Open in App
Log In Start studying!

Select your language

Suggested languages for you:
Vaia - The all-in-one study app.
4.8 • +11k Ratings
More than 3 Million Downloads
Free
|
|
Humanistic Psychology

You may have come across humanism's philosophy in your education, whether in the fields of history, art, or philosophy. Throughout history and across areas, this principle has had many applications. And you've probably learned the fundamentals of psychology by now. But what exactly is humanistic psychology?

Content verified by subject matter experts
Free Vaia App with over 20 million students
Mockup Schule

Explore our app and discover over 50 million learning materials for free.

Humanistic Psychology

Illustration

Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persönlichen Lernstatistiken

Jetzt kostenlos anmelden

Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen.

Jetzt kostenlos anmelden
Illustration

You may have come across humanism's philosophy in your education, whether in the fields of history, art, or philosophy. Throughout history and across areas, this principle has had many applications. And you've probably learned the fundamentals of psychology by now. But what exactly is humanistic psychology?

  • First, we'll look at the origin of humanistic psychology.
  • Next, we'll explore the humanistic approach psychology.
  • Then, dive into Abraham Maslow humanistic psychology.
  • Thereafter, consider a humanistic psychology example.
  • Lastly, look through some problems with the humanistic psychology approach.

Origin of Humanistic Psychology

What is the origin of humanistic psychology?

In the early 20th century, Behaviourism was on the rise. The behaviourist perspective claims behaviour is the scientific approach related to mental processes. It was the sole area with which psychology concerned itself. Behaviourists did not believe studying thoughts, memory, emotion, or other non-objective processes was valuable. Psychoanalysis was developed simultaneously as behaviourism and studied phenomenons like impulses of the unconscious mind.

Sigmund Freud assumed that some people did not understand their motivations. So, his approach was to help their patients to uncover the hidden urges that drove their behaviour. In the 1950s, psychologists developed a theoretical perspective that differed from Behaviourism and psychoanalysis.

Humanism is a blend of these dominant forces; its foundation is the Classical and Renaissance philosophy that emphasises self-realisation. Similar philosophical movements in Europe, such as developments in phenomenology and existentialism, supported the development of humanism.

Self-realisation is the ability to become aware of needs, take responsibility for choices, and develop psychologically, intellectually, and ethically.

Humanistic psychology, an image of the school of Athens, VaiaFig. 1 School of Athens

The humanistic approach interconnects concepts initiated in the mid-20th century in response to two theories — the psychodynamic theories created by Sigmund Freud and the behaviourism theory developed by B.F. Skinner. The blending of both was considered the "third force" in psychology.

Abraham Maslow and Clark Moustakas made enormous contributions to igniting the humanistic approach as a discipline in psychology. They showed their interest in establishing a professional association that emphasised humanistic psychology development, creating a professional resource to designate personal attributes that were considered helpful to the production process demanded by a post-industrial society.

In 1961, the establishment of the American Association for Humanistic Psychology began after receiving sponsorship from Brandeis University.

Carl Rogers' work was considered one of the first humanistic psychology sources; Otto Rank heavily influenced him. Rogers believed that focusing on developmental processes would lead his clients to a healthier, more creative personality; he created an "actualising tendency," which led Abraham Maslow to research self-actualisation and introduced positive humanistic psychology.

Additionally, Rogers' works also emphasised self-worth and unconditional positive regard.

Unconditional positive regard is the need to be accepted by others, no matter how we see ourselves or what we do.

For Rogers, unhappiness and dissatisfaction result from a conflict between self-concept (the idea you have about yourself) and the ideal self (the idea of how you would like to be). Incongruence is the contrast between our real and ideal selves.

When an individual is in congruence, the self-concept aligns with the ideal self. However, it is not common to be in unity all the time. For this reason, most individuals will experience some level of incongruence. According to Rogers, uniting our real and ideal selves is a vital step towards becoming a fully functioning (self-actualisation) individual.

Humanistic Approach Psychology

Humanistic approach psychology posits that everyone is unique and has their perspective towards the world. It believes that humans are good at heart and capable of making the right choices.

Humanism highlights that embracing your true self leads you to a fulfilling life. The humanistic psychology perspective insists that behaviourist and psychodynamic approaches are reductionist and deterministic. Its results cannot explain the holistic (holism focuses on understanding all aspects of human experience and interaction) complexity of human behaviour.

Basic Principles of Humanistic Psychology

Claimed by James Bugental in 1964 and later adapted by Tom Greening. Five core principles outline the humanistic approach in psychology (Association for Humanistic Psychology, 2006)1:

  • Human beings, as humans, supersede the sum of their parts. They are not reducible to components.
  • Human beings have their existence in a uniquely human context, as well as in a cosmic ecology.
  • Human beings are aware and are aware of being aware—i.e., they are conscious. Human consciousness always includes an awareness of oneself in the context of other people.
  • Human beings can make choices and therefore have responsibility.
  • Human beings are intentional, aim at goals, are aware that they cause future events, and seek meaning, value, and creativity.

Abraham Maslow Humanistic Psychology

Abraham Maslow firmly believed in the importance of studying positive human traits and virtues. Abraham Maslow's humanistic psychology, or humanism, highlights that people are good at heart and that reaching one's full potential is essential. His humanistic view of psychology also reflected his individual and collective emphasis on the importance of people.

In disagreement with behaviourism's focus on animal studies and psychoanalysis's focus on people with mental health conditions, Maslow sought to challenge these two schools of thought in psychology. Instead, he thought that to apply to the general population, people with no mental health conditions should be the basis of theories.

Working closely with other humanistic psychologists like Alfred Adler helped him in his humanistic research on self-actualisation. This led him to publish an essay in 1943 describing his humanistic ideas, which helped lay the foundation of humanistic psychology. His essay, entitled 'A Theory of Human Motivation,' states that humans naturally seek and value growth, development, and moral standards, which influence their behaviour.

His humanistic theory also agrees that personal growth is a core component of human behaviour and that self-actualisation is integral to a functional society.

Maslow didn't see behaviour as learnt or conditioned responses manipulated by the environment. Instead, he understood behaviour given humanity's constant pursuit of excellence and its potential.

Maslow also believed that humans have a hierarchy of needs that motivate them. Beginning with physiological and safety needs as the most important, moving up to love and belongingness, then esteem needs, until one reaches self-actualisation.

Kurt Goldstein was the first to come up with the term "self-actualisation," which he defined as the desire to achieve one's full potential.

The most basic needs centre on the basic needs of life or the physiological needs — air, food, water, and shelter, for example.

When people move up the hierarchy, these needs become centred on esteem and self-actualisation. Self-actualisation can be a rare achievement, but it provides the possibility of genuine self-awareness and an honest relationship with the realities of an imperfect world.

Humanistic Psychology Example

Humanistic views and ideas did not just remain a theory in psychology; one can find a humanistic psychology example in many areas, such as therapy and education. Here are some examples of humanistic psychology in practice.

According to Maslow2, the 'ultimate goal of all therapy' (Abraham Maslow, Motivation and Personality, 1970) is to help a client move from basic needs towards self-actualisation.

Humanistic psychology,  illustration of one man sitting on table writing notes whilst the other is thinking, VaiaFig. 2 The client-centred approach is usually carried out in a similar setting to usual talk therapies.

Additionally, Maslow conceptualised a humanistic tenet in psychotherapy, which includes the following:

  • Accountability for one's actions.
  • Acknowledging others' perspectives.
  • Living in the moment and adopting a mindset that emphasises this.
  • The practice of allowing one's emotions to be felt and recognised as part of human life rather than trying to suppress them.
  • People who live by humanistic morals all want to have experiences that help them grow.

Another essential contributor to humanistic psychotherapy is Carl Rogers, who first conceptualised a humanistic working relationship between client and therapist. He developed the humanistic client-centred approach, where he described the therapist's role as a facilitator. As a facilitator, the therapist actively shows the client how they can make meaningful changes. However, the client will always be the most powerful person in their life, and the therapist can only acknowledge and support that.

A humanistic approach to education is also known as affective education. Humanistic education also considers the affective side (e.g., emotions and interests) of learning.

According to Maslow, learning doesn't just take place in the classroom but throughout life. Learning is an ongoing process that causes changes in how you see yourself, feel, act, and relate to your surroundings.

Humanistic education concepts include:

  • Each person is responsible for their learning and growth as an individual.
  • Considering and bolstering the importance of a person's desire for affection and self-esteem.
  • The role of the teacher as the primary organiser in an open classroom.
  • Encouraging collaborative learning, such as working in groups and interactive learning between students.

An open classroom is a learning setting where teachers take on a facilitator role (student-centred) instead of an authoritarian role (teacher-centred). Students in an open classroom take responsibility for their learning, where they have access to various educational resources and the freedom to move about the classroom. Additionally, students can choose to work independently or in groups.

Here are examples of activities implemented and reviewed on an ongoing basis by school districts as part of programs designed to apply Maslow's hierarchy of needs to enhance their schools' learning environment and outcomes.

  • Physiological needs: free meals
  • Safety needs: emergency drills and other safety measures
  • Love and belonging needs: workshops and therapy sessions
  • Esteem and self-actualisation: involvement in special performances and activities and appreciation of student accomplishments through rewards and recognition

Problems with Humanistic Psychology

Even with the significant applications of humanistic approaches in different sectors and recognition within the field of psychology, there are also several problems with humanistic psychology.

Here are a few problems with humanistic psychology raised by critics:

  • The term "humanistic" has had different meanings dating back to the Renaissance. There is no consensus on what exactly is meant by the term, as there are other approaches that can also pass as humanistic, causing contradictions within humanistic psychology. B. F. Skinner once received the 1972 Humanist of the Year award given by the American Humanist Association, an example of that contradiction within the school of thought.
  • Critics also claim that humanistic psychology is simplistic. As pointed out by Rollo May3 (1982), one support for this argument is the humanistic view's failure to adequately discuss evil due to its emphasis on good qualities in people.
  • Humanistic psychology's demand for relevance in its studies can negatively impact the process of scientific discovery. Critics have noted that studies from the past have laid the groundwork for more recent groundbreaking research, despite possibly not being relevant according to the humanistic approach.
  • Because of the centrality of free will to humanistic psychology, its practitioners risk providing a superficial analysis that gets in the way of scientific inquiries. Emphasis on free will may overlook valid yet unnoticeable findings that can deepen understanding of intricate phenomena.
  • Behaviourists like Skinner asserted that humanistic psychology is unscientific because it uses introspection. In addition, some in the field of psychology believe that the humanistic approach was an attempt to distance psychology from the empirical research conducted by experimental psychologists.

Humanistic Psychology - Key takeaways

  • Humanistic psychology, or humanism, is the "third force" of psychology, with its foundation based on the Classical and Renaissance philosophy emphasising self-realisation.

  • The humanistic approach of psychology holds that everyone is unique and has their perspective on the world. It also believes that humans are inherently good and capable of making wise decisions.

  • Abraham Maslow created a hierarchy of needs, which he believed motivates people, beginning from basic needs for survival and moving towards self-actualisation.

  • One example of humanistic psychology in practice is education, which emphasises students' responsibility in their learning. Schools also include ways to meet student needs in their programs according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, such as giving free meals (physiological needs).

  • Problems with humanistic psychology include being simplistic and unscientific, as claimed by its critics. Additionally, its emphasis on free will and relevance can impede scientific discoveries.


References

  1. Association for Humanistic Psychology. (2006). Five basic postulates of humanistic psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 46(3), 239. doi:10.1177/002216780604600301
  2. Maslow, A. H. (1970). Motivation and personality (2nd ed.). New York: Harper & Row.
  3. May, R. (1982). The problem of evil: An open letter to Carl Rogers. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 22(3), 10-21.

Frequently Asked Questions about Humanistic Psychology

Humanistic psychology is a movement in psychology that believes that humans are unique beings and should be acknowledged and treated as such by psychologists and by themselves. It supports a holistic approach.

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow are the most influential humanistic theorists.

It holds a core belief that humans are good at heart and capable of making the right choices for themselves using their free will to achieve the goals they want to accomplish in life.

Carl Rogers and the client-centred approach is one example of humanistic psychology.

The basic principle of humanistic psychology is that humans are unique and have the free will to achieve what they want.

Final Humanistic Psychology Quiz

Humanistic Psychology Quiz - Teste dein Wissen

Question

When was the American Association for Humanistic psychology founded?


Show answer

Answer

1961.

Show question

Question

Who did show interest in establishing a professional association to proceed with the researches about humanistic theories? 

Show answer

Answer

Abraham Maslow & Clark Moustakas.

Show question

Question

What was the concept that Renaissance and Classical philosophy contributed to humanistic psychology?



Show answer

Answer

Self-realisation.

Show question

Question

What is the humanistic approach considered to be?



Show answer

Answer

The third force.

Show question

Question

Who started the client-centred approach in therapy?

Show answer

Answer

Carl Rogers.

Show question

Question

Who initially proposed the hierarchy of needs?

Show answer

Answer

Abraham Maslow.

Show question

Question

Humanists believe in the holistic complexity of human behaviour.


Show answer

Answer

True.

Show question

Question

The principle of the psychodynamic approach is that everyone is unique and has their own perspectives towards the world’s view.


Show answer

Answer

False.

Show question

Question

Behaviourism stresses the importance of human values and dignity.


Show answer

Answer

False.

Show question

Question

Rogers believed that focusing on developmental processes would lead his clients to a healthier, more creative personality.

Show answer

Answer

True.

Show question

Question

What is the principle of humanistic psychology?

Show answer

Answer

Everyone is unique and has their own perspectives of the world.

Show question

Question

What is the free will vs determinism debate?

Show answer

Answer

The free will vs determinism debate is concerned with whether we freely make our actions (free will) or whether our past experiences and life events determine them (determinism).

Show question

Question

What beliefs does the humanistic approach hold towards determinism?

Show answer

Answer

The humanistic approach believes humans inherently have free will and that the deterministic approach undermines human freedom, dignity and behaviour.

Show question

Question

How does the humanistic approach encourage people to have a fulfilling life?

Show answer

Answer

The humanistic approach highlights that embracing your true self leads you to a fulfilling life.

Show question

Question

Is pure free will better advised than deterministic approaches in psychology?

Show answer

Answer

No, a pure free-will or deterministic approach does not seem suitable when investigating human behaviour. Psychologists use the idea of free will to indicate that behaviour is not a passive reaction but that we are responding to internal and external forces.

Show question

Question

How do humanistic psychologists view behaviour?

Show answer

Answer

Humanistic psychologists view behaviour as a choice. They assume individuals can take responsibility for their choices and behave as they choose to.

Show question

Question

What are the main names of self-actualisation theory?

Show answer

Answer

The main names in self-actualisation theory are Kurt Goldstein, Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

Show question

Question

How did Goldstein view self-actualisation?

Show answer

Answer

According to Goldstein, self-actualisation was not a goal to be achieved in the future but an organism’s innate tendency to realise its potential at any moment under any circumstances.

Show question

Question

According to Maslow, how long usually does it take for a person to become self-actualised?

Show answer

Answer

Maslow believed becoming self-actualised is not a straightforward process. It can take years for some people to reach self-actualisation. According to him, the most important thing is the process and not reaching the goal.

Show question

Question

Is the ability to find humour in a given situation, including a difficult moment, an example of self-actualisation?

Show answer

Answer

Yes.

Show question

Question

What is the most basic need according to Maslow's hierarchy model?

Show answer

Answer

The most fundamental needs from a survival standpoint are physiological, i.e. biological needs.

Show question

Question

What are some examples of physiological needs?

Show answer

Answer

Air, water, food, sleep, shelter, clothing, homeostasis, etc.

Show question

Question

What are the examples of action supporting our safety needs?


Show answer

Answer

Having material resources to plan and achieve ideals, being healthy, and having safety to move around are examples of actions driven by security and safety needs.


Show question

Question

How can love and belonging needs support us?

Show answer

Answer

Social needs play an important role when avoiding loneliness, depression, and anxiety. It is vital to feeling loved and accepted by others.

Show question

Question

What is the fourth level of Maslow's hierarchy?



Show answer

Answer

The fourth level of Maslow's hierarchy is the need for appreciation and respect, i.e. esteem needs.

Show question

Question

What is the top level of Maslow's hierarchy?

Show answer

Answer

At the top level of Maslow's hierarchy is self-actualisation.

Show question

Question

True or false: Self-actualised people are self-aware and interested in their personal growth, including developing their true potential. It gives them the strength to hold on to their truth, not worry about others’ opinions of themselves, and follow their life, purpose, and mission.

Show answer

Answer

True.

Show question

Question

What are deficiency needs?  

Show answer

Answer

Deficiency needs refer to the deprivation of basic needs for too long. People can become demotivated if those needs are unmet. The motivation to fulfil these needs can become stronger the longer certain needs are neglected.

Show question

Question

What do deficiency needs aim at?


Show answer

Answer

The deficiency needs raises awareness to maintain physical and psychological balance.

Show question

Question

Where do growth needs emerge from?

Show answer

Answer

Growth needs emerge from the desire to grow as an individual.

Show question

Question

What happens when growth needs are achieved?

Show answer

Answer

When these growth needs have been achieved, the individual may reach the highest need; self-actualisation.

Show question

Question

Is Maslow's hierarchy of needs proven scientifically?

Show answer

Answer

No. It is not.

Show question

Question

What is the approach in psychology that deals with client-centred therapy?

Show answer

Answer

Roger’s theory is in accordance with the humanistic approach assumptions.

Show question

Question

What is considered a phenomenal field?

Show answer

Answer

Everything that we experience at some point is a phenomenal field.

Show question

Question

What is the phenomenal self?

Show answer

Answer

The phenomenal self is the part of the phenomenal field that someone experiences as I or the self.

Show question

Question

What does the self mean?



Show answer

Answer

The self, self-image and self-concept denote our personal identity.

Show question

Question

What is the client-centred approach based on?

Show answer

Answer

The theory is based on the Combs and Snygg (1949) personality theory from their book ‘Phenomenal Field’.

Show question

Question

When did Roger’s theories begin gaining attraction?

Show answer

Answer

Rogers’ theories started to be well-known after his book was released, ‘Client-Centered Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications and Theory’ in 1951.

Show question

Question

Is client-centred therapy considered scientific?

Show answer

Answer

Rogers’ theory development was comprehensive and also empirical. He and his followers were able to apply a humanistic approach to conduct therapy and a scientific approach to evaluate the therapy outcomes.

Show question

Question

What are the other names given to client-centred therapy?

Show answer

Answer

Carl Rogers developed client-centred therapy, also known as person-centred therapy or Rogerian therapy.

Show question

Question

Client-centred therapy is a non-directive approach. What does that mean?

Show answer

Answer

Client-centred therapy is a non-directive approach, i.e., the therapist views their client as a guide source throughout their conflicts.

Show question

Question

What is the therapist's role in client-centred therapy?

Show answer

Answer

The therapist and client relationship play an essential role in the treatment, as the therapist shares empathy and unconditional positive regard with their clients.

Show question

Question

What is unconditional positive regard?

Show answer

Answer

Unconditional positive regard is the unconditional love and acceptance a person receives from others, regardless of their actions. 

Show question

Question

What is conditional positive regard?

Show answer

Answer

Conditional regard is a kind of love and acceptance from people that depends on certain conditions or expectations from others. 

Show question

Question

What does Rogers consider the essential elements of the person-centred approach?

Show answer

Answer

According to Rogers, the essential elements of person-centred approach is congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard.

Show question

Question

What is the aim of client-centred therapy?

Show answer

Answer

The aim is to help the person recover their sense of self by guiding them towards experiential freedom and achieving a state of congruence leading to self-actualisation.

Show question

Question

What is self-actualisation?

Show answer

Answer

Self-actualisation is the desire to grow psychologically and fulfil our true potential.

Show question

Question

Why did Carl Rogers develop client-centred therapy?

Show answer

Answer

Carl Rogers developed client-centred therapy to minimise the self-concept and ideal concept gap. He claimed that achieving a higher congruence is a positive sign of psychological resilience.

Show question

Question

What is the core of personality theory?

Show answer

Answer

The core of Rogers’ personality theory is the self-concept.

Show question

Question

What is the self?

Show answer

Answer

The self is who we truly are. Our identity or inner personality is also linked to the soul.

Show question

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

When was the American Association for Humanistic psychology founded?

Who did show interest in establishing a professional association to proceed with the researches about humanistic theories? 

What was the concept that Renaissance and Classical philosophy contributed to humanistic psychology?

Next

Flashcards in Humanistic Psychology131

Start learning

When was the American Association for Humanistic psychology founded?


1961.

Who did show interest in establishing a professional association to proceed with the researches about humanistic theories? 

Abraham Maslow & Clark Moustakas.

What was the concept that Renaissance and Classical philosophy contributed to humanistic psychology?



Self-realisation.

What is the humanistic approach considered to be?



The third force.

Who started the client-centred approach in therapy?

Carl Rogers.

Who initially proposed the hierarchy of needs?

Abraham Maslow.

Join over 22 million students in learning with our Vaia App

The first learning app that truly has everything you need to ace your exams in one place

  • Flashcards & Quizzes
  • AI Study Assistant
  • Study Planner
  • Mock-Exams
  • Smart Note-Taking
Join over 22 million students in learning with our Vaia App Join over 22 million students in learning with our Vaia App

Discover the right content for your subjects

Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.

Start learning with Vaia, the only learning app you need.

Sign up now for free
Illustration