Humanism

Question 1

what is the humanistic psychology based on, and what does it suggest?

Answer 1

• the philosophy of humanism
  –> understanding humans is extremely different from understanding scientific phenomena, and should therefore be approached differently

Question 2

what is the fundamental difference between scientific phenomena and humans, acc to humanistic psychs?

Answer 2

that we have awareness and consciousness

Question 3

what is phenomenology?

Answer 3

a person’s conscious experience of the world

Question 4

what is at the heart of free will, goals, imagination, etc

Answer 4

self-awareness

Question 5

what is a pro of phenomenology

Answer 5

• offers a holistic way of understanding humans

Question 6

what does phenomenology suggest?

Answer 6

that we should focus more on HOW we see the world rather than how the world actually is
–> one’s conscious experience is more important than real life

Question 7

what is construal

Answer 7

the unique way in which a person sees and experiences the world, about specific things
–> forms the basis of how we live out lifes, how we perceive the world etc
–> differs greatly

Question 8

pointedly, what is humanistic psychology

Answer 8

it is psychology’s job to study how people differ in perceiving, understanding and experiencing reality

Question 9

who founded the first lab for psych research? what did he pave?

Answer 9

William Wundt
–> paved the way for psych as a research filed
–> LOVEDD introspection as a research method

Question 10

what is introspection

Answer 10

observing one’s own perceptions and though processes

Question 11

who believed that one’s cognitive systems integrate various construals into an individually held theory of how the world works?

Answer 11

George Kelley
–> believed this was the CORE of personality

Question 12

how are personal construals formed

Answer 12

informed by CHOSEN interpretations of past expereinces
–> which further helps us determine how new experiences are construed

Question 13

what is constructive alternativism? what does it showcase?

Answer 13

=the same lived experience can be constructed very differently between people
—> Kelley’s beliefs

Question 14

what are the main 2 ways of life, regarding personal construal differences?

Answer 14

• maximizers
• satisfacers

Question 15

what are maximizers

Answer 15

people who believe that one should always seek to get as much as one possibly can

Question 16

what are satisfacers

Answer 16

people who believe that one should seek to achieve an outcome that is good enough
–> and will work exactly as hard as they need to get there

Question 17

is ur main way of life stable?

Answer 17

yes, considered to be fairly stable but could change after being informed by many experiences

Question 18

how is ur main way of life established?

Answer 18

through experiences

Question 19

name 3 life outcomes for maximizers vs satisfacers

Answer 19

• satisfacers tend to be happier, more optimistic an dhave a higher life satisfaction
• maximizers might have more but tend to be less happy
• maximizers easily fall prey to perfectionism, depression and regret

Question 20

which 2 psychologists started to develop optimistic humanism, and when?

Answer 20

• Carl Rogers
• Abraham Maslow
  1940s

Question 21

what are the 3 main assumptions? where were the first 2 borrowed from?

Answer 21

1. Phenomenology is central
2. People have free will
   (BOTH FROM EXISTENTIAL PHILOSOPHY)
3. In their nature, humans are good

Question 22

who developed the self-actualization theory, and what does it state?

Answer 22

Rogers
–> Humans have a basic, intrinsic heed to strive towards self-actualization
It is our ultimate goals and endgame

Question 23

what is self-actualization

Answer 23

=maintaining and enhancing one’s experience of life. Achieving the full realization of one’s creative, intellectual and social potential

Question 24

who developed the hierarchy of needs theory, and what does it state?

Answer 24

Maslow
–> Shared the basic assumption of self-actualization as an ultimate motive but considered our other basic needs, ordered them in a hierarchy

Question 25

how does the hierarchy of needs work?

Answer 25

--> structure of human motivation Lower-level needs (food, shelter etc) must be met first Need for self=actualization is only active when other needs are met

Question 26

what are the 5 conditions to be a fully functioning person, acc to Rogers and Maslow?

Answer 26

1. You must be clearly aware of reality and of oneself 2. Comfortable in their skin 3. Perceive the world accurately, without fear, self-doubt and neurotic distortion 4. Be free of conditions of worth 5. Live a life that is rich in emotion, self-discovery, empathy, trust, creativity and open-mindedness

Question 27

what are conditions of worth

Answer 27

=only thinking that people will only value you if you meet certain standards of perception

Question 28

what is positive psychology?

Answer 28

a recent (1990s) shift in how we view psychology --> for most of its history, it has focused on psychopathology and malfunction --> but we should also focus on positive and optimal functioning

Question 29

what are virtues

Answer 29

uniformly positive character traits and strengths that we may have or may strive for

Question 30

what are the 6 core virtues as identified by positive psychology? how were they found?

Answer 30

- courage - justice - humanity - temperance - wisdom - transcendence --> found by going through scripture, tradition, religions etc

Question 31

why these virtues

Answer 31

- they may help our species survive (evolutionary lens) - may come at a cost to the individual but ultimately help us as a whole, as each virtue may solve crucial survival problems (eg, Justice prevents anarchy and chaos)