HUMANISTIC THEORY

! Rooted in phenomenological, perceptual, and existential movements " " ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! phenomenological theories stress the importance of children's perceptions of themselves and their environment in understanding personality reality is what is perceived

call for renewed attention to inner experience most widely known phenomenological approach to personality stress children's capacity for personal growth, freedom to choose own destiny, and personal qualities a reaction to behavioristic influence of 1950s and 1960s disagree with psychoanalytic emphasis on conflict and with behavioristic emphasis on reinforcement strongly influenced by philosophy of Rousseau self-concept and self-esteem are central concepts " self-conceptCindividuals' overall perceptions of their abilities, behavior, and personality. " "we are what we think other people think we are" (Purkey, 1971) " self-esteemCevaluative component of self-concept emphasis on other self constructs--self-ideal, self-image, self-worth

ABRAHAM MASLOW (1908-1970) < < < < < < < born Brooklyn, New York, of Russian immigrants had difficulty adjusting to college (there is hope for us all, then) trained in behavioristic tradition, worked under Thorndike agreed that people are subject to conditioning from external environment found behaviorism limited in scope and depth, deterministic < individuals have inner lives and potential for growth, creativity, and free choice wrote Toward a Psychology of Being (1962) formulated a theory of motivation (1943) < individuals have a hierarchy of motives based on basic needs that must be satisfied < needs - (1) physiological, (2) safety, (3) belonging, (4) love, (5) self-esteem, and (6) self-actualization < lower needs must be satisfied before higher needs can be met < fulfillment of lower need propels individual to next level

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self-actualization is the goal of every individual < motivation to develop one's full potential as human being < possible only when all other needs are met < self-fulfillment, inner peace, realization of full potential, contentment < self-actualized individuals < are open, not defensive, love themselves, do not manipulate or act aggressively, promote moral and ethical principles, are creative, curious, spontaneous. < maintain a certain independence from society < less conforming, but rarely behave in unconventional ways < are phenomenologists < "Taoistic letting be" (Maslow (1943)

CARL ROGERS (1902-1987) < key proponent of humanistic psychology and self-concept theory < On Becoming a Person (1961) < client-centered therapy < stressed three factors < unconditional positive regard - accepting, valuing, and being positive toward another person regardless of that person's behavior < empathy - sensitive listening and understanding others' feelings < genuineness - open with feelings, dropping pretense or facade WILLIAM PURKEY < influenced by self-concept theory < developed invitational psychology < intentional and unintentional invitations < intentional and unintentional disinvitations EVALUATION < offered psychology a balance to behavioristic emphasis < common sense chord < emphasis on healthy development (contrast with psychoanalysis) < attention to child as individual with free will < self-esteem has become a "scapegoat" construct < spurred qualitative research < efforts at holistic worldview < incomplete view of human development--lacks cognitive perspective < overly Romantic view of human nature?