Humanistic, Positive, and Existential Psychology

Humanistic Psychology

• Emphasizes personal growth and uniqueness of humans.

• Focuses on self-awareness and human qualities.

• Eight elements of humanistic psychology include holistic, historic, phenomenological, real life, positivity, will, and value.

Phenomenology

• Involves one's conscious experience of the world.

• Includes construal and introspection.

Existentialism

• Emphasizes individual existence and free will.

• Addresses key questions about existence.

• Three parts of existence: Umwelt, Mitwelt, Eigenwelt.

Thrown-ness and Angst

• Thrown-ness influences experiences and existence.

• Angst involves unpleasant feelings from existential concerns.

• Existential guilt stems from unfulfilled potential.

Bad Faith

• Denying existential concerns through external pressures.

• Living in bad faith leads to immoral choices and lack of happiness.

• Choosing is inevitable even in not choosing.

Authentic Existence

• Involves coming to terms with mortality and living authentically.

• Focuses on finding meaning in life.

Yalom’s 4 Existential Concerns

• Death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness.

• Existential psychotherapy helps individuals address these concerns.

Self-Actualization: Rogers

• People strive to enhance their experiences and actualize themselves.

• Contrasts with existentialists' views on intrinsic goals.

The Fully Functioning Person

• Faces the world without fear or self-doubt.

• Stemming from unconditional positive regard.

• Conditions of worth limit freedom.

The Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow

• Self-actualization as the ultimate motive.

• Active after basic needs are met.

• Hierarchy explains motivations and perceptions.

Humanistic Psychotherapy

• Aims to help clients become fully functioning.

• Therapist-client relationship is crucial.

• Focuses on understanding and appreciating the client.

Personal Constructs: Kelly

• Cognitive system assembles personal constructs.

• Constructs determine how individuals perceive the world.

• Role Construct Repertory Test helps understand personal constructs.

Positive Psychology

• Focuses on strengths and virtues.

• Investigates traits promoting a happy and meaningful life.

• Emphasizes the meaning of life.

Virtues

• Counteract threats to survival.

• Six core virtues include courage, justice, humanity, temperance, wisdom, and transcendence.

• Supported by cross-cultural work.

Mindfulness

• Being aware and in control of experiences.

• Originates from Buddhist philosophy.

• Benefits mental health and personal growth.

Flow

• State of consciousness where one is completely absorbed.

• Occurs when challenge and skills are well matched.

• Csikszentmihalyi's concept of autotelic activities.

Happiness

• Components include overall life satisfaction and positive emotions.

• Sources of happiness include genetic influence and intentional activities.

• Definitions shift across ages.

Self-Determination Theory

• Behavior regulation varies from externally controlled to intrinsically motivated.

• Emphasizes autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

• People seek self-determination in their actions.

Page 25: Self-Determination Theory

• Introjected regulation

  • Behavior treated as a "should" or an "ought"

  • Controlled from within

  • Rooted in the desire for acceptance

• Identified regulation

  • Behavior seen as personally meaningful and valuable

Page 26: Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

• Offers a positive view of humanity/psychology

• Focuses on individual experiences

• Provides strategies for growth and personal development

Limitations

• Ignores a lot