Humanistic Psychology Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Humanistic Psychology?

Humanistic psychology is a psychological viewpoint that emphasizes the importance of internal feelings and personal growth. It focuses on understanding the individual, their emotional needs, and how they can fulfill those needs. Humanistic psychology is concerned with helping people develop their self-awareness, self-acceptance, and personal growth. It also seeks to understand how people perceive themselves and how they interact with others. By doing so, humanistic psychologists strive to nurture an environment in which individuals are able to realize their potential for positive personal change.The development of humanistic psychology began in the 1950s as an alternative approach to traditional psychoanalytic theories of behavior. Unlike Freudian thought, which emphasized unconscious processes and external determinants of behavior, humanistic psychology focused on conscious experience and intrinsic motivation. The founders of this movement including Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, Rollo May and Viktor Frankl believed that all humans have inner resources for growth if given the right conditions. In contrast to classical psychoanalytic techniques such as dream analysis or free association, they advocated more holistic therapies such as client-centered counseling or existential psychotherapy. At its core, humanistic psychology values each person’s unique experiences and encourages individuals to explore their potential for greater well-being through self-reflection and meaningful relationships with others. It stresses the importance of empathy in interpersonal interactions by recognizing the inherent worthiness of each individual’s subjective reality rather than trying to impose external standards or beliefs onto them. Through this approach it seeks not only to help people understand themselves better but also create meaningful connections with others where mutual respect prevails over judgmental thinking or criticism .Humanistic psychologists believe that each person has an innate capacity for growth; however it is up to them whether they choose to make use of these opportunities or not. This idea often requires courage from individuals who may have previously been discouraged from striving towards personal fulfillment due to negative experiences in life such as trauma or social rejection. Additionally it emphasizes that mental health is not simply a matter of avoiding illness but also involves actively striving towards a sense of meaning , purpose , creativity , joy , intimacy , love , freedom , authenticity , acceptance among many other life goals. Such ideals have made humanistic psychology popular both within clinical settings as well as among those looking for more holistic methods for improving overall wellbeing .