Humanistic and Existential Theories

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Humanistic and Existential Personality Theories Humanistic and existential personality theories originated in the first half of the 20th century with its main contributors as Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, and Rollo May (Beneckson,). The humanistic and existential personality theories suggest that personality is not affected by genetics or external influences but rather on what a person chooses to generate from an internal force that is achieved by having a true understanding of what makes up a person. A person who can understand himself has the internal advantage of developing a healthy personality. When a person can avoid all negative influences such as family, society, school or work environment he or she has developed self-actualization and this is what humanistic personality theorists suggest is needed for an individual to have a healthy personality. Maslow believed that if all hierarchy needs are met a person will have a healthy personality. If a person is stuck on one of the lower levels of needs as a result the person will be trapped in that level and become dominated by the needs of that level until the need is successfully met (Beneckson, ). If a person cannot move past the hierarchy level of belongingness and love then the person will constantly be searching for someone to love until the need is met. Once the need has been successfully met the person can go on to meet the rest of the hierarchy needs. Rogers felt similar to Maslow’s belief in connection to a person having a positive self-regard this means to price or value one’s self (Feist & Feist, 2009, chap 11). In order for a person to have a positive self-regard one must first feel positive about himself and a person cannot feel positive until his self-esteem needs are met. Like Maslow, Rogers thought that once a person is confident in who he is then he will “no longer require a replenishing

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