Phenomenological-Humanistic Level

Phenomenology

The study of a person’s subjective experience and how they perceive the world.

Humanistic Psychology

A perspective that studies the whole person, focusing on growth, free will, and self-development.

Existentialism

The view that humans are free agents responsible for their choices and behavior.

Free Will (Humanistic View)

The belief that individuals actively choose their behavior rather than being controlled by forces.

Self-Determination

The idea that behavior comes from internal choice and personal agency.

Principle of Contemporaneity

Only present factors, not past ones, determine current behavior.

Contemporaneity of Motives (Allport)

Motives should be understood based on their current purpose, not their original cause.

Functional Autonomy

Motives that began for one reason become independent and self-sustaining over time created by Gordon Allport.

Proprium

The core self that develops over time, including identity, self-esteem, and self-image.

Life Space

Defined by Kurt Lewin’s as “totality of facts that determine the behavior (B) of the person (P) in the psychological environment (E).

Field Theory (Lewin)

An object is perceived based on the total context of its surroundings, expressed by the formula B=f(P,E)

Carl Rogers

A humanistic psychologist who proposed that personality is shaped by subjective experience and that people have a natural tendency toward self-actualization, developing a self-concept and emphasizing unconditional positive regard and client-centered therapy.

Self-Concept

An organized set of beliefs and perceptions about who you are, including your identity, traits, and relationships.

Self-Actualization

The drive to reach one’s full potential, grow, and become the best version of oneself.

Self vs. Actual Experiences

When a person’s self-concept does not match their actual (organismic) experiences, creating conflict, anxiety, and psychological maladjustment. This mismatch is called incongruence.

Congruence

When a person’s self-concept matches their actual experiences, leading to psychological health and stability.

Incongruence

Conflict between self-concept and actual experiences, causing anxiety.

Positive Regard

The need for love,  acceptance, and approval from others.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Acceptance and support given to a person without conditions or judgment, allowing healthy self-development.

Organismic Evaluation

Individuals trust their inner experiences to guide them towards growth/self-actualization.

Conditions of Worth

Standards or expectations that a person believes they must meet in order to be loved or accepted by others.

Client-Centered Therapy

Seeks to achieve greater alignment of  self-concepts and organismic self.

Deci & Ryan

American psychologists known for developing Self-Determination Theory (SDT). They studied human motivation and argued that people are most motivated and psychologically healthy when their behavior is self-determined rather than controlled by external pressure. They emphasized the importance of intrinsic motivation, autonomy, competence, and relatedness in promoting well-being and engagement.

Intrinsic Motivation

Doing something because it is personally rewarding.

Extrinsic Motivation

Doing something due to external rewards or pressure.

Abraham Maslow

An American humanistic psychologist best known for creating the Hierarchy of Needs and the concept of self-actualization. He studied psychologically healthy individuals to understand human motivation and growth, focusing on how people strive to reach their full potential.

Hierarchy of Needs

A pyramid of human needs from basic survival to self-actualization.

Order:

1. Physiological needs

2. Safety needs

3. Love & belonging

4. Esteem

5. Self-actualization

George Kelly

An American psychologist known for personal construct theory, which argues that people understand the world through unique mental “constructs” or interpretations. He believed people are like “scientists,” constantly predicting and interpreting events using their own meaning systems.

Personal Construct Theory

A theory that explains personality by how people interpret and give meaning to events using their own mental “constructs.” People act like scientists, constantly forming and testing ideas about how the world works.

Permeability

The degree to which a construct is open to new information and can incorporate new experiences.

Bipolar Constructs

Constructs that are made up of two opposite ends of meaning (e.g., kind vs. cruel).

Emergent Pole

The “preferred” or positive end of the construct (the side you lean toward or value more).

Implicit Pole

The opposite end of the construct, often representing what is less preferred, avoided, or seen as negative.

Rep Test (Role Construct Repertory Test)

A method to measure how people interpret others using similarities and differences.

Actual Self

Who you currently are.

Ideal Self

Who you want to be.

Ought Self

Who you think you should be.

Self-Discrepancy

Mismatch between actual, ideal, or ought selves.

Narrative Identity

The life story people create to give meaning to their experiences.

Meditation

Practice that shifts attention inward to increase self-awareness and control.

Positive Psychology

Study of human strengths, happiness, and well-being.