Humanistic+Perspective+Notes

= Enhancing Your Understanding of the Humanist Perspective  =

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow are credited with creating the humanist perspective of personality. Review the information on the following websites to learn more the humanist perspective**. Answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper as you go.**

__Neurosis__ – a distressing psychological condition, but one that allows us to continue to think rationally and interact socially. Neurosis is a general term that describes everything from normal psychological disturbances that many of us suffer (test anxiety, fear of speaking in front of a group…) to mental disorders (dysthymia, specific phobias). It is distinct from psychosis (losing touch with reality).


 * Abraham Maslow and the Humanist Perspective** ([|http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/maslow.html])
 * 1) Give three examples of physiological needs.
 * 2) Maslow believed that needs lower on the hierarchy take precedence over those higher. Give an example of how the need for belongingness is more important than the need for esteem.
 * 3) According to Maslow, if your needs in an area are fulfilled, you don’t notice them. Think about your own life. Which of your needs are being fulfilled? Which are currently salient needs for you?
 * 4) What did Maslow believe led to neuroses?
 * 5) How is the need for self-actualization different from the other needs? In other words, why isn’t it a “D-need”?
 * 6) According to Maslow, approximately what percent of people are self-actualizing?
 * 7) Choose three traits that Maslow found to be common is people who are self-actualizing and DESCRIBE them.
 * 8) What are some flaws also found in self-actualizing people?

Once you have read enough to answer these questions, you may move on. There is interesting stuff (particularly in the discussion), but it is not essential.


 * Carl Rogers and the Humanist Perspective** ([|http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/rogers.html])


 * 1) According to Rogers, what is the actualizing tendency?
 * 2) Do you feel that you have an actualizing tendency? What is interfering with you reaching your full potential?
 * 3) How does conditioned positive regard lead to conditioned positive self-regard? Why is this (conditioned positive self-regard) a problem?
 * 4) According to Rogers, what causes to neurosis?
 * 5) Rogerian therapy is “non-directive”. What does this mean?
 * 6) What is “reflection” as it is used in Rogerian therapy? What is the goal of reflection in therapy?
 * 7) Name and describe three traits the therapist must have according to Rogers?

=Client-centered therapy= When you are finished with these questions, see how it feels to be a patient undergoing client-centered therapy. Go to the Myers Companion Site (there is a link on my website).
 * 1) Select Chapter 16: Therapy
 * 2) Select PsychSim Modules
 * 3) Select Computer Therapist
 * 4) Work through the tutorial, following the instructions as you go. I encourage you to be open and to take advantage of the quick “counseling” session. Be honest as nothing you are writing is recorded in any way. While the computer cannot do justice to the client-centered approach, it does allow you to experience it in a safe and easy manner.
 * 5) When you are finished, comment on how well the ELIZA system worked for you. What were the strengths and weakness? Did you gain any insight into what is distressing you? Do you feel better off for having done this assignment? What were the best aspects of this system? The worst? Do you feel that client-centered therapy (like this) would be beneficial if the therapist was a real person instead of a computer?