Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology: Humanism

Question 1

Perspectives

Answer 1

1. Psychoanalysis
2. Behaviourism
3. Humanism

Question 2

Psychoanalysis

Answer 2

–The unconscious as driver of behaviour

Question 3

Behaviourism

Answer 3

–The stimulus response as driver of behaviour

•Including cognitive approach

Question 4

Humanism

Answer 4

–Agency or self-determination as driver of behaviour

Question 5

The religious

Answer 5

–To fulfill God’s design

Question 6

Altruists

Answer 6

–To do good

Question 7

Humanists

Answer 7

–To attain self actualisation

Question 8

Hedonists

Answer 8

–To have a good time

Question 9

Humanist Assumptions

Answer 9

•Humanists believe that humans are free, rational beings with the potential for personal growth
–Fundamentally different from animals
•Humanists study the unique aspects of human experience
–Meaning, purpose, self-actualisation
•Humanists insist that the meaning of our existence resides squarely in our own hands
–How we can best nurture what is best within ourselves and society to create a happy and fulfilling life
•Humans are capable of self-awareness and self-actualisation
–They have unique and distinct capacities for self-reflection and to think and decide on their own
•Free will
•The purpose of humanist intervention is to get from a person’s perspective their view of their existence, meaning, and purpose in life
•Human aim to help individuals to choose among alternatives as an essential aspect of being human, to foster self-awareness and self-actualisation

Question 10

Key names in the humanist theory

Answer 10

Abraham Maslow (1908 –1970)
Carl Rogers (1902 –1987)

Question 11

Abraham Maslow

Answer 11

• Founder of humanistic psychology
• Maslow was interested in studying people of exceptional mental health
• Such self-actualisedpeople, he believed, make full use of their talents and abilities
• Maslow offered his positive view of human potential as an alternative to the “deterministic” schools of behaviorism and psychoanalysis

Question 12

Maslow’s Hierarchy

Answer 12

• Maslow proposed that each of us has an inborn force towards self-actualisation, or the realisation of personal potential
• When the human personality develops in a supportive environment, the positive inner nature of the person emerges
• In contrast, misery and pathology occur when environments frustrate our innate tendency towards self-actualisation

Question 13

Carl Rogers

Answer 13

•Pioneered the scientific study of psychotherapy audio taping counseling sessions and analysing the content
•Argued that human behaviour is governed mostly by an individual’s sense of self, or self-concept
•Just like Maslow, he also emphasised the need to take account of people’s enablers or restrictions toward personal growth
–Based on the recognition that people have a basic need to fulfill their potential
•For him, just like Maslow, psychological disturbances result from the frustration of the uniquely human need for personal growth or fulfillment of individual potential

Question 14

Self-Image

Answer 14

–Perception of our own body, personality, and capabilities

Question 15

Self-Evaluation

Answer 15

–Positive or negative feelings held toward one’s self

Question 16

Subjective Frame of Reference

Answer 16

–Mental perspective used to interpret events

Question 17

Self-Actualisation

Answer 17

–Ongoing process of fully developing one’s personal potential/growth

Question 18

Existentialism

Answer 18

•The basic issues of existence are around death, responsibility, loneliness and meaninglessness and these cannot not be avoided
•Avoiding to deal with these basic issues of existence leads to anxiety
–When anxious other behavioral problems arise
–We need to know why we are alive
•Then strive to fulfil that purpose

Question 19

Anxiety around Death

Answer 19

•People are aware that they will face the inevitable prospect of death
–Awareness of being FINITE gives the present moment significance, if one recognises that one has only a limited time to actualize one’s human potential
•Trying to avoid facing up death leads to developing ‘death anxiety’
•People with death anxiety live their lives ‘hoping’ that there’s tomorrow and they postpone and procrastinate things
•On the other hand, people who have dealt with the ‘death issue’, live life fully or authentically, they savor and make the best of every moment

Question 20

Anxiety of Responsibility

Answer 20

•People should take responsibility for their lives
–People have choices and they should exercise these in order to optimise opportunities for growth and change
–When they are not ready to face these responsibilities, anxiety kicks in
•With freedom to chooseand actcomes responsibility
–One is responsible for ones life →Anxiety

Question 21

Anxiety of Loneliness

Answer 21

•Loneliness is a psychological state and part of human existence–Human beings are ultimately alone from birth•Influenced by childhood relationships and attachments •If awareness of separation and loneliness is resolved individuals will be able to form meaningful relationships in adult life–They will accept loneliness as a positive experience•An opportunity for self exploration

Question 22

Anxiety of Meaninglessness

Answer 22

•People need to construct their own vision of what gives meaning to their lives
•During times of crises, the task is that each one of us should try to resolve the ‘why me’ question which is important for moving on or dealing with crises
•The answer to this is influenced by a person’s paradigm and the way forward will follow from there
–Religious, traditional, humanist etc

Question 23

The Humanistic Approach

Answer 23

•Highlights the characteristics of a healthy personality •Criticisms
–Lacks scientific rigour
–Vague about how the concept of self-actualisation was derived
–Rigid structuring of higher-level needs
•People differ in the value they place on some of the levels of need