CLASS 8

HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

KEY IDEAS

1. Positive perspective

2. Subjective experience

1. Positive perspective

– people are inherently good

– you can be better than ok

2. Subjective experience

– each person’s viewpoint is ok

– we are conscious but can be more so

– we have free will

Abraham Maslow

• goodness

• growth

His ideas

• Self-actualization

• Hierarchy of needs

Hierarchy of needs

Carl Rogers

HIS KEY IDEAS

The Self self-esteem; self-concept; self-regard

the control center of the mind

autonomy & responsibility

Rogerian therapyCreate atmosphere of warm acceptance

uncover unique perspective of the patient

patients cure themselves

Sample Dialog CLIENT:

I’m constantly fighting with my parents THERAPIST:

That’s very common CLIENT

We fight over trivial things THERAPIST:

Tell me more CLIENT:

They always criticize my friends THERAPIST:

Your friends, you say. Go on…

IMPACT OF HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

• inspirational

• common sense

• consistent with many religious ideas

Legacy: Spawned new approaches

• Self-help movement: common in bookstores

• New Age psychology: – non-religious spirituality– non-Western influences– Banyen Books

• Positive Psychology movement

• Positive Psychology

Seligman says focus on:

• Happiness

• Forgiveness

• Courage

• Moderation

CRITIQUE

• concepts are too loose to study

• biased toward positive perspective

• therapy seems too passive

Is it Really a Hierarchy ?

Philosophical Views of Humanity

• Hobbes– People are inherently nasty– Some socialization is possible

• Rousseau– Children are born innocent– Society ruins them

• Neutral or Mixed– Life just ‘is’

Classic debate

• Happiness – Do whatever it takes to feel good

• vs.

• Eudamonia– Seek the full, balanced life

Eudaimonic Well-Being

Don’t seek happiness

• Seek meaning and happiness will ensue

• Religion; offspring; charity; self-actualization

• Existential philosophers (eg Viktor Frankel)