Humanistic Psychology
The humanistic theory centres around four basic principles: (1) the primary interest on the person, (2) the preference on human choice and self-actualization, (3) the emphasis on meaningfulness, and (4) the ultimate value on human dignity. Two of the most influential persons in the humanistic bandwagon are Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.
Carl Rogers introduced client-centred therapy and published a book entitled “On Becoming A Person” in 1961. Rogers emphasized that all living organisms possess an innate actualizing tendency, a drive to survive, grow and develop. He also stressed out the importance of positive regard. He also defined unconditional positive regard as “a situation in which the acceptance and love a person receives from significant others is unqualified” and contrasted it with conditional positive regard as “a situation in which the acceptance and love one receives is contingent upon one’s behaviour”. When the need for self-actualization does not parallel with the need for self-discrepancies, positive regard, frustration, anxiety and incongruence may result. Rogers also pointed out the importance of a person’s self-concept and this is usually formed from social interactions.
The second important name is Abraham Maslow, who shifted from behaviourism to humanism, after the birth of his first child. Maslow described this life event as his eye-opener, describing that he felt “not being in control” and further explained that “anyone who has a baby could not be a behaviourist”. In humanism, he focused on motivation. According to Maslow, each person strives to achieve a certain level of living, development and stability. The achievement or fulfilment of this desire further pushes a person to strive for self-actualization, where a person strives to become the best person he/she can become. Simply put, self-actualization is the desire to fulfil a person’s potential. He also further explained that in order for self-actualization to be attained, the lower needs (survival needs, stability, acceptance and affection, self-esteem) should be gratified first. Most self-actualized persons also enjoy a peak experience, which Maslow described as “a fleeting but intense moment of self-actualization in which a person feels happy, absorbed, and extraordinarily capable”.