MEP - Humanistic Theories of Personality Lesson

Learning Targets:

• Compare and contrast humanistic theories of personality with other theories of personality. 
• Speculate how cultural context can facilitate or constrain personality development, especially as it relates to self-concept.

AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2020. (n.d.). https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf

The Humanistic Perspective

The Humanistic Perspective of personality is sometimes referred to as the "third force" as it opposes both psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Humanists believe that people are innately good and strive to grow personally through free will and self-awareness. They emphasize the growth of potentially healthy people and question how this is possible when you are focusing on problems and negativity.

It is a rebellion against the pessimistic view of human nature that psychoanalysts gave us. According to humanists, the most crucial factor of personality is an individual's conscious perception of his or herself.

Carl Rogers' Person-Centered Perspective

Carl Rogers enjoyed an extensive career as a psychotherapist, writer, and university professor. He developed his personality theory from his clinical experience with patients. It is important to note that Rogers used the term "clients" in lieu of patients because he felt that the term demonstrated one's voluntary participation and drive to grow their potential.

Rogers believed that the most basic human instinct was what he called the actualizing tendency. This describes the innate drive to maintain and enhance oneself. He believed that to do this we need genuineness, acceptance, and empathy.

The cornerstone of Rogers' theory revolves around the idea of a self-concept (the set of perceptions and beliefs you have about yourself, including your personality, qualities, nature, and behavior). He believed that we are motivated to act in accordance with how we see ourselves. This idea of self-concept begins early in life and is molded through life-enhancing experiences. As we develop, we also develop the need for positive regard or the sense of being loved or valued.

Through research, Rogers found that most parents provided children with what he called conditional positive regard. This is when the parent provides a feeling of love and value when the child behaves in a certain way. If this continues, the child learns to distort or deny their genuine feelings to gain acceptance. This contradiction of self-concept leads to a state of incongruence (a situation when self-concept conflicts with actual experience, causing a constant defense against one's genuine feelings).

To avoid feelings of incongruence, parents and authority figures should provide unconditional positive regard or a sense of unconditional love and value. When this happens the child's self-actualizing tendencies are at their peak. With this scenario, they are more likely to become a fully functioning person or one that has a personality that is flexible. Congruence is achieved and one's self-concept is continually evolving.

Abraham Maslow's Self-Actualizing Person

It is important not to forget about Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs. Maslow developed his idea by studying healthy people and believed that we seek self-actualization or the fulfillment of our fullest potential.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:

Learn more about the Humanistic Theory in the video below.

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