Humanism Kiyana
Kiyana Dunston
Dr. Burford
Humanism Reaction Paper
Humanistic psychology was developed in the 1950s in opposition to psychoanalysis and behaviorism, which were the leading psychological perspectives at the time. Psychoanalysis focuses on the unconscious motivations that impact behavior, while behaviorism examines the conditioning processes that form a person’s behavior. Humanistic psychology has no single founder, but is made up of different theories, that should be considered separately. Further, humanism can be defined as “the scientific study of behavior, experience, and intentionality.” It is characterized by a broad understanding of human beings. Humanistic psychologists are generally opposed to scientific approaches to understanding personality and disagree with the exemption of unique experiences of the individual such as love, consciousness, creativity, freedom, values, and spirit.
Abraham Maslow (1908 to 1970) is considered the father of humanistic psychology. Maslow accepted the ideas of psychoanalysis and behaviorism but viewed them as incomplete. Thus, in an attempt to build upon these already existing foundations, Maslow sought to expand the understanding of human experience and action through examining personal values, purposes, goals, intentions, and plans of an individual. He described humanistic psychologists as being unified by the two basic assumptions that all human beings possess an inner nature that is in part species-wide and in part unique to each individual. This inner nature can be scientifically studied and is neutral or good, but definitely isn’t evil. Maslow suggested that this intrinsically “neutral or good” inner nature be encouraged and certainly not suppressed or denied. Encouraging this inner-nature allows an individual to be psychologically healthy and productive, while suppression leads to psychological sickness. Further, he believed that the inner nature of each individual is weak and impressionable and can be easily taken
Dr. Burford
Humanism Reaction Paper
Humanistic psychology was developed in the 1950s in opposition to psychoanalysis and behaviorism, which were the leading psychological perspectives at the time. Psychoanalysis focuses on the unconscious motivations that impact behavior, while behaviorism examines the conditioning processes that form a person’s behavior. Humanistic psychology has no single founder, but is made up of different theories, that should be considered separately. Further, humanism can be defined as “the scientific study of behavior, experience, and intentionality.” It is characterized by a broad understanding of human beings. Humanistic psychologists are generally opposed to scientific approaches to understanding personality and disagree with the exemption of unique experiences of the individual such as love, consciousness, creativity, freedom, values, and spirit.
Abraham Maslow (1908 to 1970) is considered the father of humanistic psychology. Maslow accepted the ideas of psychoanalysis and behaviorism but viewed them as incomplete. Thus, in an attempt to build upon these already existing foundations, Maslow sought to expand the understanding of human experience and action through examining personal values, purposes, goals, intentions, and plans of an individual. He described humanistic psychologists as being unified by the two basic assumptions that all human beings possess an inner nature that is in part species-wide and in part unique to each individual. This inner nature can be scientifically studied and is neutral or good, but definitely isn’t evil. Maslow suggested that this intrinsically “neutral or good” inner nature be encouraged and certainly not suppressed or denied. Encouraging this inner-nature allows an individual to be psychologically healthy and productive, while suppression leads to psychological sickness. Further, he believed that the inner nature of each individual is weak and impressionable and can be easily taken