Humanistic Psychology: A Focus on personal growth and self-determination
The Rise of Humanistic Psychology: Embracing the Individual
The humanistic approach in psychology, a philosophical and practical movement that emphasizes the inherent goodness of people, personal meaning, and self-directed growth, emerged primarily in the mid-20th century as a response to the dominant schools of behaviorism and psychoanalysis.
This approach, a key part of the “human potential” movement, gained strength as a tendency until it was at the level of the two previous approaches within this science. It focuses on individuals as whole beings capable of conscious thought, feelings, and autonomous choices rather than merely as subjects of observable behaviors or unconscious drives.
Historically, humanistic psychology developed during the 1960s in the United States, influenced by earlier philosophical humanism that grew from 19th-century secular and scientific critiques of religion and traditional authority. Key figures include Abraham Maslow, who proposed the hierarchy of needs, with self-actualization at the top, and Carl Rogers, whose person-centered therapy stresses empathy, unconditional positive regard, and understanding the client's worldview to foster growth and self-acceptance.
The humanistic approach advocates for the acceptance and integration of who we are, our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. A person will be healthy as long as they accept and integrate what really is, that is, there is coherence between what you feel, what you think, and what you do.
The main representatives of this approach were Gordon Allport, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Victor Frankl, Levi Moreno, Fritz Perls, among others. The application of the humanistic approach to Psychology and health sciences represents an ethical and moral commitment, recognizing the capacity of the human being to acquire responsibility for their actions.
In research, the humanistic approach often uses participatory methodology, where subjects are participants from the selection of the problem to the proposal of methods and solutions. Experiential and expressive techniques such as self-report and psychodrama are commonly used by humanism in different contexts.
The renowned American Gestalt therapist, Paul Goodman, advocated for discussing the structure of the learner and their learning rather than the structure of the subject. The anguish generated by the phenomenon of wars placed the man faced with the need to understand himself, to explain his own nature.
Today, the humanistic approach continues to influence various fields, including education, therapy, and personal development. It places great importance on studying man and his feelings, desires, hopes, aspirations. We must place trust in human beings, supported by their possibilities to update and change to improve their condition.
In conclusion, the humanistic approach in psychology represents a significant shift in understanding the human experience, focusing on the individual's potential for growth, self-awareness, and self-actualization. It is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit in the face of adversity and a reminder of the importance of empathy, understanding, and acceptance in fostering personal and collective wellbeing.
- The humanistic approach in psychology, which emphasizes self-directed growth and personal meaning, originated as a response to behaviorism and psychoanalysis in the mid-20th century.
- Humanistic psychology, a key part of the "human potential" movement, promotes the acceptance and integration of an individual's feelings, thoughts, and behaviors for personal growth and self-actualization.
- In education, the humanistic approach advocates for discussing the structure of the learner and their learning, recognizing their capacity for responsibility and self-improvement.
- Today, the humanistic approach continues to influence various fields, including therapy and personal development, by placing great importance on understanding human emotions, desires, hopes, and aspirations, and fostering empathy, understanding, and acceptance for personal and collective well-being.
