question 3 Flashcards
Discuss the reasons for the development of Humanistic Psychology. Be sure to include the theoretical viewpoints of the two humanistic psychologists.
Humanistic psychology was developed as a reaction to behaviorism, which humanistic psychologists viewed as overly narrow and dehumanizing. Psychoanalysis focused too much on unconscious drives and childhood experiences, while behaviorism reduced human behavior to observable stimuli and responses, often using animal experiments. Humanistic psychologists sought to emphasize personal growth, free will, and the holistic nature of human beings. Influenced by Gestalt psychology and the study of consciousness, humanistic psychology placed a strong emphasis on therapy that focused on an individual’s potential for self-improvement and self-actualization. Two humanistic psychologists, Abraham Maslow, and Carel Rodgers had two of the main theoretical viewpoints of humanism. Maslow, often called the “father of humanistic psychology,” was initially trained as a behaviorist but found the ideas in Gestalt and psychoanalysis more compelling. His desire to understand human potential, led him to develop the concept of self-actualization, an innate drive to realize one’s full potential, free from pathology and neurosis. Maslow also introduced the Hierarchy of Needs, which posits that people must satisfy lower-level needs—such as safety, belonging, and esteem—before they can pursue the highest level of personal growth: self-actualization. Rogers, developed person-centered therapy focusing on the client’s ability to guide their own personal growth. Rogers believed that individuals, motivated by an innate drive, comparable to Maslow’s self-actualization, could improve their lives through rational and conscious thought. His therapy emphasized creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment where clients could take responsibility for their change, and he introduced the concept of the fully functioning person, someone who is continually evolving toward self-actualization, viewing development as an ongoing process rather than a fixed endpoint.
What are the reasons for the development of humanistic psychology?
Humanistic psychology was developed as a reaction to behaviorism, which humanistic psychologists viewed as overly narrow and dehumanizing. Psychoanalysis focused too much on unconscious drives and childhood experiences, while behaviorism reduced human behavior to observable stimuli and responses, often using animal experiments. Humanistic psychologists sought to emphasize personal growth, free will, and the holistic nature of human beings. Influenced by Gestalt psychology and the study of consciousness, humanistic psychology placed a strong emphasis on therapy that focused on an individual’s potential for self-improvement and self-actualization.
What are the theoretical viewpoints of the two humanistic psychologists?
. Two humanistic psychologists, Abraham Maslow, and Carel Rodgers had two of the main theoretical viewpoints of humanism. Maslow, often called the “father of humanistic psychology,” was initially trained as a behaviorist but found the ideas in Gestalt and psychoanalysis more compelling. His desire to understand human potential, led him to develop the concept of self-actualization, an innate drive to realize one’s full potential, free from pathology and neurosis. Maslow also introduced the Hierarchy of Needs, which posits that people must satisfy lower-level needs—such as safety, belonging, and esteem—before they can pursue the highest level of personal growth: self-actualization. Rogers, developed person-centered therapy focusing on the client’s ability to guide their own personal growth. Rogers believed that individuals, motivated by an innate drive, comparable to Maslow’s self-actualization, could improve their lives through rational and conscious thought. His therapy emphasized creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment where clients could take responsibility for their change, and he introduced the concept of the fully functioning person, someone who is continually evolving toward self-actualization, viewing development as an ongoing process rather than a fixed endpoint.
