Humanistic/existential approaches

n Centrality of human experience, responsibility, potential

n humanistic

n existential

n experiential

n phenomenological

Important concepts from Rogers

n actualizing tendency

n fully functioning person

n organismic valuing process (OVP)

n phenomenological reality

More Rogers

n Factors that interfere with optimal functioning

n conditions of worth

n subception

n distortion

n denial

n necessary ingredients for growth:

n genuineness, congruence

n unconditional positive regard

n empathic concern

Maslow

n needs hierarchy

n physiological

n safety

n belongingness/love

n esteem

n self-actualization

n D-needs - deficiency needs

n B-needs - growth or being needs

Strengths/Weaknesses

n Strengths

n Emphasis on positive, resilience, growth

n Influence on therapy

n Influence on education, communication

n Weaknesses

n Difficult to operationalize constructs

n Hard to test empirically

n Subjectivity

n Question generalizability

Existential approaches

w Centrality of human experience, existence

w personal responsibility/choices

w awareness of reality of existence

• need to confront anxiety

• face existential realities

• accept personal responsibility

w Existential angst

• why are we here?

• What should we be doing?

w Sartre said angst is made up of

• anguish

• forelornness

• despair

w existential responsibility

Existential psychologists

w Rollo May

• spent several years in a sanitorium

• anxiety, powerlessness, alienation central to human existence

w Victor Frankl

• imprisoned in concentration camp

• personal choice - finding meaning in suffering

Irvin Yalom

w 4 ultimate concerns

• DEATH

• FREEDOM - Responsibility and authorship of own world.

• From awareness of responsibility stems willing

• ISOLATION - awareness of isolation and desire to merge for protection and comfort

• MEANINGLESSNESS - basic human need to find meaning