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HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY
by Dr. ALEC GILL MBE

CARL ROGERS (1950s)

UNDERLYING (OPTIMISTIC) ASSUMPTIONS

1. HUMAN KINDNESS: HUMAN NATURE IS BASICALLY GOOD AND POSITIVE (not Evil). What do you think?

2. THE SELF AND OTHERS: THE INDIVIDUAL'S 'SELF' DEVELOPS ONLY BY INTERACTING WITH OTHERS. Have you thought about 'The Self' - what has shaped your 'self'?

3. FULFILMENT (ACTUALISATION): HUMANS WANT PERSONAL FULFILMENT + CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS. What do you find fulfilling in your life?

4. SUBJECTIVE AWARENESS: BEHAVIOUR IS CONSISTENT WITH THE IMAGE WE HAVE OF OURSELVES AND THE WORLD. "We see the world not as it is, but as we are". Do you?

5. EMPATHY: OTHER PEOPLE CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD WHEN YOU KNOW HOW THEY VIEW THE WORLD. In order to be client-centred a Humanist needs to be truly empathetic with their view of the world (their outlook).

6. WHOLE PERSON: THIS APPROACH DOES NOT LOOK AT PARTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT THE WHOLE PERSON. Very difficult stand to adopt - but more realistic than the reductionist approach (of the other four schools outlined here).

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