Humanistic Psychology

Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

Protest of the Third Force Came after WWII, in the 1950’s. Often called the “Third Force” in

psychology Broadest and most coherent theoretical

movement in psychology Arose as a protest against both its

immediate predecessors, psychoanalysis and behaviorism those perspectives were viewed by some

psychologists as too deterministic

Focus on the human experience" An assumption unusual in psychology today is that the subjective human being has an important value which is basic; that no matter how he may be labeled and evaluated he is a human person first of all, and most deeply. "

--Carl Rogers, 1962

On Being Human

Three characteristics of human uniqueness: Subjectivity Individuality Capacity for growth

Actualizing Tendency Inborn predisposition to seek the fullest

expression of one’s abilities

"What a man can be, he must be. This need we may call self-actualization…It refers to the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming.“ Abraham Maslow

“Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one's potential.” Bruce Lee

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Person Centered Therapy Those in therapy are seen as 'clients‘

rather than 'patients‘ therapist and client as equal partners

The client is responsible for improving his or her life, not the therapist Therapist provides a growth-inducing

environment

Growth-inducing environment Empathy Genuineness Unconditional positive regard

Criticism of humanistic perspective Concepts are difficult to

operationalize Relies on subjective experience

Diminished precision and reliability▪ almost impossible to verify subjective

experiences Utilizes case studies

helpful data and suggest productive hypotheses, but claims cannot be falsified