The humanistic approach
The term "humanistic psychology" has been created by a group of psychologists who under the leadership of Maslow teamed up in the early 1960s to create a new theoretical alternative to the two most important approaches in psychology - psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Such famous psychologists as Carl Rogers, Victor Frankl and Rollo May and others had influenced the development of the humanistic approach (McLeod, 2015).
Fundamental ideas of humanistic psychology are the refutation of comparative psychology, the study of the individual as a whole personality, the emphasis on creativity and mental health of the individual, etc.
The central idea of the humanistic approach is that the individual can make a conscious choice; he/she has the will and the potential for development and growth. The humanistic approach is entirely different from psychoanalytic theory. Psychoanalysts believed that aggressive, destructive sexual instincts of Id guide individuals` behavior. In other words, according to psychodynamic theory`s, the nature of humans is initially aggressive and evil. In contrast to psychodynamic views, representatives of humanistic approach consider human`s nature as something good and kind. According to various theories of humanistic approach, human nature is characterized by that each person throughout life strives for self-actualization and self-improvement.
Humanists deny the appropriateness of comparative psychology, since, in their view, a person cannot be compared to animals, because animals do not have abilities to think, to reason and speak.
The representatives of this direction, especially Rogers and Maslow believed that people initially have the necessary skills to solve problems arising in their life and to guide their behavior. However, these abilities can develop only in a favorable context of social values.
Humanistic Ideas of Maslow
According to Maslow, creativity is a feature of every person, and it does not mean only to have only some artistic talents or abilities. While somebody is talented in art, other people can be talented and creative in supporting other people, in being good spouse or parents, etc. (Ventegodt, Merrick & Andersen, 2003).
Maslow argued that none of the psychological approaches, applied for studying the behavior, did not attach adequate priority to the functioning of a healthy person, his lifestyle or life goals. In particular, he strongly criticized Freud's preoccupation with the study of disease, pathology, and poor adaptation. Maslow believed that psychoanalytic theory is one-sided; it lacks the versatility because it is built on pathological or "sick" aspects of human nature (i.e. its faults and imperfections) and ignores the power and virtue of humanity.
Maslow described the man as "desiring creature ", which rarely reaches the state of full, complete satisfaction. The total absence of desires and needs, when (and if) it exists, does not last long. If one need is satisfied, another need emerges and directs the attention and efforts of a man. Human life is characterized by the fact that people almost always desire and want something.
Maslow suggested that all human needs are arranged into a hierarchical system. The researcher proposed next humans needs, which are listed in hierarchical order: physiological needs, safety and security needs, belonging and love needs, esteem needs; self-actualization needs, or the needs for personal development (McLeod, 2014). Another researchers also added such needs in Maslow`s hierarchy as aesthetic needs, the need to know and understand ourselves and other people, and transcendence need (the need for feeling our belongingness to the world) (Ventegodt, Merrick & Andersen, 2003).
The Maslow's motivational theory is based on the assumption that dominant needs, located at the bottom of the hierarchy, must be satisfied before a person can become aware of the presence of higher needs and be motivated by needs, placed at the top of the hierarchy. Hence, the need of the same type must be fully satisfied before the other need located above in the hierarchy will emerge and become active (Ventegodt, Merrick & Andersen, 2003).
So for example, Maslow believed that if an individual is deprived of proper nutrition, comfort, and if this man has nowhere to live, etc., one probably will not think about such things as a good relationship with other people, creativity, and self-actualization, etc. On the other hand, if a person feels safety, if one is financially secure and lives in a comfortable environment, one probably will want to realize her/his talents and potential. He/she will desire to establish good relationships with others, to feel own competency in a particular professional activity, etc. (McLeod, 2014).
Maslow admitted that there might be exceptions from this hierarchical system of motives. He noticed that some creative people can develop and express their talents, despite the serious difficulties and social problems. Also, there are people whose values and ideals are so high that they would rather endure hunger and thirst, or even die than abandon their values. (McLeod, 2014).
Roger`s humanistic theory
Rogers had formed his theoretical approach on the base of his therapeutic work with people who had psychological problems. In fact, Rogers focused on the therapeutic requirements that contributed to the self-actualization of the individual. What he learned from therapy had become the basis for his theory of personality. Rogers believed that personality and behavior are more a function of the unique human perception of an environment (McLeod, 2014).
Rogers suggested that human`s behavior is inspired and directed by particular motive, which he called the tendency of actualization. It is characteristic which can be recognized in the tendency to develop own abilities, to maintain and develop an own personality.
Thus, the primary motive of human life is to actualize, i.e. to preserve and improve oneself as much as possible, to identify the best qualities of one`s personality (McLeod, 2014).
According to Rogers, it is important for any person to be loved and accepted by others. This need he called the need for positive attention. An interesting aspect of positive attention is its dual nature - if a person recognizes that he/she satisfies the need for positive attention of other people, and then he/she would feel the satisfaction of own needs (Patterson& Joseph, 2007).
Conditional positive attention means that children receive praise, attention, approval, and other forms of encouragements for behavior which is expected by significant others, especially by parents of children. In fact, over the years, gaining experience, the children remember that if their parents approve their actions, they (children) will have praise and love. Conversely, if they do not behave properly, or their actions are not acceptable from the view of parents, they will not be appreciated and loved.
Rogers claimed that the conditional attention causes psychological damage to a child`s personality because a child tries to meet standards and expectations of other people (adults, parents, friends, etc.), and forget about who he/she wants to be, and what he/she desires. In such circumstances, the child begins to evaluate his/her personality (what is valuable and what is of no valuable for one) only in terms of those values, actions, thoughts, and feelings which are approved and are supported by other people. This process leads to the self-concept, which is in complete disagreement with the organismic experience and, therefore, does not serve as a stable foundation for the development of a healthy personality (Patterson & Joseph, 2007).
People who used to have conditional attention, limit their behavior and distort reality because even a conscious thought about a prohibited behavior can be just as threatening as a manifestation of this behavior. As a result of this protection, such people can communicate with the environment not fully and openly.
However, positive attention can also be unconditional. While it is evident that no one can be entirely free from value conditions, Rogers believed that people can give or receive positive attention, regardless of the value of a particular human behavior. It means that a person can be accepted and respected for who he/she is, without any "if", "and" or "but." Such unconditional positive attention can be observed when a mother gives her son love and care, not because he accomplishes some particular condition or justify any expectations, but simply because he is her child.
Rogers lists qualities of a fully functioning person. Among these qualities and characteristics: an existential way of life, openness to experience, empirical freedom, organismic trust, creativity. The existential way of life, according to Rogers' theory is associated with the ability to live every moment of his/her life, as a new and unique, with the capacity to be "here and now", etc.
People completely open for their feelings are capable of listening to themselves, to feel the whole range of visceral, sensory, emotional and cognitive experiences in themselves, without feeling a threat. They are aware of their deepest thoughts and feelings; they do not try to suppress them; they often act following them; and even not acting in agreement with them, they can realize their thoughts and feelings.
Logotherapy of V. Frankl
Frankl (1906-1998), Austrian psychologist and psychiatrist, believed that the driving force of human behavior and personality development is the search for meaning in life. According to Frankl's theory, a person wants to find the meaning of one`s life or the meaning of particular event, situation and he/she experiences frustration or existential vacuum if one`s attempts remain unachieved
Frankl pointed out that there are three types of values due to which a person can find meaning: the value of attitudes, values of creativity and the value of experiences. So for example, the individual may find meaning in creative activity, when he/she creates something and knows that his/her work can be valuable and useful for other people. An individual can also find meaning in feelings and experiences. These experiences are not related to actions; it is the passive way of finding meaning. The meaning can arise when we enjoy passively the beauty of nature, literary creations, arts, etc. For example, when a person observes beautiful landscapes or listens to the music of great composers, he/she can feel the meaning of these experiences that are associated with the beauty of nature, music or others (Greenstein & Breitbart, 2000).
As Frankl pointed out, even if an individual is deprived of creating something, love someone, etc., even if a person experience pain, he/she always remains free to choose how to perceive his/her life situation. Thus, Frankl himself, as is known, has spent several years in concentration camps. During the Holocaust, he had lost his wife, mother, and father, but he had found the meaning of all his sufferings and used his experience of suffering in his books and his logotherapy (Greenstein & Breitbart, 2000).
Values of attitudes connected with the fact that we can have different views on what is happening. Frankl emphasized that the absence of meaning in life, or the inability to implement it leads to neurosis; a person who does not have a meaning experiences a state of existential frustration. Neuroses often arise when a person realizes the emptiness of his/her life, the emptiness of existence. The reason for such widespread phenomena as depression, delinquency, alcoholism, drug addiction, aggression, moral sin, is the lack of a meaning in life (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1964).
Explanation of my profession choice according to humanistic approach
According to Rogers' concept, my choice of nursing profession can be explained by the fact that, firstly, I tend to the own development. I want to advance my skills, acquire new knowledge and develop my professionalism. Moreover, since the humanistic psychologists suggest that human nature is good, my choice of profession can be explained by the fact that one of my innate needs is doing good things and helping others.
According to the theory of Maslow, my choice of profession may be associated with motives and needs such as the need for self-esteem, need for affiliation and need for self-actualization.
As I think, nursing can give me a sense of belonging, because this profession is associated with constant communication and interaction with other people. Being a nurse, I can feel that I am part of a particular social group; I can feel that other people need me.
Also, nursing can bring me a sense of high self-esteem. If I improve my professional skills, extend my knowledge, and can help other people, do something useful and good for them, I will feel my competence and will experience high self-esteem.
According to V. Frankl` theory, I chose to be a nurse because of my searching for meaning. I see the meaning in helping other people to manage their health problems, to support them when they experience psychological problems associated with their health. I think that I see the sense because of my attitudes toward the profession of nursing. For example, I free to perceive nursing as a creative or boring work; I can have different attitudes toward people with whom I will work. I also can suffer because I had not become a famous actress or singer, but chose nursing. But if I perceive the professional direction which I chose as a significant occupation of work with people, I will find the meaning in this profession.
References
McLeod, S. A. (2015). Humanism. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/humanistic.html
McLeod, S. A. (2014). Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
Ventegodt, S., Merrick, J., & Andersen, N. J. (2003). Quality of life theory III. Maslow revisited. The scientific world journal, 3, 1050-1057.
Patterson, T. G., & Joseph, S. (2007). Person-centered personality theory: Support from self-determination theory and positive psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 47(1), 117-139.
McLeod, S. A. (2014). Carl Rogers. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/carl-rogers.html
Crumbaugh, J. C., & Maholick, L. T. (1964). An experimental study in existentialism: The psychometric approach to Frankl's concept of noogenic neurosis. Journal of clinical psychology, 20(2), 200-207.
Greenstein, M., & Breitbart, W. (2000). Cancer and the experience of meaning: a group psychotherapy program for people with cancer. American journal of psychotherapy, 54(4), 486.
Längle, A., & Sykes, B. M. (2006). Viktor Frankl—Advocate for humanity: On his 100th birthday. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 46(1), 36-47.
