Humanistic Psychology - Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers (Intro Psych Tutorial #144)

Summary

In this video, Michael Corayer explores the humanistic approach to psychology, focusing on the theories of Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs emphasizes the concept of self-actualization, our innate drive to reach our fullest potential. Rogers, on the other hand, discusses the 'real self' versus the 'ideal self,' aiming for individuals to become 'fully functioning' by overcoming 'conditions of worth.' The video provides a foundational understanding of humanistic psychology and its relevance to personality development.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Humanistic psychology focuses on understanding individuals in their full potential and personal growth.
• 🧠 Abraham Maslow is a key figure in humanistic psychology, known for his Hierarchy of Needs.
• 🚀 Maslow's concept of self-actualization suggests an intrinsic drive to reach one's fullest potential.
• 🤔 Carl Rogers, another prominent theorist, emphasized the gap between the 'real self' and the 'ideal self'.
• 🌱 Rogers believed in moving towards the 'ideal self' to become a 'fully functioning person'.
• 🛑 'Conditions of worth' are self-imposed restrictions that can hinder personal growth, according to Rogers.
• 💔 These conditions might include beliefs like being loved only upon achieving certain life goals.
• 👩‍⚕️ Rogers advocated for therapists to provide 'unconditional positive regard' to help clients accept themselves.
• 🔄 The process of therapy aims to help individuals move past self-imposed conditions and towards self-actualization.
• 📚 More in-depth exploration of humanistic psychology will be covered in future units on emotion, motivation, and treatment approaches.

Q & A

What is the humanistic approach to psychology?

The humanistic approach to psychology emphasizes the individual's potential for self-actualization and personal growth, focusing on subjective experiences and the individual's unique perspective.

Who are the two leading theorists of humanistic psychology mentioned in the script?

The two leading theorists of humanistic psychology mentioned are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.

What is the Hierarchy of Needs according to Abraham Maslow?

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory that suggests humans are motivated to fulfill basic needs, starting from physiological needs up to self-actualization.

What does self-actualization mean in the context of Maslow's theory?

In Maslow's theory, self-actualization refers to the drive to achieve one's full potential and become the best version of oneself.

How does Carl Rogers' concept of the 'real self' and 'ideal self' relate to Maslow's idea of self-actualization?

Rogers' concept of the 'real self' and 'ideal self' is similar to Maslow's self-actualization in that both focus on the individual's journey towards becoming their best self, with Rogers emphasizing the gap between one's current and potential self.

What is the term Carl Rogers used to describe an individual who has achieved their full potential?

Carl Rogers referred to an individual who has achieved their full potential as a 'fully functioning person'.

What are 'conditions of worth' as described by Carl Rogers?

'Conditions of worth' are self-imposed restrictions that individuals believe they must meet to be acceptable or worthy, which can hinder the process of becoming a fully functioning person.

What role does the therapist play in helping a client overcome 'conditions of worth' according to Rogers?

The therapist helps by cultivating 'unconditional positive regard', which allows the client to accept themselves without conditions, facilitating the journey towards becoming a fully functioning person.

What is the significance of 'unconditional positive regard' in therapy as per Carl Rogers' approach?

'Unconditional positive regard' is significant because it allows the client to feel accepted without conditions, which is essential for personal growth and overcoming barriers to self-actualization.

How does the concept of 'conditions of worth' impact an individual's journey towards self-actualization?

The concept of 'conditions of worth' can impede an individual's journey towards self-actualization by creating artificial barriers that prevent them from accepting themselves and reaching their full potential.

What is the goal of therapy from the perspective of humanistic psychology as discussed in the script?

The goal of therapy from the humanistic psychology perspective is to help individuals overcome conditions that prevent self-actualization and to foster a state of 'unconditional positive regard', enabling them to become fully functioning persons.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Introduction to Humanistic Psychology and Personality

Michael Corayer introduces the humanistic approach to psychology, focusing on the theories of Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. He discusses Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the concept of self-actualization, which is the drive to reach one's full potential. Maslow believed that individuals are motivated to not only satisfy their needs but also to become the best version of themselves. Carl Rogers' idea of the 'real self' versus the 'ideal self' is also introduced, emphasizing the gap between who we are and who we can become. Rogers' concept of a 'fully functioning person' is presented as the goal of personal growth, moving towards one's ideal self.

Keywords

💡Humanistic Approach

The humanistic approach in psychology emphasizes the individual's subjective experience, personal growth, and self-actualization. It focuses on understanding people in terms of their own unique experiences and potential for growth, rather than through the lens of mental illness or abnormal behavior. In the video, this approach is central to understanding the work of theorists like Maslow and Rogers, who are interested in how individuals can reach their full potential.

💡Abraham Maslow

Abraham Maslow was a prominent psychologist known for his theory of motivation, which includes the Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow believed that individuals are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to higher-level needs such as self-actualization. In the script, Maslow's work is highlighted as foundational to the humanistic approach, particularly his concept of self-actualization, which is the drive to become the best version of oneself.

💡Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory that suggests humans are motivated to fulfill basic needs, such as physiological needs and safety, before moving on to higher-level needs like love, esteem, and self-actualization. The hierarchy is often depicted as a pyramid, with the most basic needs at the bottom and self-actualization at the top. In the video, the Hierarchy of Needs is mentioned as a key concept in understanding human motivation and the pursuit of self-actualization.

💡Self-Actualization

Self-actualization, as described by Maslow, is the highest level of human needs and refers to an individual's drive to realize their full potential and become the most that they can be. It is the ultimate goal in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. In the video, self-actualization is discussed as a core concept of humanistic psychology, where individuals strive to achieve their personal best.

💡Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers was a psychologist who developed the person-centered approach to therapy. He believed in the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the individual's capacity for self-healing. Rogers emphasized the concepts of the 'real self' and the 'ideal self,' and the journey towards becoming a 'fully functioning person.' In the video, Rogers' ideas are discussed in relation to personal growth and the process of therapy.

💡Real Self vs. Ideal Self

The 'real self' refers to who an individual actually is, while the 'ideal self' is who they could potentially become. Rogers believed that individuals strive to reduce the gap between these two selves. In the video, this concept is used to illustrate the humanistic goal of personal growth and the pursuit of one's potential.

💡Fully Functioning Person

According to Carl Rogers, a 'fully functioning person' is someone who is self-accepting, creative, and able to experience life fully without being constrained by external conditions or expectations. This concept is similar to Maslow's idea of self-actualization. In the video, becoming a fully functioning person is presented as an achievable goal through therapy and personal development.

💡Conditions of Worth

Conditions of worth are self-imposed restrictions or beliefs that an individual must meet certain conditions to be worthy of love, acceptance, or self-worth. These conditions can hinder personal growth and the process of becoming a fully functioning person. In the video, conditions of worth are discussed as obstacles that can be addressed in therapy to facilitate personal development.

💡Unconditional Positive Regard

Unconditional positive regard is a therapeutic attitude in which a therapist accepts and respects a client without judgment, regardless of the client's thoughts or behaviors. This concept, introduced by Rogers, is intended to help clients develop self-acceptance and move towards becoming fully functioning. In the video, unconditional positive regard is presented as a key component of the therapeutic process in humanistic psychology.

💡Therapy

Therapy, in the context of the video, refers to the process of psychological treatment aimed at helping individuals overcome conditions of worth and other obstacles to personal growth. It is a means to facilitate self-acceptance and the journey towards self-actualization or becoming a fully functioning person. The video discusses therapy as an essential part of the humanistic approach to psychology.

💡Emotion and Motivation

Emotion and motivation are central to humanistic psychology as they drive personal growth and the pursuit of self-actualization. The video script mentions that these topics will be covered in more detail in future units, indicating their importance in understanding the humanistic approach. Emotions and motivation are discussed as key factors in an individual's journey towards realizing their full potential.

Highlights

Introduction to humanistic psychology and its relation to personality.

Focus on two leading theorists: Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the concept of self-actualization.

Maslow's belief in an intrinsic drive towards becoming the best version of ourselves.

Carl Rogers' focus on the incongruence between the 'real self' and the 'ideal self'.

Rogers' concept of the 'ideal self' as a potential we strive to achieve.

The idea of moving towards the 'ideal self' and becoming a 'fully functioning person'.

Challenges in becoming fully functioning due to 'conditions of worth'.

Definition and impact of 'conditions of worth' on self-acceptance and growth.

Examples of 'conditions of worth' such as career success or family life.

The role of therapy in cultivating 'unconditional positive regard'.

The importance of accepting oneself without conditions for personal growth.

The goal of therapy as per Rogers: helping clients accept themselves unconditionally.

Future discussion on humanistic psychology in relation to emotion and motivation.

Connection between humanistic psychology and treatment approaches for psychological disorders.

Invitation to like the video and subscribe for more content on psychology.

Conclusion and thanks for watching the overview of humanistic psychology.

Transcripts

Hi, I'm Michael Corayer and this is Psych Exam  Review. In this video I'm going to provide a  

brief overview of the humanistic approach  to psychology and how it might relate to  

personality. So to do this we're going to look  at two of the leading theorists of humanistic  

psychology and these are Abraham Maslow and  Carl Rogers. So we'll start with Abraham Maslow,  

and here's a picture of Maslow here, and Maslow is  perhaps best known for his Hierarchy of Needs. And  

one of the ideas of his Hierarchy of Needs, which  I'll talk about in more detail in a future video,  

is the idea of self-actualization. So Maslow  believed that were driven to satisfy our needs  

but they were also driven to find our fullest  potential and that we all have an intrinsic  

drive towards self-actualization; becoming the  best version of ourselves that we can possibly  

be and that one of our goals in life should be  to become self actualized. Now Carl Rogers had a  

similar idea, and here's a picture of Rogers here,  and Rogers focused on the incongruence between the  

"real self" and the "ideal self". So this is  the idea of the "real self" is who we actually  

are and then the "ideal self" is who we could  become and that we're always going to have some  

gap between these two, right? And so what we're  trying to do is move towards the ideal self and  

rather than using the term "self actualized"  Rogers referred to this as becoming a "fully  

functioning person". This is when we're working  towards becoming our ideal self. We're getting  

closer and closer to reaching sort of the fullest  potential that we can possibly reach. And one of  

the things that Rogers thought could get in the  way of this process of becoming fully functioning  

were "conditions of worth". And so the idea  of "conditions of worth" are these are sort of  

restrictions that we impose upon ourselves; where  we believe that we're only acceptable or we're  

only worthy of maybe somebody's love if we've  met certain conditions. So we might think "well,  

my parents will only truly love me and care for  me if I have career success, or if I get married,  

or if I have children" or something like  that. So that those would be conditions of  

work that are sort of artificially created  and that might get in the way of somebody  

becoming fully functioning. And you could have  conditions of worth for yourself. So I think  

"I'm only a good person if I do X Y or Z" and so  one of the goals of therapy according to Rogers  

was that the therapist needs to cultivate what  he called "unconditional positive regard". So  

that the therapist wasn't creating conditions  of worth, instead the client was learning to  

accept themselves regardless of specific  thoughts or specific behaviors. And that  

once they could do that, then they could start  moving towards becoming more fully functioning.  

Alright so this is just a brief overview of  these ideas and we'll go into more detail on  

humanistic psychology in the next unit on emotion  and motivation, and then again when we talk about  

approaches to treatment for psychological  disorders. I hope you found this helpful,  

if so, please like the video and subscribe  to the channel for more. Thanks for watching!