Existential and humanistic theories both stress the positives of human nature. Each theorist has their own perspective and theory in moving towards a more positive view of humanity. Three psychologists that are well know in psychology today are Maslow, Rodgers, Frankl. Each psychologist has their own theory to the process to a more positive outlook to recovery and how these concepts are used today as well. In Maslow’s theory there is a six-part choice of experiments used to conduct a psychological value system. Homeostasis, Maslow uses the example of animals and how they know what is healthy for them in order to survive, this cannot be the same for humans because there are outside forces that an drift us from the good. There are good choosers …show more content…
“The basic needs and hierarchical arrangement simply means that everyone has psychological needs as a deficiency, these needs are fulfilled by the environment in order to avoid mental illness” (Maslow, 1962). Humans strive for an end goal in order to be considered fully human and are in a constant battle of being and becoming. “When self-actualization occurs one has spontaneous expressiveness and full individuality and identity. Human means are constructed of the ability to have good values, honesty, love, and unselfishness” (Maslow, 1962). Regression and living in fear can be commonly caused by anxiety, guilt, shame, and emptiness. “At the stage of growth and environment man or woman is pressing forward to becoming a fuller human, like an acorn is pressing forward to becoming an oak tree” (Maslow, 1962). Many humans strive and set expectations that are more than there is to offer at the current moment. Culture does not teach us how to love or be fully human, like man is not taught to be molded but to mold and …show more content…
In Logotherapy it has been widely used as a subcategory of existential psychiatry. They want to see the patients as other people in their daily lives and then begin to develop relationships with them. This therapy is used from the loss of purpose in no genic neurosis. There is “I Thou relationship” which is a dialogue between the client and the therapist. The client is not treated as just a case file but there is more engagement and will receive a higher level of respect and concern. In existentialism is the theory that an individual is a free and responsible agent and develop through free will. “In psychotherapy there is phenomenology which is the attempt to describe in a way that a man understands himself and interprets one’s own existence” (Frankl, 1967). There is an importance of treating humans as humans and mothing more or nothing less. For example, if that individual was a prisoner you would look them as a peer. They will better understand you as you get a better understanding of them. “Daseinsanalysis it is a basic form of psychoanalysis as an area of openness to everything they encounter” (Frankl, 1967). Humans should be able to show and express themselves just as they are and be respected and understood by
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory that includes a five level pyramid of basic human
We may nevertheless say that existentialism is a form of phenomenological philosophy that relies on certain reflective methods of studying human consciousness instantiated in the individual, society, and culture, which emerged as a popular general movement characteristic of 20 century European thought represented thought represented across many disciplines including literature, the humanities, and the social sciences. Existential psychology rejects the mechanistic views of the Freudians and instead sees people as engaged in a search for meaning (Trull & Prinstein, 2013, p. 382), therefore an existential psychotherapist may attribute the cause of the person’s anxiety to lost meaning of life. As Trull and Prinstein (2013) stated, the ultimate goal of existential psychotherapy is "to help the individual reach a point at which awareness and decision making can be exercised responsibly" (p. 383). The role of an existential psychotherapist is to enable the client to come closer to experience. By experiencing self, the client can learn to attach meaning and value to life. Sometimes the therapist will confront the client with questions “that force the client to examine the reasons for failure to search for meaning in life” (Trull & Prinstein, 2013, p.
Maslow believed that there was a hierarchy of five innate needs that influence people’s behaviors (Schultz & Schultz, 2013, p.246-247). In a pyramid fashion, at the base are physiological needs, followed by safety needs, then belonginess and love needs, succeeded by esteem needs, and finally the need for self-actualization. Maslow claimed that lower order needs must be at least partially satisfied before higher level needs are addressed. Furthermore, behavior is dominated by solely one need
Humanistic Theory is based on the ability for individuals to be able to separately diverse with our own prospective on life. Maslow’s theory speaks to the potential and to positive outcome of human motivation and believes that every individual can and will strives to be more.
At the base of the hierarchy are the physiological needs of human beings. This level consists of a human's need for food, water, oxygen, sleep, and sex. Homeless people are at this level of the hierarchy because their concern is in obtaining those things necessary for survival. Once an individual has met these needs, they begin to seek steady work, financial security, stability at home, and a predictable environment. This level consists of overachievers and workaholics. People such as this are so concerned with their income that they do not feel that the amount of time they work is sufficient enough. If an individual meets all of these needs, then that person has obtained their general need for safety. Once human beings have obtained safety, they strive to fulfill their social needs. At this level humans concern themselves with affiliation, belongingness and love, affection, close relationships, family ties, and group membership. This is a particularly crucial level because if these needs are not met, then humans feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness and alienation. All the needs for love having been met, an individual seeks social status, respect, recognition, achievement, and power. All of these needs combine to fulfill an individual's need for esteem, and failing to satisfy this need, an individual endures a sense of inferiority and a lack of importance. All human beings are placed at one of these four levels, striving to satisfy the needs at that level. If there comes a time in which an individual has obtained all of the needs on the hierarchy, that person becomes ready, willing, and able to strive for self-actualization. According to Maslow, self-actualization is a distinctly human need to fulfill one's potential. As Maslow himself states, "A musician must make music, and artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is ultimately to be at peace with himself.
The similarity between Person-Centered Theory and Existential Theory is both are humanistic in approach. Both of these approaches does not consider on past events in the treatment of the client and just look at the here and now. They both emphasize life meaning, objective reality and human capability. Generally, humanistic psychology is seen as having a more positive view on humanity.
Existential therapy is concerned with one’s being; the world in which they live, the implication of time, and the mindfulness of being whole. The basic dimensions of the human condition, according to the existential approach, include (1) the capacity for self-awareness; (2) freedom and responsibility; (3) creating one’s identity and establishing meaningful relationships with other; (4) the search for meaning, purpose, values, and goals; (5) anxiety as a condition of living; and (6) awareness of death and nonbeing. All give significance to living and explore the degree to which a client is doing the things they value.
Existential therapy focuses on the positive approach of looking at an individual as whole, incorporating multiple factors and tendencies to applaud human capacities and acknowledgement. Fridrich Nietzsche is a philosopher who is known as the founder of existential theory by theorizing that any individual can overcome any event or concern through internal wisdom and self powerment. In fact, I believe existential therapy is closely related and are similar to multiple approaches, such as the humanistic approach by looking at the concept of individuals having moral, internal ethical values which drives their behavior in a positive aspect. Due to this, existential therapy focuses on the good within individuals bringing out positive attributions
I believe this theory would allow me to develop an integrative approach. The theory is about accepting what it means to be human, and that we are all authors of our lives. I feel that this particular theory allows people to accept who they are, what they do, and what they believe, but helps them realize that who they are is not absolute or unchangeable, and that they can re-create themselves. In my group, in addition to my primary theory being existential, I would draw from psychoanalytic (insight on unconscious motivation), cognitive therapy (cognitive restructuring), rational emotive behavior therapy (eliminate self-defeating outlook), reality therapy (choices) and narrative therapy (separate from problems). If I had to limit myself to one supplementary theory it would be rational emotive behavior therapy. I feel that this theory would compliment existential, due to existential focusing on accepting what it means to be human, while rational emotive behavior therapy helps reduces unhealthy emotional response, and eliminates a self-defeating outlook on life. I believe that in order for one to accept what it means to be human (existential), and to become an author of their own life (existential), they need to eliminate their self-defeating outlook (REBT), and unhealthy emotional responses
Unlike many of his colleagues at the time who were focusing on psychopathology, or what is wrong with individuals, he focused on how individuals are motivated to fulfill their potential and what needs govern their respective behaviors (McLeod)). Maslow developed the hierarchy over time, adjusting from a rigid structure where needs must be met before being able to achieve a higher level, to where the individuals can experience and behave in ways across the hierarchy multiple times daily depending on their needs. The hierarchy is comprised of 5 levels; Physiological, Safety and Security, Love and Belonging, Esteem, and Self-Actualization. The bottom two levels are considered basic needs, or deficiency needs because once the needs are met they cease to be a driving factor, unlike psychological needs. Loving and Belonging and Esteem needs are considered psychological needs, and are different from basic needs because they don’t stem from a lack of something, but rather the desire to grow. Maslow theorizes that individual’s decisions and behavior are determined based on their current level of needs, and the ideal level to achieve full potential culminates in self-actualization; however, operating on this level cannot be achieved until the preceding levels of needs have been
...roblems. On the other hand, the humanistic approach, introduced by Abraham Maslow, states that individuals have the freedom and capacity to direct his or her own future. Although it is a theory, it is apparant that the psychoanalytic approach is accepted in our society through observations of our speech and procedures of our criminal justice system. As a result, it is conclusive that it is more instrumental in the treatment of mental disorders.
Humanistic psychology is the field most related to the study of positive human experience. Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers’ are from a Humanistic approach to thought and are two of the founders of Humanistic psychology. Rogers’ and Maslow engaged with an idea of self-actualization and characteristics to accomplish it. Carl Rogers’' therapy was created from his belief that people have the ability to move themselves toward better functioning by finding and expressing their genuine selves. Maslow’ therapy was the process by which individuals could become self-actualized, a state in which they had access to the full range of their talents and strengths. These talents and strengths, which Maslow referred to as characteristic of a self-actualized
In his classic text Existential Psychotherapy (1980) he outlines a very comprehensive approach to existential therapy. He integrates the views of many of the aforementioned philosophers, theologians and therapists and focuses on four ultimate human concerns: death, freedom, isolation and meaninglessness (Tan, 2011). Of death he writes, “The fear of death plays a major role in our internal experience; it haunts as does nothing else; it rumbles continuously under the surface; it is a dark, unsettling presence at the rim of consciousness” (Yalom, 1998, pg. 183). Yalom noted books can be therapy and during this time bibliotherapy took off in America. Viktor Frankl was the founder of the existential therapy called Logotherapy.
Humanistic and Existential Psychology are influential of each other, both include the “meaning of our existence, the role of free will, and the uniqueness of each human” (Burger, 2015) This paper will review three articles written by influential psychologists of their time, Maslow, Rogers, and Frankl. The review of each will include a summary, how well the contents connects to the humanistic or existential psychology, and if their ideas still have a relevant application in today’s environment.
Intrinsic values was his last addition, and because it was released so closely to his death, it has not received as much attention (Guest, 2014). In an article titled “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – the sixth level,” Hazel Guest explains that Maslow thought of those who had already achieved self-actualization and wondered what would motivate them. “In seeking an answer, he came up with motivation by intrinsic values such as truth, goodness, beauty, perfection, excellence, simplicity, elegance, and so on” (Guest, 2014, p. 982).