Humanistic Psychology The Third Force

1. Humanistic Psychology The Third Force • Launched officially in 1964 • Chief Leaders : Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers • Derived from the philosophy of phenomenology - focus on subjective experience

2. Social Context • Social and political context - late 50s and 60s - rapid social change - • Hippy Movement • emancipation from tradition, exploration of new ideas and attitudes - both personal and political

3. Principles of Humanistic Psychology • Rejected the Psychoanalytic emphasis on biological instincts, conflict and hostility • rejected the fragmented approach of Behaviourism, • Launched this “third force” as a new Psychology of the individual, based on the person’s sense of self and their subjective experience

4. American Assoc. of Humanistic Psychology definition • - Primarily an orientation toward the whole of psychology rather than a distinct area or school. It stands for … respect for differences of approach, open-mindedness as to acceptable methods, and interest in exploration of new aspects of human behaviour.

5. ...it is concerned with topics having little place in existing theories and systems, e.g. love, creativity, self, growth, self-actualization, higher values, being, becoming, spontaneity, play, humor, affection, naturalness, warmth, autonomy, responsibility, meaning, …transcendental experience, peak experience, courage and related concepts. (AAHP, 1962).

6. Therefore humanistic psychology is essentially an orientation to the study of mental life rather than a “school” of psychologists adopting a common mode of research or therapy or a coherent set of ideas or theories

7. Carl Rogers • Clinical psychologist • interest in fully-functioning individual • believed people to be motivated to grow psychologically • believed that personality development stems from an individual’s self concept • For healthy development , he stressed that each of us needs positive regard

8. Rogers and Self Concept • Self concept is the way a person views her or himself, and is heavily dependent on the attitudes of significant others • unconditional positive regard from others is a significant factor in personal growth • conditions of worth can harm the self concept (lower self esteem) • Lack of fit between Real Self and Ideal self leads to incongruence and poor self concept

9. Congruence and Self Concept • Rogers believed fully functioning people show congruence - or harmony- between self and organism ( all your experiences, including subconscious feelings, perceptions and wishes) • such people are trusting, warm, tolerant and open to new experience • incongruence reflects inner conflict

10. More Rogerian Concepts • The idea of self-actualization is central to Rogers’ theory • basic human tendency to strive for growth and the expression of potential • this “becoming a person” is continuous and lifelong and is enhanced through awareness of one’s feelings

11. Rogers’ Methods • Non-directive, person- centred counselling • Non-evaluative, unconditional positive regard • genuineness • empathy • Q - Test to assess real self and ideal self

12. Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) Hierarchy of Needs • peak experiences - joy, rapture • Motivation as one of central concepts of personality • proposed Hierarchy of human needs (motivators) • Self-Actualization at top of hierarchy • Basic (Deficiency) needs and Higher (Growth) needs