| The main focus of Humanistic psychology study is | | | | tasks and activities |
| based on conscious consciousness, morals | | | | whenever possible and helping them to set |
| and theoretical thinking. These include the spiritual | | | | realistic goals for |
| experiences and the | | | | themselves. It is important to have students |
| beliefs that people live by. Emerging in the 1950's | | | | participating in group |
| and 1960's, | | | | work, in order to develop social and affective |
| humanism is about rewarding yourself, and places | | | | skills. Teachers need |
| great importance on | | | | to act more as facilitators in the classroom and |
| the individual and their own individuality. | | | | available when |
| Personality depends on | | | | appropriate and they need to be role models |
| what people believe and how they perceive the | | | | constantly working on |
| world and a major factor | | | | themselves to become better people. This is |
| in this learning theory is that people are seen as | | | | often known as 'Open |
| freely exercising | | | | education'.The humanistic curriculum is based on |
| choice over how to behave. They are the | | | | establishing productive social |
| architects of their own lives | | | | and working relationships with others. It is a part |
| and 'personal agents' in their own psychological | | | | of everything the |
| growth.There are many objectives of the | | | | child does within the school setting. The |
| humanistic view of education, as | | | | expectations and |
| described by Gage and Berliner. These include a | | | | consequences are age appropriate. Just as the |
| promotion of | | | | academic curriculum |
| positive self-direction and independence, the ability | | | | responds to the developing cognitive skills of the |
| to take | | | | children so too |
| responsibility for what is learned, an emphasis on | | | | does the social curriculum. It encourages growth |
| student centered | | | | in responsibility, |
| teaching, and the development of social skills and | | | | independence and decision making. Children are |
| respect for | | | | allowed and actually |
| students feelings and aspirations, thus allowing | | | | encouraged to make choices and accept the |
| them the right to | | | | consequences for their |
| self-determination. Feelings are as important as | | | | actions, and mistakes are treated as |
| facts and the current | | | | opportunities for learning. The |
| and future welfare of students is foremost. In | | | | children learn to care about themselves and |
| order to develop these | | | | others and to value the |
| objectives certain principles must be in place. | | | | quality of their work. By placing emphasis on the |
| Students will learn | | | | positive, a |
| best what they want and need to know. Self | | | | classroom environment is created whereby |
| directed learning increases | | | | children are encouraged and |
| knowledge. Rogers says that self directed | | | | become self-reliant. They care about doing their |
| learning in schools increases curiosity, encourages | | | | best and value the |
| students to take responsibility for their own | | | | quality of their work. The emphasis is on |
| development and promotes personal and | | | | co-operation and not |
| academic growth. However, knowing how to | | | | competition and this has a positive effect on |
| learn is more important than | | | | classroom behavior |
| acquiring a lot of knowledge and self-evaluation is | | | | whilst also improving academic learning. Skills such |
| the only | | | | as listening, |
| meaningful judgment of a student's work. The | | | | decision making and problem solving all need to |
| worth and rights of | | | | be discussed, modeled |
| individuals needs to be respected and there has | | | | and practiced in order for children to be |
| to be openness, honesty and | | | | successful in their groups.A large commitment of |
| selflessness in order for trust to be | | | | time is required to implement the social |
| gained.Humanistic psychology is sometimes | | | | curriculum. Learningsocial skills and nurturing moral |
| referred to as the 'Third Force' in | | | | growth is a developmental process. |
| psychology. As mentioned earlier, it is often said | | | | The development of interpersonal skills is also |
| that this was a backlash against the | | | | taught in order for |
| Behaviorist emphasis on scientific method, which | | | | children to recognize the feelings of others and |
| was seen as losing | | | | deal with hurt and |
| sight of the human being. Scientific method is | | | | misunderstanding through the use of language. |
| largely inappropriate | | | | Opportunities are |
| for studying human experience, or at least, it | | | | provided for children to develop and to be taught |
| does not go far enough. | | | | listening, |
| As the name suggests, Humanistic psychology | | | | communication and leadership skills and |
| focuses on the subjective | | | | opportunities are provided for |
| experience of living rather than observable | | | | teamwork. Children are assisted to become |
| behavior.There are a number of theories, which | | | | conscious of their own |
| qualify as being Humanistic, two | | | | feelings and they are helped to develop a |
| of the best known being those of Carl Rogers | | | | vocabulary with which to |
| and Abraham | | | | express these feelings. This then has the effect |
| Maslow. Rogers became probably the most | | | | of making them become |
| influential of humanistic psychologists. He said that | | | | self-confident, focused and independent.The |
| human nature is basically good and that people | | | | Montessori school uses humanistic learning theories |
| have a natural drive towards | | | | to teach |
| Self-Actualization, meaning the achievement of | | | | pupils, promoting knowledge, beauty and |
| their full potential. | | | | fulfillment.Dr Maria Montessori was the founder of |
| This is the fundamental incentive behind the | | | | these schools and many of her |
| development of | | | | ideas have now been adapted into 'mainstream' |
| personality.To promote human welfare, Rogers | | | | education. The |
| maintains that people should relate | | | | Montessori school was founded in 1965 and its |
| to one another with an 'unconditional positive | | | | education encourages |
| regard', which is the | | | | intellectual, social, physical, creative and moral |
| complete acceptance of another person as he or | | | | development, |
| she is, much like the | | | | preparing students for academic excellence, and |
| love of a parent for a child.Abraham Maslow, | | | | responsible, caring |
| another founder of humanistic psychology, | | | | lives. A child attending these schools will be |
| proposed | | | | exposed to methods of |
| that people have a hierarchy of needs. The | | | | teaching, which promote the development of the |
| highest of these being | | | | whole child, |
| self-actualization.Although we are not fully aware | | | | facilitating the growth of the inner discipline and |
| of these needs, they are rather like | | | | cultivating the |
| mental vitamins and if we are denied them, we | | | | child's own natural joy in learning. Montessori |
| can never be fully | | | | takes advantage of |
| mentally healthy. He observed that if we are | | | | each child's unique sensitivities and offers |
| lacking in any of these | | | | exercises in language |
| needs, then difficult behavior is often the result. | | | | development, sensorimotor development, |
| If the needs are | | | | reading, mathematics, physical |
| met, then mentally healthy behavior is the | | | | and natural sciences, geography and cultural |
| outcome. A child learns, | | | | studies, music, art, |
| according to Maslow because he or she is | | | | drama and body movements. These are all |
| inwardly driven and gains | | | | activities used in practical |
| reward from a sense of achievement that | | | | life. The materials and activities are designed to |
| learning something difficult | | | | help the child to |
| provides. He also said that learning is not an end | | | | progress at their own rate. Young children do not |
| in itself but the | | | | have to join in on |
| means to progress towards the height of | | | | group activities if they do not wish, as they have |
| self-development, which he | | | | a right to keep |
| terms 'self actualization'. After the basic needs of | | | | working at their own exercises. They may also |
| physical survival | | | | observe instead of |
| and safety, Maslow places the needs of belonging | | | | joining in if they wish but must not interfere or |
| and love. The next | | | | become disruptive. |
| highest group of needs is covered by the term | | | | They are not forced to share with another child |
| 'esteem', and at the | | | | if they wish to work |
| top of the hierarchy is the need for | | | | by themselves. As mentioned earlier, many of |
| self-actualization (man's desire | | | | the ideas of Maria |
| for self-fulfillment).Beginning at an early age, | | | | Montessori have been adapted and are used in |
| children evaluate themselves and their own | | | | 'mainstream' schools but |
| actions. They learn that what they do is | | | | not without their problems. Children are still |
| sometimes good and sometimes | | | | compelled to attend and |
| bad. They develop a self-concept, an image of | | | | there are still rules to abide by. There is little |
| what they really are, and an ideal self, an image | | | | choice in the |
| of what they would like to be. | | | | curriculum content, and the sharing of teacher's |
| The primary focus of humanistic education is | | | | time and resources |
| placed on the development | | | | with other students' could cause problems for |
| of the whole child placing a major emphasis on | | | | children with differingabilities and experience. Also |
| the regulatory and the | | | | pupils have to put up with an |
| affective/emotional system. Huitt described this | | | | instructional tempo that is often either too fast |
| in his systems | | | | or too slow.Humanistic learning styles are all based |
| model of human behavior.Humanism concentrates | | | | on intrinsic learning |
| upon the development of the child's | | | | principles. Intrinsic learning is learning that fructifies |
| self-concept. It is important for a child to feel | | | | in |
| good about itself, | | | | self-actualization or growing to full humanness. |
| and this involves them understanding their own | | | | Intrinsic learning is learning to be a person. In |
| strengths and | | | | opposition, must of |
| weaknesses and having a belief in their ability to | | | | classroom teaching is of the extrinsic variety. |
| improve. The | | | | Pleasing the teacher |
| humanistic approach states that education is | | | | or aiming for certain grades. Once rewards |
| about creating a need | | | | terminate then learning |
| within the child and instilling | | | | ceases. In intrinsic learning, learning continues |
| self-motivation.Because a child's behavior is | | | | despite the presence |
| continuously being evaluated by parents | | | | or absence of external rewards because growth |
| and others, sometimes positively and sometimes | | | | towards psychological |
| negatively, he soon | | | | health and the satisfaction gained from self |
| learns to distinguish between those thoughts and | | | | actualization is an |
| actions that are | | | | intrinsic reward.In concluding, I can only say that |
| considered good and those that are not. The | | | | the purpose of humanistic education |
| poor experiences become | | | | is to provide a foundation for personal growth |
| excluded from the self-concept, even though | | | | and development so that |
| they may be quite valid or | | | | learning will continue throughout life in a self |
| natural and the good ones remain.Obviously there | | | | directed mannerI have discussed the theoretical |
| must be certain restrictions on behavior and | | | | approach of humanism and have |
| Rogers | | | | evaluated its principles, assumptions and methods |
| suggests that the best approach is for the | | | | used for teaching |
| parents to recognize | | | | child learners. I have brought in the contributions |
| children's feelings as valid, while explaining any | | | | of two individual |
| reasons for | | | | theorists, Maslow and Rogers and have discussed |
| restraint. | | | | their work.Rogers developed client centered |
| With children, a high priority is placed on the | | | | therapy putting the client and |
| development of their | | | | facilitator on a more equal footing and Maslow |
| personal growth and a sense of respect for | | | | developed a hierarchy |
| oneself and other. They | | | | of needs giving us ideas about personal |
| need to be are taught to recognize their | | | | growth.Humanism for the individual means that we |
| responsibility to the | | | | must accept responsibility |
| community. A child's growth in these areas | | | | for our own lives and that we should enjoy life |
| prepares them for continued | | | | to the full in ways |
| success in future academic, personal and social | | | | that respect the well being of others.Humanistic |
| situations.Humanistic schools believe that emotional | | | | psychology has given us a new, global model of |
| factors, personal growth and | | | | human |
| development are of the highest values. They | | | | behavior that is refreshingly different from the |
| argue that these are | | | | dominant |
| ignored in a society, which is unduly materialistic, | | | | deterministic approaches of behaviorism and |
| objective and | | | | psychoanalysis.We can see the self-initiated |
| mechanistic. Humanistic psychologists believe that | | | | learning is the most lasting and |
| society, schools | | | | pervasive. We can also see that significant |
| and colleges exist to meet the needs of the | | | | learning takes place when |
| individual learner and not | | | | the subject matter is relevant to the personal |
| the other way around. They believe that learners | | | | interests of the |
| should be allowed to | | | | student.Humanistic techniques have wide |
| pursue their own interests and talents in order to | | | | applications after schooling and a |
| develop themselves | | | | good, solid foundation in an educational setting will |
| as fully as possible intheir own unique direction. | | | | provide a basis |
| Rogers said that 'no-one should ever try | | | | for the future when in the workplace, personal |
| to learn something for which he sees no | | | | relationships and in |
| relevance' and that learning | | | | further education. Humanism has helped us to a |
| should be its own reward. The main principles | | | | better understanding of |
| suggested by humanistic psychologists have been | | | | such diverse things as how people experience |
| highly influential, | | | | joy or facedeath, and with children, has developed |
| especially in adult education and training. | | | | self confident, focused and |
| A humanistic teacher aims for good things and | | | | independent learners who continue to learn in a |
| the approaches are | | | | self directed manner, |
| highly dependent on the capabilities of the | | | | following their own intrinsic interests growing to |
| teacher.There are a variety of ways in which | | | | their full |
| teachers can implement the | | | | potential.Mary Anne has been writing for custom |
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