PSY405 Notes Lecture 20

What is the Humanistic View?

• people have free choice
• people want to grow and improve
• life has meaning and purpose

It focuses on positive sides of life rather than problems only.

Important terms

Free choice

Ability to decide for yourself instead of being controlled by others or instincts.

Personal growth

Improving yourself mentally, emotionally, socially, and morally over time.

Abnormality

Psychological problems like unhealthy thinking, behavior, or emotions.

Humanistic explanation of abnormal behavior

Humanistic psychologists say: problems come when people avoid taking responsibility for their actions and thoughts

• society sometimes pushes people in unhealthy directions
• humans are not born bad

Example: If a person keeps blaming others for anger issues, never accepts their mistakes, and refuses to change, humanistic psychologists say the problem is lack of responsibility, not evil nature.

Is Maslow a humanistic psychologist?

Yes. Abraham Maslow is one of the main humanistic psychologists. He created the Hierarchy of Needs.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow said humans have different levels of needs. They are arranged like steps of a pyramid. Lower needs must be met first, then higher ones appear. From bottom to top:

1. physiological needs
2. safety needs
3. love and belongingness
4. self esteem
5. self actualization

Meaning of each term with examples

Physiological needs

Basic survival needs Food, water, sleep, oxygen Example A hungry student will think about food more than exams.

Safety needs

Feeling safe and protected House, job security, protection from danger Example A person in war worries about safety before education.

Love and belongingness

Need for relationships Family, friends, acceptance, affection Example A student may feel lonely without friends even if grades are good.

Self esteem needs

Feeling respected and confident Achievement, recognition, success Example Winning a medal increases confidence.

Reaching full potential Becoming the best version of yourself Example Quaid e Azam, Dr Abdul Salam, Javed Miandad reached very high potential. Maslow said: Many people stay at lower levels. Very few reach self actualization.

Why can’t everyone become self actualized?

Because basic needs are hard to fulfill for many people

• some people face poverty, stress, or lack of education
• some lose confidence
• some stop trying
• society sometimes blocks growth