Humanistic Approach - Self & Personality | Class 12 Psychology Chapter 2

Humanistic Approach to Self and Personality

The lesson introduces the humanistic approach to personality, associated especially with Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. This perspective emphasizes people’s capacity for growth, personal choice, and realizing their potential.

Main Ideas

• Growth and fulfillment: Rogers described the fully functioning person as someone motivated by fulfillment and personal development. People have abilities and potential they can work to bring into reality.
• Goal-directed behavior: Human behavior is generally directed toward goals people consider worthwhile. The lesson also emphasizes adaptive behavior and continued personal growth.
• Real self and ideal self:
  • The real self is how a person understands who they are in reality.
  • The ideal self is the person they would like to become.
  • When the two are reasonably aligned—a state the lesson calls congruence—a person is more likely to feel satisfied. A gap between them can contribute to dissatisfaction.
• Self-concept and self-esteem: Experiences can confirm or challenge a person’s view of themselves. The lesson says that people with positive self-concepts and self-esteem may be more flexible and open to new experiences, supporting further growth.
• Self-actualization: Both Rogers and Maslow are linked to the idea of developing one’s capacities. Maslow’s account, as presented in the lesson, describes self-actualization as realizing one’s potential and pursuing meaningful, creative activity.
• Needs and motivation: The lesson refers to Maslow’s discussion of motivation: an unmet need can prompt action, and satisfying it can make room for another need. It distinguishes basic survival-related needs from higher concerns such as self-esteem and self-actualization.
• Personality develops over time: Self-understanding and personality continue to change through experience, learning, and self-evaluation.

Rogers’ Client-Centered Approach

The lesson connects Rogers’ ideas to his work with clients:

• Listen carefully to clients and take their experiences seriously.
• Seek to understand their feelings, needs, and perspectives.
• Offer acceptance and a supportive atmosphere, described as unconditional positive regard.
• Help clients explore their real and ideal selves and move toward greater congruence and growth.

The teacher’s examples contrast a person’s aspirations with their current reality. They also illustrate how actions that conflict with stated beliefs may reflect a mismatch between a person’s self-understanding and behavior.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Saloni Pandey — Psychology educator and lecturer.
• Carl Rogers — Discussed as a central contributor to the humanistic approach, the concepts of self, and client-centered therapy.
• Abraham Maslow — Discussed in connection with motivation and self-actualization.
• Sigmund Freud — Mentioned as a contrast to the humanistic theories.