PYCH 01 HUMANISTIC APPROACH PSYCHOLOGY STUDY
GUIDE 20212022
Humanistic Approach
Humanistic, humanism and humanist are terms in psychology relating to an approach
which studies the whole person and the uniqueness of each individual. Essentially,
these terms refer to the same approach in psychology.
Humanistic psychology is a perspective that emphasizes looking at the the whole
person, and the uniqueness of each individual. Humanistic psychology begins with the
existential assumptions that people have free will and are motivated to acheive their
potential and self-actualize.
The humanistic approach in psychology developed as a rebellion against what some
psychologists saw as the limitations of the behaviorist and psychodynamic psychology.
The humanistic approach is thus often called the “third force†in psychology after
psychoanalysis and behaviorism (Maslow, 1968).
Humanism rejected the assumptions of the behaviorist perspective which is
characterized as deterministic, focused on reinforcement of stimulus-response behavior
and heavily dependent on animal research.
Humanistic psychology also rejected the psychodynamic approach because it is also
deterministic, with unconscious irrational and instinctive forces determining human
thought and behavior. Both behaviorism and psychoanalysis are regarded as
dehumanizing by humanistic psychologists.
Humanistic psychology expanded its influence throughout the 1970s and the 1980s.Â
Its impact can be understood in terms of three major areas:
1) It offered a new set of values for approaching an understanding of human nature and
the human condition.
2) It offered an expanded horizon of methods of inquiry in the study of human behavior.
3) It offered a broader range of more effective methods in the professional practice of
psychotherapy.
Basic Assumptions
Humanistic psychology begins with the existential assumption that people have free will:
Personal agency is the humanistic term for the exercise of free will. Personal agency
refers to the choices we make in life, the paths we go down and their consequences.
This study source was downloaded by 100000842568006 from CourseHero.com on 04-27-2022 07:00:32 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/89542327/Humanistic-Approach-in-Psychdocx/
GUIDE 20212022
Humanistic Approach
Humanistic, humanism and humanist are terms in psychology relating to an approach
which studies the whole person and the uniqueness of each individual. Essentially,
these terms refer to the same approach in psychology.
Humanistic psychology is a perspective that emphasizes looking at the the whole
person, and the uniqueness of each individual. Humanistic psychology begins with the
existential assumptions that people have free will and are motivated to acheive their
potential and self-actualize.
The humanistic approach in psychology developed as a rebellion against what some
psychologists saw as the limitations of the behaviorist and psychodynamic psychology.
The humanistic approach is thus often called the “third force†in psychology after
psychoanalysis and behaviorism (Maslow, 1968).
Humanism rejected the assumptions of the behaviorist perspective which is
characterized as deterministic, focused on reinforcement of stimulus-response behavior
and heavily dependent on animal research.
Humanistic psychology also rejected the psychodynamic approach because it is also
deterministic, with unconscious irrational and instinctive forces determining human
thought and behavior. Both behaviorism and psychoanalysis are regarded as
dehumanizing by humanistic psychologists.
Humanistic psychology expanded its influence throughout the 1970s and the 1980s.Â
Its impact can be understood in terms of three major areas:
1) It offered a new set of values for approaching an understanding of human nature and
the human condition.
2) It offered an expanded horizon of methods of inquiry in the study of human behavior.
3) It offered a broader range of more effective methods in the professional practice of
psychotherapy.
Basic Assumptions
Humanistic psychology begins with the existential assumption that people have free will:
Personal agency is the humanistic term for the exercise of free will. Personal agency
refers to the choices we make in life, the paths we go down and their consequences.
This study source was downloaded by 100000842568006 from CourseHero.com on 04-27-2022 07:00:32 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/89542327/Humanistic-Approach-in-Psychdocx/
