Difference Between Humanism And Humanistic Psychology

Improved Essays
Humanistic-Existential Psychology and the Healthy Personality
Torn. I do not know how else to describe my feelings regarding the humanistic school of thought. On the one hand, the underlying concepts of humanistic psychology excite my inner-hippie. My other hand, however, tends to be more cynical and pessimistic than its counterpart, writing humanism off as an idealistic approach. Further, there are certain aspects to the humanistic approach that strike me as basic common sense. Starting with the hippie side, I too (try) to believe in the innate goodness of people. Furthermore, I concur with the humanists claim that everyone has the potential for individual growth. Every individual experience is unique, and all humankind would benefit if societal pressures were cast aside and self-growth was encouraged. As far as Maslow’s concept of self-actualization goes, I agree that the world would be a much better place if people were compassionate and loved one another. If everyone felt uneasy around cruelty, that would obviously solve a lot of the world’s problems. Moreover, Rogers’s path to a healthy self-concept requires a focus on genuineness, acceptance, and empathy. Although his client-centered therapy has good intentions, this also brings out the pessimist side.
Generally speaking,
…show more content…
For instance, Rogers’s client-centered therapy is a common therapeutic practice today. Moreover, client-centered therapy has extended into other mindfulness therapy practices. Similarly, theories based on the founding principles of humanistic-existential psychology have been developed that strive to cause social change. The techniques used in humanistic psychotherapy have been validated through numerous studies in the ability to help raise client’s self-esteem; which, in turn, induces a “pay-it-forward” domino effect. In addition, the theories validated meditation techniques that lead to

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Hello Basim, Humanistic theory is human behavior and unique. I agree with you, humanistic theory is focused on the individual, but it also focused on the person’s behavior. I support your idea about strengths, the theory provides support and improves human behaviors. Humanistic theory makes nursing students to acquire critical thinking so that they can provide psychological support and prevent bad behavior for clients.…

    • 169 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Seven Psychological Perspectives on “Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?” “Why did the chicken cross the road?” Most know this quote as an opening for an overused and outdated joke which has a simple answer “to get to the other side”, however, you might be asking yourself the reason as to what was the motivation and the real reason behind why the chicken decided to cross the road, Psychologists ask themselves these same questions. Psychology can be defined as the study of the mind and behavior. Psychologist can break psychology into seven different perspectives that many different scientists influenced, such as, Sigmund Freud, Abraham Maslow, and many others.…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Bernardo's is a private sector and they help transform the lives of vulnerable children across the united kingdom there aim is to bring out the best in every child no matter what the underlying issue be and there main legislations are Section 2 of the Child Abduction Act 1984 and section 49 of the Children Act (1989), the Sexual Offences Act (2003), Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014) (Barnardos.org.uk, 2015), there philosophy is 'believe in children,' however Adoption and Fostering's philosophy is preparing and assessing potential adopters and permanent or non permanent foster carers.' In comparison to this Adoption and Fostering which is a public sector who provide and develop the infrastructure of family placements they…

    • 747 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As a counselor I have adopted an integrative approach to working with clients incorporates interventions from primarily three theories: Solution-Focused, Cognitive Behavioral, and Mindfulness-based theory. These three approaches match my personality and my basic conceptualization of the human struggle with emotional, mental, and relationship health. As a professional counselor, I believe in a holistic approach to therapy, which does not limit me to these three theories, however, I align most closely with these theories. I am open to any theoretical approach which may be helpful in meeting the individual needs of my cliental. I will now outline the specific value I find in each of these three theories.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Psychology is the scientific study of mental or behavioral characteristics of a single person or group. The theoretical perspective is one of the many perspectives of psychology which contains 7 different categories. Seven Perspectives The seven theoretical perspectives help define the way people act, feel, and think.…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Description of Stan Stan is a white male 35- year- old construction worker and part-time college student studying psychology. Stan is aspires to become a counselor to work with children. Although Stan is interested in improving his situation in life, he continues to be negatively influenced by a past history of psychological abuse from his mother.…

    • 1475 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Humanistic therapy revolves around the idea of people having free will and being able to change their own behavior. Part of humanistic therapy is helping the subject to be able to change their behavior through their own free will. There are two main types of humanistic therapy. Gestalt therapy, which focuses on how the subject is feeling, rather than why they are feeling that way. Client-centered therapy focuses on reestablishing the subject’s true identity through the use of empathy and positive regard in a supportive…

    • 827 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The humanistic approach The humanistic approach was initially developed as a therapy and its theories are not accepted in mainstream psychology. However, it has made a marked influence on clinical psychology and counselling. It believes individuals have free will rather than being influenced by external forces. It is optimistic as it assumes that people have the choice to choose their own destiny and they endeavour to achieve their potential for psychological growth within the confines of any individual limitations.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Humanistic psychology is based on an optimistic view of human nature .He…

    • 1507 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    If you think someone is mad at you, you are less likely to be warm and outgoing towards that person. This contrast greatly to the humanistic perspective below. The humanistic perspective states that you can influence your personality if you come from a positive background, have a positive outlook and basically if you are a genuine and healthy person. Maslow and Rogers believe that people can reach self-actualization rather than staying confined to their situation, past experience or biology- if their basic needs are…

    • 1455 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    The aim of this essay is to explore two counselling theories or theorists in depth, comparing and contrasting their background, theory of personality, theory of problems in living and theory of change. It is also necessary to assess their strengths and weaknesses as you see them and to evaluate which counselling situation that they would be most appropriate for. The two theories that I am going to discuss are the humanistic approach of person-centred therapy and the cognitive behavioural therapy approach of cognitive therapy. Carl Rogers agreed with the same main assumptions as Abraham Maslow but added that in order for a person to progress successfully they would require an environment that also gives genuineness, acceptance and empathy. He…

    • 2431 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mindfulness Essay

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Compassion is defined as having empathy and understanding for others as well as having the wish or intent to use that understanding to help others and alleviate their suffering (Shapiro & Carlson, 2009; Vivino, Thompson, Hill, & Ladany, 2009). As we have seen in Buddhist perspectives and the definitions of mindfulness, compassion begins with compassion for one’s self. This perspective was supported by a study that explored psychotherapy videotapes and found that therapists who lacked self-compassion were also more critical toward their clients and had poorer therapy outcomes (Henry, Schacht, & Strupp, 1990). A study by Shapiro, Brown, and Biegel (2007) indicated that mindfulness practice helps counselors to develop greater self-compassion, compared with a control group. To develop compassion for one’s self or others, therapists need to have a level of harmony, and mindfulness practice helps to cultivate that harmony for one’s self and others (Siegel,…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Psychoanalysis and Humanism The study of psychology is defined as an academic discipline characterised by a variety of explanations and perspectives regarding human behaviour. The following essay will be focusing primarily on two of these various perspectives, namely psychoanalysis and humanism and provide a detailed explanation on the origins, classifications and various characteristics of these perspectives. Psychoanalysis is an insight therapy that encourages the resurfacing of the client’s unconscious conflicts, motives and defences through methods such as free association and transference. (Weiten, W. (2013).…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The aim of this essay is to explain, evaluate and critically discuss the Psychodynamic and the Humanistic perspective and how they help our understanding of the treatments for abnormal behaviour. It will explain and look in to Freud’s Psychodynamic theory, which include the psychoanalytical/iceberg theory, his psychodynamic model of personality and the psychosexual stages of development. It will look at these theories in some depth, evaluate each of them and show how they relate to mental health. The Humanistic perspective will then be explained in the same context. It will explain what this perspective is and then look in to the approaches within the perspective.…

    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In looking at this theoretical approach, I found through reading that it shares important features with Carl Rogers’ person-centered therapy with the emphasis on facilitating the client’s ability to cope and to solve problems, long-term positive effects, and acceptance of the client’s internal frame of reference…

    • 1612 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays