The Importance Of Humanistic Psychology

Have you ever found yourself watching a person so intently, wondering why they were doing what they were doing? Have you ever sat back and listened to a person speak and thought to yourself, ‘where did that come from?’ Have you ever questioned why a person thought something was a good idea when you could clearly see it was not? We have all done these things time and time again. Similarly, people have thought these very things about each of us. Every person is unique, behaving in a way that suits them for the moment they are in. We often wonder why people do what they do, say what they say, and even think the way they think. As it may be, humanistic psychologists study human behaviors, focusing primarily on why people do the things they do.
Humanism is defined as a psychological approach that emphasizes the study of the whole person (Cortland). Humanistic psychologists look specifically at human behavior, not only through the eyes of the observer, but through the eyes of the person doing the behaving. Furthermore, humanistic psychologists believe that an individual 's behavior is connected to their inner feelings and self-concept (Cortland). Humanism is centered around the idea that people have free will and with that free will they choose the path they want to follow, thus dealing with the consequences of said path. Though many …show more content…
Similarly, they both agreed on the three assumptions of humanism: an individual’s behavior is primarily determined by his/her perception of the world around him/her; individuals are not solely the product of their environment; and individuals are internally directed and motivated to fulfill their human potential (West Point, 2012). Both psychologists believed people have great control over how they act and what they do to achieve their goals. Though there are underlying factors, out of one’s control, people are primarily responsible for their own