It is the perspective of psychology that supports the belief that human beings, as individuals, are unique beings and should be recognized and treated as such by psychologists and psychiatrists.
Humanistic psychology emphasizes concepts such as free will and self-actualization.
Instead of focusing on the dysfunction, the humanistic psychology strives to help people realize their potential and maximize their well-being..
The movement grew in opposition to the two main trends of the 20th century in psychology: behaviorism and psychoanalysis.
The humanist principles found application during the "human potential" movement, which became popular in the United States during the 1960s.
How did humanistic psychology come about?
The early development of humanistic psychology was heavily influenced by the work of some theorists, such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, in the 1950s.
In 1943, Maslow described his hierarchy of needs in "A Theory of Human Motivation."
In the late 1950s, Abraham Maslow and other psychologists held meetings to discuss the development of a professional organization dedicated to a more humanistic approach to psychology.
They agreed that topics such as self-actualization, creativity and individuality would be the central themes of this new approach.
In 1951, Carl Rogers published Client-Centered Therapy, which described his humanistic, client-oriented approach to therapy.
It was in 1962 that the American Association of Humanistic Psychology was formed, and in 1971, humanistic psychology became a division of the APA, the American Psychological Association.
In 1962, Maslow published Toward a Psychology of Being (Towards the Psychology of Being) in which he described humanistic psychology as the "third force" of psychology. The first and second forces were behaviorism and psychoanalysis, respectively.
THE psychoanalysis, created by Sigmund Freud's neurology, focuses on the relationship of the being's unconscious desires and their lived actions and feelings. already the behaviorism it only has the person's behavior as a psychological study.
Abraham Maslow, considered the father of Humanist psychology
What is Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of need?
The theory of human motivation, better known as Maslow's hierarchy of needs or Maslow's pyramid, is considered to be the foundation of understanding human motivation.
The theory of human motivation states that each person has a set of basic needs that must be met.
These activities include: biological and psychological, security, belonging and love, self-esteem and self-fulfillment.
Once an individual's basic needs, such as shelter or feeling loved, are met, he is able to focus on his higher-order needs, such as achievement and achievement. self esteem.
Other research has expanded the original needs identified by Maslow to include three additional levels - cognitive, aesthetic and transcendence.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is organized in a pyramid, like the image below.
Pyramid of Maslow.
Basic needs are at the base of the pyramid. As people meet their needs at each level, they are able to meet the more complex needs and work closer to self-fulfillment and the achievement of your entire potential.
This model provides a framework for understanding why people might be motivated towards certain behaviors at a given time.
The 5 main characteristics of humanistic psychology
1. no judgment
Humanistic psychology is a counseling approach in which the professional who helps does not judge what is being shared by a customer - regardless of the content being disclosed.
2. Empathy
A key feature of person-centered therapy is empathy.
Psychologists and psychiatrists who take a humanistic approach explore emotionally painful issues with patients.
3. Non-pathological
Most professionals in humanistic psychology set aside the clinical diagnosis and discuss the essence of the client.
Many professionals who help to use a person-centered approach encourage the client to focus on their strengths (also known as a strength-based approach).
4. Focus on the "I"
The aim of humanistic therapy is to promote the expression of the client's feelings, thoughts and emotions through dialogue. In some cases, expressive incentives are encouraged, such as writing, painting, drawing and even acting (also known as psychodrama).
5. is existential
One of the most important features of humanistic psychology is its existential component. Existential therapists help clients work through restrictive patterns and approaches, encouraging them to express themselves through creativity and self-expression.
Four existential dimensions are commonly explored as part of the existential infusion: physical, social, psychological, and spiritual.
See also some meanings that may be of interest:
- What is social psychology?
- What is Maslow's Pyramid?
- What is organizational psychology?
- Psychoanalysis;
- behaviorism.