Humanistic And Existential Personality Theories

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Humanistic and Existential Personality Theories Matrix Psychodynamic theories began to lose their popularity in the 1950’s. Therapists began raising concerns with the limitations of the theory, especially psychoanalysis (The Humanistic Approach, n.d.). Instead of fixing the issues within the psychodynamic theory, individuals such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers created a new approach. Humanistic and Existential theories focus more on human growth and the value of life. This paper seeks to define the effect humanistic and existential theories have on personality as well as interpersonal relationships. Humanistic and Existential Theories Affect on Personality Humanistic theories of personality believe that all humans are good. This theory also stresses the importance to achieve an individual’s full potential. The focus of the humanistic theory is on the self, which translates into "YOU", and "your" perception of "your" experiences. Abraham Maslow’s introduced the hierarchy of needs that emphasizes the importance of self-actualization. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is commonly described as a pyramid. The bottom level of the pyramid contains an individual’s basic needs, while the more complex needs of an individual are located at the top of the pyramid. The needs at the bottom are physical requirements such as the need for food, water, sleep and warmth (Cherry, 2010). Once the needs have been fulfilled or achieved, people are then able to move to the next level. Maslow believed that these needs are similar to instincts and play a major role in motivating behavior (Cherry, 2010). Existentialism uses a philosophical approach which is called phenomenology. Phenomena are the contents of consciousness within an individual which are, the things, qualities, relationships, acts, memories, feelings, thoughts, fantasies, images, events, and so on, which we experience in our
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