Lecture 9

Humanistic and existential models emphasize:

self-development (drive to better self) and integrity (wholeness of the individual).

Insight-focused, similar to psychoanalytic, but doesn't assume that human nature is something in need of restraint.

Reality:

the product of our unique experiences and perception of the world, the subjective universe is more important than the events themselves.

Humanistic view:

acceptance and growth, people are friendly, cooperative, and constructive.

Focus on the drive to self-actualization.

Anxiety occurs when there is a discrepancy between one’s self-perceptions and one’s ideal self.

Existentialist view:

responsibility and freedom, self-determination, choice and individual responsibility, focus on authenticity. Anxiety arises when individuals do not bring meaning to their lives.

Roger’s humanistic theory:

basic human need for unconditional positive regard, if not leads to conditions of worth (society does that).

Abnormality results from a lack of caring and support, and when society imposes conditions of worth on people so that their self-concept and actualizing tendency become incongruent, such incongruence produces behavior disorders.

The main drive is the actualizing tendency (every person aims to develop all capacities in ways that maintain or enhance the organism and move it toward autonomy).

Abraham Maslow:

actualizing tendency (people are motivated to satisfy not only bio needs but also the self) and self-actualization (inherent tendency to strive toward the realization of one’s full potential).

Existential model:

less optimistic than humanistic, psychological dysfunction is caused by self-deception. People hide from life’s responsibilities and fail to recognize that it is up to them to give meaning to their lives. In therapy, people are encouraged to accept personal responsibility for their problems.