Personality
Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality
The origins of the unique personality that gives each of us our constant behaviors and traits is a complex issue. The two prevailing theories on personality are biological and humanistic. Both of these theories have supporters and opponents, each for different reasons. The humanistic approach only considers the present and does not consider the past or what will happen in the future. The humanistic approach places greater emphasis on the feelings of self-value. The biological approach places greater emphasis on the thoughts than the feelings (Ford, 2011). The biological approach relies on genetics rather than experience as the basis of personality. This extreme view is one of the key reasons cited by opponents of the biological approach. Eysenck represents one of the key proponents of the biological theory supporters. His theory is based on the infrequency with which personality traits change (Ford, 2011).
Maslow proposed that there are five major categories of individual needs and that their ability to meet each level of these needs has an effect on the person's personality. The first level includes physiological needs such as air, food, water, protein, salt, sugar, calcium, and other important condition necessary to sustain life (Boeree, 2006). These are the most basic needs and if these are not met, an individual will be on a survival instinct mode. The second category of needs is safety and security. A person who lacks in this area may have a strong desire for structure, order, and limits (Boeree, 2006). They may also have a lack of confidence and motivation.
Safety and security can come in the form of the ability to meet one's daily needs. It can come in the form of having enough financial security to meet one's needs. My personal experience included a high sense of security in the ability to meet my most basic needs. I have a need for a sense of structure and order. I tend to keep schedules and attempt to remain in control of my schedule. I also like to have everything in its place and a place for everything. This does not come from a sense of a lack of security that was missing in my childhood, but these things provide security in my adult life none the less.
The third category in Maslow's hierarch of needs is a sense of belonging and love. These needs extend into wide circle. They include the need for children, friends, affectionate relationships, and a sense of community. When these needs are not met, the person may develop loneliness and social anxieties (Boeree, 2006). Growing up, I was lucky to have a family who provided me a strong sense of belonging. However, I can also recall times in my life when I did not have this sense of belonging. For instance, our family had to move frequently during my Junior High and High School Years. Every time we had to move, I was left having to start over with developing a new circle of friends and I had to develop a new sense of belonging and community.
During these times when my sense of belonging outside of the family were not being met, I found comfort in familiar family rituals and customs. My family was always my family regardless of where we moved. My family gave me a sense of familiarity. They seemed like a base from which to build. Eventually, I made new friends in the new community. I became more comfortable and began to feel a sense of belonging. I found that it was easy to make friends and even though my sense of belonging was interrupted for a time and I had a sense of being "uprooted," after the first few times I lost fear of the unknown. I gained confidence in my ability to regain my sense of community and to make new friends. My family was the only constant in my life and it was this sense of belonging that drove all of the...
Personality Approaches Biological Humanistic Approaches HUMAN PERSONALITY Humanistic and Biological Approaches of Human Personality Basic Aspects of Humanistic Theory Incompatible with Biological Explanations of Personality The purpose of writing this essay is to analyze the two approaches of personality; humanistic approach and biological approach. These two approaches are opposite to each other; since humanistic approach allows free will and gives an optimistic view of personality while the biological approach is deterministic. Due to being pessimistic
biological humanistic approaches personality. The paper cover areas. *Use Maslow's hierarchy discuss extent growth influence personality formation. *Describe biological factors influence formation personality. Biological and humanistic approaches to personality: An overview of the debate Biological theories have become increasingly popular in the field of psychology, as scientists seek to understand the roots of human behavior. Several reasons are at the heart of this shift in emphasis from 'nurture' to 'nature': the first
Biological & Humanistic Approach to Personality Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs follows two distinct categories: deficiency motive, which include needs that must be fulfilled in order to move a person towards self-actualization (Burger, 2008). An example of deficiency needs would be basic needs like hunger or being safe. The second category is growth needs, which include a person progressing towards their unique potential, as well as giving love in an unselfish
Personality Psychological Perspectives in Psychology: individual and social environment influences In the field of psychology, the study of personality is essential, allowing the psychologist to understand the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of the individual. Understanding personality is significant to psychological studies because it is through this aspect that one determines the kind of individual the person is, what are the likely actions and behavior that s/he will adapt to when confronted in
Erik Erikson postulated that personality is a progress through a number of stages and facing conflicts in the course of progression and the in order to pass through a process, the individual has to overcome these conflicts. These internal conflicts therefore aroused defense mechanisms that thereafter dictated the personality of an individual (Kendra, 2010). Humanistic approach Humanistic approach emphasizes the individual worth and the centrality of the value of a person. It
Humanistic Theory and Its Position Among Other Counseling Theories Humanistic Theory The obvious limitations associated with the Psychodynamic theories led to the adoption of the humanistic approach as a response to these limitations, especially in Psychoanalysis. People like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers felt that the psychodynamic theories that were still in existence were unable to address certain important issues such as the nature of healthy growth and the meaning of behavior
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now