Week 8 - Phenomenological approach (PSYC3026)

Chapters 12 + 13

Humanistic psychology

A branch of psychology which aims to address the ways in which the human mind is fundamentally unique.

Phenomenology

Broad: Element of humanistic psychology with a focus on interior, experiential, and existential aspects of personality.

Specific: One's conscious, subjective experience of the world, which is psychologically more important than the reality of the world itself. Influences the individual by affecting their thoughts and feelings in any given moment.

Construal

One's particular experience of the world, which forms the basis for how they live their life.

Introspection

Process by which one can observe their own perceptions and thought processes.

Existentialism

Broad philosophical movement which aims to regain contact with basic experiences of being alive and aware of one's own existence.

Three parts of conscious experience

1. Umwelt - biological experience

2. Mitwelt - social experience

3. Eigenwelt - inner experience

Umwelt

Biological experience. The sensations felt by virtue of being a biological organism.

Mitwelt

Social experience. One's thoughts, feelings, and behaviour in relation to other people, as well as those directed at the individual by others.

Eigenwelt

Inner experience. The experience of experience itself, which consists of how one feels and thinks when they try to understand themself, their own mind, and their own existence. Includes introspection and the observation of one's own mind and feelings.

Thrown-ness

The time, place, and circumstances which make up the unchangeable conditions of one's existence. Translated from "geworfenheit", or inherent positionality.

Angst

Existential anxiety. The unpleasant feelings caused by contemplating existential concerns regarding one's purpose and reason for existence.

Anatta

The "non-self" - a key idea in Buddhism which teaches that the independent, singular self you sense in your mind is merely an illusion, and that the 'self' is merely a temporary comporary composite of many constantly-changing circumstances.

Anicca

The transitory nature of past, present, and future. A key idea in Buddhism, which teaches interconnectedness and the ability to let go of oneself to live in the present and appreciate existence instead of repressing or fighting current events. All tenses have equal value.

Nirvana

An enlightened state of serenity and wisdom, manifested through universal compassion and a belief that any boundaries between the self and others are illusory.

Sociality corollary

The idea that understanding another person means understanding their personal construct system, which makes up their perspective and way they see the world.

Mindfulness

The state of being explicitly aware and in control of every moment of one's existence.

Thrown-ness

The time, place, and circumstances which make up the unchangeable conditions of one's existence. Translated from "geworfenheit", or inherent positionality.

Hedonic wellbeing

Wellbeing which originates from pleasure-seeking and short-term gratification through extrinsic goals. A core aspect of Self-Determination Theory.

Eudaimonic wellbeing

Wellbeing which originates from seeking a meaningful life and long-term gratification through intrinsic goals. A core aspect of Self-Determination Theory.

Cross-cultural psychology

A field of psychological research which aims to compare cultures to each other on a variety of levels and topics.

Enculturation

The process of learning about a culture into which one is born. Occurs from birth.

Acculturation

The process of learning about and picking up a culture into which one moves later in life.

Etics

Universal components of an idea.

(think phonetics, as universal language sounds)

Emics

Particular, localised aspects of an idea.

(think phonemics, as sounds specific to a particular language)

Deconstructionism

The idea that reality has no meaning except for what humans invent, or construct. Any and all comparisons or evaluations are based on the assumptions present in one's own culture, and thus have no objective meaning.

Outgroup homogeneity bias

The perception that one's own group naturally seems to contain individuals who differ widely from each other, but that members of out-groups appear to all be the same.