Humanistic Theories

Start with this exercise ….

• You have been stranded on a desert island with your classmates as part of an experiment by the government. You have no hope of rescue and will need to develop your lives on this island with only members of the class to interact with. The island is large and provides you with everything you need to survive.

• Write down at least 10 needs you have to have met to lead productive , happy lives on this island. (Please consider that you to sustain your physical, social and emotional needs. For example you may need the respect of other tribe members to be happy.)

• Now rank those needs in order of importance. Which do you have to fulfill first?

Humanistic Theories1. Fulfilled a theory of how we define a

normal, healthy personality• Provide a basis for “normal” behavior• Very optimistic about human nature2. Personality is driven by needs to adapt,

grow, learn, and excel3. Motivation is seen as a central component

of personality• Mental disorders are a result of low self

esteem

4. Gordon Allport (1897-1967)• Traits: stable characteristics that guide

thoughts and behaviors• Central Traits: Traits that form the basis

of personality (happy, sad, moody)• Secondary Traits:Preferences and attitudes• Cardinal Traits: Personality traits that

define people’s lives; very few individuals have cardinal traits (greed, sadism)

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

5. Mental illness needs to be defined as more than merely the absence of illness

• Sought to find the ingredients of a healthy personality

6. Maslow’s research on Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, and

Einstein• Found that these individuals all1. Had their basic needs met2. Were free to pursue interests in higher

ideals (truth, beauty, justice)3. Acted independently because they did not

have a neurotic need for approval of others

continued7. Self-actualizing personalities: healthy

individuals who have met their basic needs and are free to be creative and fulfill their potentials

SELF ACTUALIZATION NEEDS- fulfillment of unique potentials, cognitive and aesthetic needs

ESTEEM NEEDS- achievement, competence, approval, recognition, prestige, status

LOVE AND BELONGINGNESS NEEDS-love and acceptance through relationships

SAFETY NEEDS- protection, housing, clothing, physical safety, security from crime

PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS- hunger, thirst, elimination, warmth, fatigue, pain, avoidance

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Carl Rogers (1902-1987)• Worked with dysfunctional

people rather than with self-actualizers, but did research healthy personalities as well

8. Fully functioning person: A healthy, self-actualizing individual, that has a self-concept that is both positive and congruent with reality.

Positive and congruent example

9. I believe I am intelligent. I made honor roll this grading period.

Positive and incongruent example

10. I believe I am intelligent (positive self-concept). I failed two classes this grading period.

Phenomenal Field

11. Our psychological reality, composed of one’s perception and feeling.

• Ex: Receiving a C may be a shock to one student and a great achievement to another.

• These reactions are both part of a phenomenal fields

Love and personality

12. Conditional love (dependent love)- anxiety, guilt, low self-esteem, mental disorders

13. Unconditional love (love without conditions attached)- healthy lifestyle and personality

Out innate quest according to Humanists

14. A constructive, guiding force that moves each person towards positive behavior and enhancement of the self

Social Cognitive Theories

Basis of Social Cognitive Theories

• More of a focus on scientific research rather than merely working with individuals

• The tradeoff is that S-C theories are not as comprehensive as other personality theories

• S-C theories zero in on specific influences on behavior and personality without trying to explain everything

Albert Bandura• Observational learning- learning new

responses by watching other’s behaviors

• In other words we figure out what works and what doesn’t work by not having to go through the process ourselves

• Ex: Saying please and thank you, being quiet in libraries, not picking your nose in public

Julian Rotter

• The way we act depends on our personal power or locus of control- an individual’s sense of where his or her life influences originate.

Example

Your grade in Psychology classInternal locus of control- you work hard to

get good grades External locus of control- the teacher is

going to give you whatever grade he or she wants regardless of how much studying you do

Personality traits

• Internal locus of control- better grades, exercises more, watch diet more

• External locus of control- more likely to suffer from depression

Reciprocal Determinism

Cognition Behavior

Behavior