The Third Force and Maslow
Humanistic Psychology emerged in the 1950s as a "Third Force" against Behaviorism (treating people as stimulus-response machines) and Psychoanalysis (focusing on unconscious conflict). It emphasizes human growth, free will, and inherent goodness.
Abraham Maslow proposed the Hierarchy of Needs, a five-tier pyramid: physiological needs at the base, followed by safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization at the summit (fulfilling one's unique potential).
| Figure | Central Contribution |
|---|---|
| Maslow | Hierarchy of needs, self-actualization |
| Rogers | Unconditional positive regard, congruence |
Common pitfall: Treating Maslow's pyramid as a rigid staircase. People often pursue higher needs like esteem or creativity even when lower physiological or safety needs are unmet.
Rogers and Person-Centered Growth
Carl Rogers developed Person-Centered Therapy, asserting that growth requires unconditional positive regard (total acceptance regardless of behavior), genuineness, and empathy.
Psychological distress stems from incongruence, a mismatch between your self-concept (beliefs about who you are) and your ideal self (the person you wish to be).
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Self-concept | Organized beliefs and perceptions about oneself |
| Ideal self | The person one wishes or strives to be |
| Incongruence | A painful mismatch between self-concept and ideal self |
Growth happens when supportive environments bridge the gap between actual experience and self-perception.