Humanistic psychologists believe that behaviorists pay too much attention to the analysis and scientific investigation of people’s actions as organisms (ignoring the basic aspects of people as emotional and thinking people) and a lot of effort is spent in laboratory research. and reduces human behavior to its elements.
Humanists do not agree with psychoanalysis about the emphasis on determinism and the initial experiences of the individual, and they emphasize on self-actualization, respect, affection, etc.
Self-concept is a fundamental principle for most humanistic psychologists. In George Kelly’s personal construct theory and Carl Rogers’ egocentric theory, it is said that people understand the world based on their experiences.
Humanistic psychology did not fully emerge until after the era of radical behaviorism. However, it can be traced back to the philosophies of Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger.
History of Humanistic Psychology
Humanistic psychology was active between 1960 and 1980, and Abraham Maslow presented it in the form of positive psychology. He expressed this view of man as a subject that cannot be reduced to parts, in need of communication, meaning and creativity. The main theorists of humanistic theories include Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers and Rolomy, who assumed that behaviorism and psychoanalysis are insufficient in explaining human nature. Before these researchers, Allport, Murray, and Murphy had objected to the reductionist movement, including the white lab rat as a method for comparing human behavior. Influential women in the development of this branch of psychology include Frieden and Criswell.
Basics of humanistic approach
Rather than focusing on individual problems or symptoms, the humanistic approach is about free will, self-discovery, and reaching your full potential as a human being. This approach looks at you as a unique individual and focuses on your relationship with the world around you.
What does the humanistic approach include?
The humanistic approach is an umbrella term that encompasses many different types of therapy, including person-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, existential therapy, solution-focused therapy, and interactional analysis.
Existential therapy: existential therapy believes that humans have free will in their lives and are responsible for their choices.
Gestalt therapy: Gestalt therapy treats anxiety, depression and negative thoughts with special techniques focused on the here and now.
Solution-focused therapy: Solution-focused therapy does not focus on the person’s past experiences and focuses on the present and the person’s current and future goals.
Person-centered treatment: Person-centered treatment is based on the fact that each person has the ability to change and improve their existing conditions and each person has the potential and capacity to manage their problems.
How does the humanistic approach work?
In the humanistic approach, therapy is client-directed, so the therapist focuses on the issues you want to explore. Therapists help you think about your feelings and take responsibility for your thoughts and actions. Your treatment may be short term or long term depending on your needs.
By creating a safe, accepting, non-judgmental, and self-directed exploratory environment, humanistic therapy helps you find your answers, recognize your potential, and break old unhelpful behavior patterns.
Painful and difficult life events can disrupt a person’s self-esteem and self-worth. The humanistic approach works on the gentle elimination of these disorders, allowing for productive and healthy emotional and psychological development.
The humanistic approach works on the concept that human nature is inherently good and that everyone has the potential to find their own answers to their problems.
The relationship between you and your therapist is vital, so try to be completely transparent, explore your feelings, and talk openly. The therapist accepts you as you are.
These topics will help you find the ability to change, create unique strengths and values, and gain more self-confidence, so you can discover appropriate solutions. By acquiring these abilities, you have the potential to manage. Challenging situations will increase.
The therapist encourages you to explore how you respond to certain questions and situations for greater self-awareness.
Being valued as a person and validating your feelings in a non-judgmental way can begin the process of release, healing of internal battle and burnout.
Carl Rogers
Carl Rogers developed the concept of client-centered therapy, which has been widely used for over 40 years. This type of therapy encourages the patient towards self-actualization through acceptance and empathic listening by the therapist. This view states that a person is fully developed if he is in harmony with his organism. In other words, a fully functioning person is a person who is self-actualized. This concept is important because it shows the need for treatment as a complete experience. Rogers’ contributions contributed to the effectiveness of person-centered therapy by facilitating clients to achieve self-actualization and fully functional living. In doing so, Rogers focused on presence, consonance, and acceptance by the therapist.
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs: physiological needs, safety, belonging and love, esteem, and self-actualization. Only when basic needs are met can one progress to higher levels in the hierarchy. People who achieve self-actualization will fully understand their potential and capacity.
Rolumi
Rolomy’s existential psychology is inspired by humanistic psychology.
Humanistic psychologists rejected many behaviorist theories. They focused on the importance of free will and the unique feelings and thoughts of individuals. Existential psychology, developed by Rolomy, emphasized some of the ideas of humanism, such as the belief that humans are unique individuals, and combined them with philosophical ideas of existence.
Humanistic treatment is suitable for which range of mental disorders?
Because humanistic therapy is about self-exploration, it can help with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), relationship problems, and more.