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Spirituality And Humanistic Psychology Individual Essay

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Question 1The individual’s experience and the personal construction of meaning are central to humanistic psychology. Theorists like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow initially promoted this humanistic view of psychology, which was contrary to the prevailing tenets of behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Instead of focusing on past experiences and environmental variables, Rogers and Maslow focused on the person’s perceptions and intrinsic motivations (“What is Humanistic Psychology?” n.d.). Moreover, early theorists also negated the importance of experimental studies and other applications of the scientific method to psychological inquiry because these methods have a way of dehumanizing and devaluing personal experience (McLeod, 2015). Theorists like Rogers and Maslow found was more useful to apply qualitative methods that would allow the person to open up and share their thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and perceptions. Thus, the therapist and the client work together to discover ways of finding meaning in life experiences.

Carl Rogers promoted the value of unconditional positive regard within the therapeutic relationship. In fact, Rogers also believed that all satisfying human relationships are based on unconditional positive regard (McLeod, 2014). There are no external or absolute definitions of unconditional positive regard; rather, Rogers understood that each person would perceive their relationships and interactions with others differently. Likewise, Rogers as well...

Self-actualization is not just the goal of therapy but arguably the goal of the individual’s life, from the humanistic point of view. Maslow developed the needs hierarchy to frame the concept of self-actualization, showing how individuals at different stages of their life and personal development will have different goals and needs. Both Maslow and Rogers stressed the relativism of individual needs. Rather than assume that there are universal norms, drives, and desires, humanistic psychologists allow great leeway for individualism and personal self-expression.
References

McLeod, S. (2014). Carl Rogers. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/carl-rogers.html

McLeod, S. (2015). Humanism. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/humanistic.html

“What is Humanistic Psychology?” (n.d.). http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/HUMAN/WHAT.HTML

Question 2

The search for meaning in life is often framed in terms of spirituality or religion. As “fuzzy” as these worldviews may be, spirituality and religion do promote the goals of humanistic psychology including the search for meaning and the seeking of self-actualization (Bregman, 2006, p. 5). Finding meaning in life often entails a confrontation with death and mortality. Religions like Christianity have highly developed systems of thought…

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