Humanistic psychology facts for kids

Humanistic psychology is a way of understanding people that became popular in the middle of the 20th century. It came about because some thinkers felt that the two main ideas in psychology at the time—Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory and B. F. Skinner's behaviorism—didn't fully explain human experience.

A famous psychologist named Abraham Maslow said there was a need for a "third force" in psychology. This new way of thinking, humanistic psychology, grew in the 1950s. It focused on helping people understand and use their own abilities and creativity.

Humanistic psychology believes in a few main ideas:

• We should see people as a whole, not just as separate parts.
• A person's entire life story is important to understand them.
• Our intentions and goals are very important in life.
• Having a purpose or goal in life is key for a healthy person.

This type of psychology also thinks that our spiritual hopes are a big part of who we are. It helps people become more aware of themselves. This self-awareness can help them change their thoughts and actions for the better. It's like combining being mindful with positive actions and good support from others.

Humanistic therapy gives people a chance to find their own healthy path. It lets clients choose their own ideas more than other types of therapy. It helps people see their full potential.

In the 20th century, humanistic psychology was called the "third force." It was different from the older ideas of psychoanalysis and behaviorism.

Important groups for humanistic psychology in the US are the Association for Humanistic Psychology and the Society for Humanistic Psychology. In Britain, there is the UK Association for Humanistic Psychology Practitioners.

Why Humanistic Psychology is Different

To understand humanistic psychology, it helps to know why Abraham Maslow started it. He disagreed with the main ideas from Freud and Skinner. Maslow then created his own theory.

Maslow had a few main criticisms of the other two theories:

• He felt Freud's theory said people's actions were only due to hidden desires. This is called being "deterministic."
• Maslow thought Freud's and Skinner's ideas focused too much on people with mental problems. They didn't look at all people.
• He believed these theories focused on the negative parts of humans. Maslow wanted to focus on the positive power he felt people had.

Because of this, Maslow chose to focus on conscious thoughts, not hidden ones. He wanted to create a theory that showed how everyone could reach their highest potential.

Where Humanistic Psychology Began

One of the first people to influence humanistic psychology was Carl Rogers. He was inspired by Otto Rank, who had left Freud's group. Rogers wanted to help people develop healthier and more creative personalities. He also came up with the idea of "actualizing tendency." This idea later led Abraham Maslow to study self-actualization. Rogers and Maslow brought in this positive way of thinking. They felt psychoanalysis was too negative.

Other ideas that inspired humanistic psychology came from existentialism and phenomenology.

Early Ideas and Influences

Carl Rogers (1902–1987), one of the founders of humanistic psychology.

While humanistic psychology started in the early 1960s, the idea of humanism is much older. It goes back to ancient civilizations like China, Greece, and Rome. Their values were rediscovered during the European Renaissance.

Modern humanistic ideas come from phenomenological and existentialist thinkers. These include Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Eastern philosophy and Judeo-Christian philosophies of personalism also played a role. They all share similar ideas about human existence and consciousness.

Ivan Pavlov's work on conditioned reflexes led to behaviorism. This became a major part of psychology in the United States. John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner were key figures. Abraham Maslow called behaviorism the "first force" in psychology. He felt it ignored our inner thoughts and feelings.

The "second force" was Freudian psychoanalysis. Psychologists like Alfred Adler, Carl Jung, and Sigmund Freud were part of this. Maslow then said there was a need for a "third force." He felt Freud showed the "sick half of psychology." Maslow wanted to add the "healthy half." He thought psychoanalysis was too cold and focused on what people couldn't control.

In the late 1930s, psychologists like Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Clark Moustakas became interested in unique human topics. These included the self, self-actualization, health, hope, love, and creativity. They wanted to create a group for psychology that focused on these human qualities.

Humanistic psychology has five main ideas, or postulates. James Bugental first wrote about them in 1964.

1. Humans are more than the sum of their parts. You can't break them down into simple pieces.
2. Humans exist in a unique human world and also in the larger universe.
3. Humans are aware and know they are aware. They are conscious. This consciousness always includes knowing oneself in relation to others.
4. Humans can make choices and are responsible for them.
5. Humans have intentions, aim for goals, and seek meaning, value, and creativity.

Humanistic psychology is not just a part of psychology. It's a way of looking at the human condition. This perspective guides how psychologists do research and help people.

How it Started in Practice

World War II created many challenges for military psychologists. They had more patients than they had time or resources for. This led to the start of group therapy. Eric Berne's work shows how psychology changed from being very practical during the war. He later created Transactional Analysis. This was a very popular form of humanistic psychology in the 1960s and 70s.

How Humanistic Psychology Views Research

Humanistic psychologists often believe that traditional scientific research methods don't fully explain human consciousness and behavior. They argue that these methods are best for studying physical things, not the complex ways humans make sense of the world.

However, humanistic psychology has always included scientific research. For example:

• Abraham Maslow suggested many of his ideas about human growth as things that could be tested. He encouraged scientists to test them.
• When the American Association of Humanistic Psychology started, its president, Sidney Jourard, said that "research" was a top priority. He wanted research to focus on what makes humans unique.
• In 1966, the AAHP said humanistic psychologists should choose research problems that are meaningful. They valued meaning over just being objective. This showed how important research was to them.
• In 1980, the American Psychological Association's humanistic psychology division published an article asking, "What makes research humanistic?" It said that humanistic theory believes people can choose their actions. This is not always determined by past events. Research aims to test this idea.

A "human science" view doesn't oppose using numbers in research. But it suggests that research methods should fit the topic. They shouldn't just copy methods from natural science. It also supports using many different methods. For example, studying the experience of grief might need qualitative methods. Counting how long someone cries might use quantitative methods.

Research remains important in humanistic psychology. It focuses on understanding the whole person, not just small parts. Special humanistic research methods have developed over time.

Growth of the Field

Saybrook Conference: A Key Meeting

In November 1964, important figures in humanistic psychology met in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. This was the first special conference on humanistic psychology. The Association for Humanistic Psychology (AHP) organized it. The Hazen Foundation provided money, and Wesleyan University hosted it.

Besides the founders like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, many other academics attended. These included Gordon Allport and Charlotte Bühler. The goal was to create a new vision for psychology. They wanted a more complete picture of people. They felt the current ideas of Behaviorism and Freudian psychology were too narrow. This conference was a very important event for humanistic psychology. It helped it gain academic recognition.

Main Thinkers in Humanistic Psychology

Several key thinkers helped set the stage for humanistic psychology. These include Otto Rank, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Rollo May. Here's a quick look at what each person contributed:

Abraham Maslow: Maslow created the "hierarchy of needs." This is like a pyramid. It says that people first need basic things like food and safety. Then they need love and self-esteem. At the very top is self-actualization. People who reach self-actualization are self-aware, caring, and wise. They focus on solving bigger problems. Maslow believed only about 1% of people truly reached self-actualization.

Carl Rogers: Rogers built on Maslow's ideas. He said that self-actualization grows best in a supportive environment. Two things are needed for this: people must be able to be their true selves, and others must accept them for who they are.

Counseling and Therapy

Diagram illustrating the "hierarchy of needs" theory of Abraham Maslow (1908–1970). Click to enlarge.

The main goal of humanistic therapy is to help clients develop a stronger and healthier sense of self. This is also called self-actualization. This therapy teaches clients that they have the ability to fulfill their own potential. It's an "insight-based" therapy. This means the therapist helps the client understand their inner feelings and conflicts.

Different Ways to Help

Humanistic psychology includes several ways of doing counseling and therapy. Some early approaches include:

• Abraham Maslow's theory of needs, which focuses on a hierarchy of needs and what motivates people.
• Rollo May's existential psychology, which looks at human choices and the difficult parts of life.
• Carl Rogers's person-centered therapy. This therapy focuses on the client's ability to guide themselves. The therapist listens without judging. This helps the client find their own answers. The therapist makes sure to understand all the client's feelings. They create a warm and accepting atmosphere. A person-centered therapist uses active listening during sessions.

A therapist cannot be completely hands-off. However, a nonjudgmental and accepting environment helps clients feel accepted and valued.

Existential psychotherapies use ideas from existential philosophy. This philosophy says humans are free to make sense of their lives. They can define themselves and do what they want. This therapy helps clients explore the meaning and purpose of their lives. It looks at the conflict between freedom and limitations, like genetics or culture.

Another humanistic approach is Gestalt therapy. This therapy focuses on the "here and now." It helps people look past old ideas and see how the past affects the present. Role-playing is also a big part of Gestalt therapy. It allows people to truly express feelings they might have hidden. In Gestalt therapy, a therapist pays attention to non-verbal cues. These can show how a client really feels.

Other humanistic therapies include depth therapy, holistic health, and positive psychology.

Empathy and Self-Help

Empathy is very important in humanistic therapy. This means the therapist tries to see the world through the client's eyes. Without empathy, the therapist might not truly understand the client's actions and thoughts.

Unconditional positive regard is another key part of humanistic psychology. This means the therapist cares for the client without judging them. This helps the therapist not become an authority figure. It allows for a more open and kind relationship. A humanistic therapist listens and makes sure the client feels comfortable. This way, genuine feelings can be shared without force. Marshall Rosenberg, a student of Carl Rogers, teaches empathy through his idea of Nonviolent Communication.

Self-help is also part of humanistic psychology. It helps people change how they think about themselves. People can only improve once they decide to help themselves. Co-counselling, a self-help approach, also comes from humanistic psychology. Humanistic ideas have influenced many popular therapies.

Ideal Self vs. Real Self

The ideal self is who you wish you were. The real self is who you actually are. Problems happen when these two don't match. This is called "incongruence." Humanistic therapy helps clients understand their present. It helps them add positive experiences to their real self-concept. The goal is for the ideal self and real self to become more alike. Rogers believed that a real relationship in therapy happens when the therapist is also genuine. It's easier to trust someone who shares their feelings openly. This helps the therapist build a strong relationship.

Focus on Health, Not Just Problems

Humanistic psychology often looks beyond the medical way of thinking about psychology. It tries to see people in a non-judgmental way. This means the therapist focuses on a person's healthy parts, not just their problems. Humanistic psychology aims to understand human experience. A key part is the real meeting between therapist and client. The therapist creates an environment where the client can freely share thoughts and feelings. The therapist does not suggest topics or guide the talk. They also don't analyze or interpret the client's behavior. The therapist's job is to show empathy and listen carefully.

How Humanistic Psychology Helps Society

Making Social Change Happen

While humanistic psychologists mainly focus on helping individuals, many also look at important social, cultural, and gender issues. They believe humanistic psychology can help solve problems in society.

Some early writers linked to humanistic psychology explored social topics. For example:

• Alfred Adler said that feeling connected to a community is vital for human growth.
• Erich Fromm believed that fear of freedom can lead to controlling governments. He said living life fully helps overcome this fear.
• Rollo May thought people in the modern world had lost their values. He felt health came from bravely finding new values.
• Carl Rogers believed that political life could be a dialogue, not just battles. He thought respect and honest talk could lead to solutions everyone accepted.
• Virginia Satir felt her family therapy could help people expand their minds. This would make them less fearful and bring communities together.

In 1978, the Association for Humanistic Psychology (AHP) explored how humanistic ideas could help social and political change. They held a "12-Hour Political Party" in San Francisco. Nearly 1,400 people discussed new ideas for society. The AHP president, George Leonard, summarized these ideas. They included moving to a slower economy and teaching social skills for healthier public policies.

Many others have used humanistic psychology for social change. For example, in 1979, Kenneth Lux and Mark A. Lutz called for a new economy based on humanistic psychology. John Vasconcellos, a politician, wrote a book about combining politics with humanistic ideas. The New World Alliance tried to bring humanistic ideas into politics.

In 1989, Maureen O'Hara saw similarities between Carl Rogers and Paulo Freire. Both focused on helping people understand and overcome unfair situations. In the 21st century, people like Joanna Macy and Marshall Rosenberg continue to use psychology to address social issues.

Humanistic psychology is also a main source for humanistic social work.

Humanistic Social Work

After therapy, social work benefits most from humanistic psychology. These ideas have greatly changed modern social work. They led to a specific type of social work called Humanistic Social Work. Many values of humanistic social work come directly from humanistic psychology. These include creativity, developing the self and spirituality, building security, and being flexible.

Social work also uses humanistic psychology to understand clients and social issues. The way humanistic social work sees clients and their personality is based on humanistic psychology.

When setting goals to solve social problems, humanistic psychology terms are used. These include self-actualization, human potential, holistic approach, free will, subjectivity, self-determination, and empathy. Humanistic social work also calls for social justice, complete support, and cooperation.

Creativity in Companies

Humanistic psychology focuses on creativity and seeing things as a whole. This led to new ways of thinking about people in the workplace. It emphasized creativity and the importance of emotional interactions. Before, "creativity" was mostly for artists. In the 1980s, more people worked in jobs that needed thinking and culture. Creativity became seen as a useful skill for companies. This led to creativity training for employees.

Humanistic psychology ideas were used in education and social work. This was most popular in the 1970s and 1980s in North America. Today, humanistic psychology is mainly practiced by licensed counselors and therapists. It also forms the basis for many methods of Energy Medicine.

See also

In Spanish: Psicología humanista para niños