needs

Answer 7

Self-determination, Competence, relatedness to others (potential conflict between determination and relatedness)

Self-concordence if goals consistent with values

Question 8

Humanistic self concept (rogers)

Answer 8

Three aspects: self, ideal self, self-esteem (dependent on decrepency between self and ideal self - large difference –> anxiety)

Question 9

Disfunctional behaviour and treatment (existential psychotherapy)

Answer 9

avoidance of conditions for human existence (Maslow’s pyramide) or if way to self-actualisation is blocked by self or others.

aims of psychotherapy: identify maladaptive defense mechanisms, find new coping strategies

Question 10

Limitations of humanistic approach

Answer 10

Focus too much on appreciating feelings and personhood

Overlooks social and genetic determinants

rejects scientific methods as a valid one (because of self as subjective)

Question 11

Behaviourism

Answer 11

symptoms result of reinforcement / punishment

especially used in anxiety cases