"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be.
This is the need we may call self-actualization ... It refers to man's desire for fulfillment, namely to the tendency for him to become actually in what he is potentially: to become everything that one
is capable of becoming ..."
From the IB
Introduction
Humanistic psychology emerged as a third force during the late 1950’s in the United States as an alternative to the deterministic orientations of behaviourism and psychoanalysis. There was a powerful element of European existentialism and phenomenology present in the earliest years of development, but humanistic psychology has now developed into an eclectic movement that attracts a diverse range of theorists.
Humanistic psychology emerged as a third force during the late 1950’s in the United States as an alternative to the deterministic orientations of behaviourism and psychoanalysis. There was a powerful element of European existentialism and phenomenology present in the earliest years of development, but humanistic psychology has now developed into an eclectic movement that attracts a diverse range of theorists.
Humanistic psychology’s emphasis on the possibility of personal growth and change found immediate acceptance. The methodology applied by humanistic psychologists tends to use alternatives to those focusing on quantification and scientific rigour, but often produces useful data. The humanistic perspective is not applied universally, perhaps because of its emphasis on the individual and its optimistic view of human potential.
Essential Questions (Learning Outcomes):
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Describe and evaluate relevant theories and empirical studies related to humanistic psychology -
Explain how cultural, ethical, gender, and methodological considerations affect the interpretation of behaviour in humanistic psychology and health psychology.
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Describe and evaluate specific methodologies used in humanistic psychology.
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Describe and evaluate application of research findings and theories in humanistic psychology.
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Identify and compare the strengths and limitations of humanistic explanations of behaviour.
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Explain the extent to which free will and determinism are integral to this perspective.
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Explain the extent to which human behaviour is self-directed.
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Explain and evaluate the assumption that individuals are able to achieve their maximum potential.
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