Humanistic Psychology Study

The main focus of Humanistic psychology study istasks and activities
based on conscious consciousness, moralswhenever possible and helping them to set
and theoretical thinking. These include the spiritualrealistic goals for
experiences and thethemselves. It is important to have students
beliefs that people live by. Emerging in the 1950'sparticipating in group
and 1960's,work, in order to develop social and affective
humanism is about rewarding yourself, and placesskills. Teachers need
great importance onto act more as facilitators in the classroom and
the individual and their own individuality.available when
Personality depends onappropriate and they need to be role models
what people believe and how they perceive theconstantly working on
world and a major factorthemselves to become better people. This is
in this learning theory is that people are seen asoften known as 'Open
freely exercisingeducation'.The humanistic curriculum is based on
choice over how to behave. They are theestablishing productive social
architects of their own livesand working relationships with others. It is a part
and 'personal agents' in their own psychologicalof everything the
growth.There are many objectives of thechild does within the school setting. The
humanistic view of education, asexpectations and
described by Gage and Berliner. These include aconsequences are age appropriate. Just as the
promotion ofacademic curriculum
positive self-direction and independence, the abilityresponds to the developing cognitive skills of the
to takechildren so too
responsibility for what is learned, an emphasis ondoes the social curriculum. It encourages growth
student centeredin responsibility,
teaching, and the development of social skills andindependence and decision making. Children are
respect forallowed and actually
students feelings and aspirations, thus allowingencouraged to make choices and accept the
them the right toconsequences for their
self-determination. Feelings are as important asactions, and mistakes are treated as
facts and the currentopportunities for learning. The
and future welfare of students is foremost. Inchildren learn to care about themselves and
order to develop theseothers and to value the
objectives certain principles must be in place.quality of their work. By placing emphasis on the
Students will learnpositive, a
best what they want and need to know. Selfclassroom environment is created whereby
directed learning increaseschildren are encouraged and
knowledge. Rogers says that self directedbecome self-reliant. They care about doing their
learning in schools increases curiosity, encouragesbest and value the
students to take responsibility for their ownquality of their work. The emphasis is on
development and promotes personal andco-operation and not
academic growth. However, knowing how tocompetition and this has a positive effect on
learn is more important thanclassroom behavior
acquiring a lot of knowledge and self-evaluation iswhilst also improving academic learning. Skills such
the onlyas listening,
meaningful judgment of a student's work. Thedecision making and problem solving all need to
worth and rights ofbe discussed, modeled
individuals needs to be respected and there hasand practiced in order for children to be
to be openness, honesty andsuccessful in their groups.A large commitment of
selflessness in order for trust to betime is required to implement the social
gained.Humanistic psychology is sometimescurriculum. Learningsocial skills and nurturing moral
referred to as the 'Third Force' ingrowth is a developmental process.
psychology. As mentioned earlier, it is often saidThe development of interpersonal skills is also
that this was a backlash against thetaught in order for
Behaviorist emphasis on scientific method, whichchildren to recognize the feelings of others and
was seen as losingdeal with hurt and
sight of the human being. Scientific method ismisunderstanding through the use of language.
largely inappropriateOpportunities are
for studying human experience, or at least, itprovided for children to develop and to be taught
does not go far enough.listening,
As the name suggests, Humanistic psychologycommunication and leadership skills and
focuses on the subjectiveopportunities are provided for
experience of living rather than observableteamwork. Children are assisted to become
behavior.There are a number of theories, whichconscious of their own
qualify as being Humanistic, twofeelings and they are helped to develop a
of the best known being those of Carl Rogersvocabulary with which to
and Abrahamexpress these feelings. This then has the effect
Maslow. Rogers became probably the mostof making them become
influential of humanistic psychologists. He said thatself-confident, focused and independent.The
human nature is basically good and that peopleMontessori school uses humanistic learning theories
have a natural drive towardsto teach
Self-Actualization, meaning the achievement ofpupils, promoting knowledge, beauty and
their full potential.fulfillment.Dr Maria Montessori was the founder of
This is the fundamental incentive behind thethese schools and many of her
development ofideas have now been adapted into 'mainstream'
personality.To promote human welfare, Rogerseducation. The
maintains that people should relateMontessori school was founded in 1965 and its
to one another with an 'unconditional positiveeducation encourages
regard', which is theintellectual, social, physical, creative and moral
complete acceptance of another person as he ordevelopment,
she is, much like thepreparing 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
proposedexposed to methods of
that people have a hierarchy of needs. Theteaching, which promote the development of the
highest of these beingwhole child,
self-actualization.Although we are not fully awarefacilitating the growth of the inner discipline and
of these needs, they are rather likecultivating the
mental vitamins and if we are denied them, wechild's own natural joy in learning. Montessori
can never be fullytakes advantage of
mentally healthy. He observed that if we areeach child's unique sensitivities and offers
lacking in any of theseexercises in language
needs, then difficult behavior is often the result.development, sensorimotor development,
If the needs arereading, mathematics, physical
met, then mentally healthy behavior is theand natural sciences, geography and cultural
outcome. A child learns,studies, music, art,
according to Maslow because he or she isdrama and body movements. These are all
inwardly driven and gainsactivities used in practical
reward from a sense of achievement thatlife. The materials and activities are designed to
learning something difficulthelp the child to
provides. He also said that learning is not an endprogress at their own rate. Young children do not
in itself but thehave to join in on
means to progress towards the height ofgroup activities if they do not wish, as they have
self-development, which hea right to keep
terms 'self actualization'. After the basic needs ofworking at their own exercises. They may also
physical survivalobserve instead of
and safety, Maslow places the needs of belongingjoining in if they wish but must not interfere or
and love. The nextbecome disruptive.
highest group of needs is covered by the termThey are not forced to share with another child
'esteem', and at theif they wish to work
top of the hierarchy is the need forby themselves. As mentioned earlier, many of
self-actualization (man's desirethe 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 isnot without their problems. Children are still
sometimes good and sometimescompelled to attend and
bad. They develop a self-concept, an image ofthere are still rules to abide by. There is little
what they really are, and an ideal self, an imagechoice in the
of what they would like to be.curriculum content, and the sharing of teacher's
The primary focus of humanistic education istime and resources
placed on the developmentwith other students' could cause problems for
of the whole child placing a major emphasis onchildren with differingabilities and experience. Also
the regulatory and thepupils have to put up with an
affective/emotional system. Huitt described thisinstructional tempo that is often either too fast
in his systemsor too slow.Humanistic learning styles are all based
model of human behavior.Humanism concentrateson intrinsic learning
upon the development of the child'sprinciples. Intrinsic learning is learning that fructifies
self-concept. It is important for a child to feelin
good about itself,self-actualization or growing to full humanness.
and this involves them understanding their ownIntrinsic learning is learning to be a person. In
strengths andopposition, must of
weaknesses and having a belief in their ability toclassroom teaching is of the extrinsic variety.
improve. ThePleasing the teacher
humanistic approach states that education isor aiming for certain grades. Once rewards
about creating a needterminate then learning
within the child and instillingceases. In intrinsic learning, learning continues
self-motivation.Because a child's behavior isdespite the presence
continuously being evaluated by parentsor absence of external rewards because growth
and others, sometimes positively and sometimestowards psychological
negatively, he soonhealth and the satisfaction gained from self
learns to distinguish between those thoughts andactualization is an
actions that areintrinsic reward.In concluding, I can only say that
considered good and those that are not. Thethe purpose of humanistic education
poor experiences becomeis to provide a foundation for personal growth
excluded from the self-concept, even thoughand development so that
they may be quite valid orlearning will continue throughout life in a self
natural and the good ones remain.Obviously theredirected mannerI have discussed the theoretical
must be certain restrictions on behavior andapproach of humanism and have
Rogersevaluated its principles, assumptions and methods
suggests that the best approach is for theused for teaching
parents to recognizechild learners. I have brought in the contributions
children's feelings as valid, while explaining anyof two individual
reasons fortheorists, Maslow and Rogers and have discussed
restraint.their work.Rogers developed client centered
With children, a high priority is placed on thetherapy putting the client and
development of theirfacilitator on a more equal footing and Maslow
personal growth and a sense of respect fordeveloped a hierarchy
oneself and other. Theyof needs giving us ideas about personal
need to be are taught to recognize theirgrowth.Humanism for the individual means that we
responsibility to themust accept responsibility
community. A child's growth in these areasfor our own lives and that we should enjoy life
prepares them for continuedto the full in ways
success in future academic, personal and socialthat respect the well being of others.Humanistic
situations.Humanistic schools believe that emotionalpsychology has given us a new, global model of
factors, personal growth andhuman
development are of the highest values. Theybehavior that is refreshingly different from the
argue that these aredominant
ignored in a society, which is unduly materialistic,deterministic approaches of behaviorism and
objective andpsychoanalysis.We can see the self-initiated
mechanistic. Humanistic psychologists believe thatlearning is the most lasting and
society, schoolspervasive. We can also see that significant
and colleges exist to meet the needs of thelearning takes place when
individual learner and notthe subject matter is relevant to the personal
the other way around. They believe that learnersinterests of the
should be allowed tostudent.Humanistic techniques have wide
pursue their own interests and talents in order toapplications after schooling and a
develop themselvesgood, 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 tryfor the future when in the workplace, personal
to learn something for which he sees norelationships and in
relevance' and that learningfurther education. Humanism has helped us to a
should be its own reward. The main principlesbetter understanding of
suggested by humanistic psychologists have beensuch 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 andindependent learners who continue to learn in a
the approaches areself directed manner,
highly dependent on the capabilities of thefollowing their own intrinsic interests growing to
teacher.There are a variety of ways in whichtheir full
teachers can implement thepotential.Mary Anne has been writing for custom
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