The+Humanistic+Perspective



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 * Humanistic Psychology  **======

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Humanistic Psychology, also known as the "Third Force," began forming in the 1950s. Until this time, Behaviorism and Psychoanalysis, "The First and Second Force," dominated the field of psychology. Humanistics believed that neither of the other two perspectives dealt with humans as unique individuals, nor did they deal with the actual problems of humans. They knew that the new school would have to offer a fuller concept of what it means to be human. Humanistic Psychology held many of the same beliefs as the Greeks, Hebrews, and Renaissance Europeans such as Self-actualization, self-determination, and growth as an individual. ===== = = = = 


 * Carl Rogers **

==== Carl Rogers was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1902. He gained B.A. in 1912, from the University of Wisconsin. Rogers received a M.A. from Columbia University in 1928 and he received a Ph.D. from Columbia in 1931. From 1940-1945, Rogers worked as a professor at Ohio State University. In 1945, he transferred to the University of Chicago where he worked as a professor of psychology. He also served as the executive secretary in the Counseling Center.  Carl Rogers is thought to be the founder of client-centered therapy. He dedicated his life to the study of humanistic psychology and personal development. He started the idea of humanistic psychology while he was working with abused children. Rogers wanted to change the world's view of psychotherapy by challenging psychoanalytic, behavioral, and experimental therapists. He believed that their theories of treatments were not allowing the patient to reach his or her full potential of self-growth. He thought that allowing a patient to discover the right solution on his or her own was the best form of therapy. Rogers is well known for his emphasis on personal awareness and on his belief in the patient finding his own treatment. He authored well over a hundred publications on his views of personal development. He also received several awards and recognitions in the field of psychology. He passed away from a heart attack in 1987. ==== = = = = =Abraham Maslow = = =

Biography
.Abraham Maslow was born April 1, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the first of seven in an uneducated Jewish family from Russia. Abraham Maslow first began studying law at the City College of New York and transferred to Cornell after three semesters. He eventually went back to the City College of New York. Maslow married his first cousin, Bertha Goodman, and they had two daughters. They moved to Wisconsin so Abraham could attend the University of Wisconsin where he became fascinated in psychology. He worked with Harry Harlow who is famous for his use of baby rhesus monkeys and attachment behavior. Maslow achieved his BA in 1930, MA in 1931, and PhD in 1934 all in psychology. One year after his graduation, he moved back to New York to work with E. L. Thorndike at Columbia University. Maslow started working teaching full time at the Brooklyn College where he met many European intellectuals immigrating to the United States. From 1951-1969, he served as the chair of the psychology department at Brandeis. While serving, Maslow met Kurt Goldstein who originated the idea of self-actualization in Maslow's famous book, //The Organism.// It was here where he started on the path of humanistic psychology. Maslow died on June 8, 1970 in a semi-retirement home after a heart attack.

=Mental Health =

Psychologists in the mental health field are urged to study the humanistic perspective. It has had significant influence on psychotherapy. Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy, a crucial mental health contribution from the humanistic perspective. Client-centered therapy concentrates on the client's subjective feeling of himself and his environment. Rogers believed that the client should direct the therapy session and not be lead by the therapist. According to Rogers, the therapist should be genuine, positive, and understanding in order to produce the conditions for a change.

**Client-Centered Therapy**

Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy. It is a non-directive approach to therapy, which means the patient has full control over where the session leads. The psychologist does not evaluate and ask questions. The main belief of client-centered psychology is that people have the tendency to move towards growth and healing and are able to figure out their own answers. The therapist must be patient and willing to listen and learn <span style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; BACKGROUND: aqua; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-highlight: aqua; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">.