Untitled Flashcards Set

Chapter 9: The Humanistic-Existential Viewpoint

Existentialism

Existentialism: An area of philosophy concerned with the meaning of human existence.

Soren Kierkegaard (Denmark).

Friedrich Nietzsche (Germany).

Martin Heidegger (Germany).

Jean-Paul Sartre (France).

Phenomenological view:

That ppl’s perceptions represent subjective realities.

Are valid sources of data for investigation.

Two people can perceive the same thing differently. That discrepancy is important to understanding ppl.

Humanism

Humanism: philosophical movement emphasizing personal worth of the individual and centrality of human values.

Human dignity, concerns, & capabilities.

Distinguishing characteristics of humanistic psychology:

Focus on “higher,” more developed and healthier aspects of human experience (e.g., spirituality, creativity, tolerance).

Values the subjective experience of the individual.

Carl Rogers’ Person-Centered Theory 

Carl Rogers: 1960s-70s.

Actualizing tendency:

Fundamental motivation of the human condition.

The urge to expand, extend, & mature.

Tendency to express and activate all capacities of the Self.

Self-actualization:

Reaching and experiencing one’s full human potential.

Characteristics:

Openness to experience.

Creativity.

Existential living (“in the moment”).

The Self:

Real Self: contains a person’s true or real qualities, including the actualizing tendency.

Ideal Self: what a person wishes or thinks he/she “should” or “ought” to be.

Incongruence:

The degree of discrepancy or conflict btw real and ideal Self.

Less discrepancy is associated with greater self-actualization.

Congruence: degree of consistency btw real & ideal Self.

Development of the Self:

Early socialization by parents involves conditional positive regard.

Parents value and approve of only “good” behavior.

Conditions of worth: expectations a person must meet in order to receive respect and love.

Can influence a person toward learning to be something other than what they truly are, in order to gain positive regard.

Leads to greater incongruence.

Unconditional positive regard:

Valuing and accepting a person w/o requiring particular prerequisite behaviors.

Leads to greater congruence.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 

Abraham Maslow: 1930s-60s.

Formed a hierarchy of “needs,” that motivate human behavior.

Self-actualization needs are at the top (highest level).

One cannot effectively pursue higher-level needs, unless lower-level needs are being met.

Only a relative few people reach a level of self-actualization (i.e., reaching their full potential).

Happiness 

Subjective well-being: feeling self-fulfilled.

Most ppl who feel mildly-moderately happy, most of the time, are not highly motivated by material wealth & possessions.

Happiness and the FFM:

Happiness is associated with:

Extraversion: more sensitive to reward (Pos RFT).

Agreeableness: more trusting & altruistic.

Inversely w/ neuroticism: Less prone to negative emotion.

Happiness 

Happier people:

Less bothered when their peers do better than they do.

Compare themselves less to others.

Think more about and better remember positive events.

Higher in faith, trust, optimism, & altruistic behavior.

Criticism of Humanistic-Existential Approach