Everyone
ALONZO, GENON,
JURADO, LAPITEN, OSIAS
ENERGIZER
SIOMAI, SUMAN, SIOPAO
Objectives:
What is the Humanistic Approach?
Aim and Purpose
Key Proponents
Significant Events
Concepts and Examples
Criticisms and Limitations
Humanistic Approach
What is the
Aims & Purpose
Humanistic Approach?
The humanistic approach aims at the exploration and
The humanistic approach, development of human potential and self-
actualization needs.
focuses on personal growth, The purpose is to encourage persons to grow, develop
self-awareness, and free will. It self-awareness, and become holistically healthy
through furthering psychological needs while
views people as inherently good developing a supportive interpersonal network and
call-up people to express their inherent strengths
and capable of making choices and resource potentialities. The empowerment
to improve their lives. approach is for self-directed activity to ensure
freedom of choice.
Key Proponents
ABRAHAM MASLOW
Father of Humanistic Psychology
His greatest contribution to the
humanist movement was his hierarchy
of needs (1943), which said that basic
physical needs must be met first
before people can realize their full
potential.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Key Proponents
CARL ROGERS
He developed person-centered therapy, also known
as client-centered therapy (1951), which is a non-
directive form of talk therapy where you act as an
equal partner.
He was the first to advocate for the importance of
"unconditional positive regard", a way of viewing
oneself in which one is unconditionally positive and
accepting, maintaining the right to be critical
without being judgmental or overly harsh.
Key Proponents
ROLLO MAY
American psychologist who founded
existential psychology.
Rollo May focused on how individuals
respond to the reality of their existence.
Existentialism focuses on understanding
the meaning behind and purpose of
human existence.
Significant Events
1954
Maslow's Motivation and Personality:
This book introduced Maslow's hierarchy
of needs, a theory that suggests humans
are motivated to fulfill basic needs
(physiological, safety, love/belonging,
esteem) before striving for self-
actualization.
Significant Events
1961
Rogers' On Becoming a Person:
This work outlined Rogers' client-
centered therapy, a humanistic
approach that emphasizes empathy,
unconditional positive regard, and
congruence in the therapeutic
relationship.
Significant Events
1962
Founding of the American Association for
Humanistic Psychology (AAHP):
In 1962, a group of psychologists, including
Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Rollo May,
formed the AAHP. This organization played a
crucial role in promoting humanistic
psychology and providing a platform for its
practitioners and researchers.
Concepts & Examples
Self-Actualization: The process of realizing
and achieving your full potential and
abilities. According to Maslow's Hierarchy
of Needs, it's at the top, representing
personal growth and self-improvement.
Concepts & Examples
Free Will: Humanistic psychology
emphasizes the idea that people have the
power to make their own choices and
decisions, shaping their lives as a result.
Concepts & Examples
Self-Image: Refers to how people see
themselves and their sense of self-worth,
which can affect their behavior and mental
well-being.
Concepts & Examples
Unconditional Positive Regard: In
humanistic psychology, accepting and
valuing someone without any conditions is
necessary for personal growth.
Concepts & Examples
Person-Centered Therapy: A therapeutic
approach that focuses on an individual's
experience. It highlights the importance of
empathy, unconditional support, and
honesty in the therapist-client relationship.
Criticisms & Limitations
The major criticism that contradicts this approach is that its concepts
are too vague. Since, the humanistic approach solely focuses on the
individual as a whole, such as free will, conscious desires,
improvement, innate goodness, and self-actualization, this branch of
psychology is deemed to be too subjective. This is because subjective
ideas like real experiences and opinions are difficult to objectify, and
the experience of one person may be different than the other. Due to
this, critics consider the humanistic approach as a false branch of
science since it leans too much on the concept of subjectivity and not
enough objectivity.
Criticisms & Limitations
This approach was also criticized due to its lack of
effectiveness in treating mental disorders and the
generalizations made about human nature, as well
as the complete rejection of some important
behaviorists and psychoanalytic concepts.
References:
GoodTherapy Editor Team. (2018, March 8). Humanistic Psychology.
Drew, C. (2024, May 26). 25 Humanistic Psychology Examples. [Link]
examples
McLeod, S. (2023, December 20). Humanistic Approach In Psychology.
[Link]
May, R. (1975). The Courage to Create. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Link: American
Association for Humanistic Psychology (Official website providing information about the
organization and its history)
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Schneider, K. J., & Krug, O. T. (Eds.). (2010). Humanistic Psychologies: A Historical Perspective. New York: Wiley.
Understanding Human Behavior With A Humanistic Approach. (2015). [Link];
Psychologist World. [Link]