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Humanistic Approach

Definition

This is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of the whole person and believes individuals have free will. It focuses on human potential and encourages self-exploration rather than studying behavior in response to a stimulus.

Analogy

Imagine you're an artist painting your own life's portrait. You have the freedom to choose your colors (emotions), patterns (behaviors), and scenes (experiences). The humanistic approach views people as artists who actively create their own lives rather than being passive recipients.

Related terms

Self-Actualization: A term used by Abraham Maslow to describe the process by which people achieve their full potential.

Unconditional Positive Regard: A concept developed by Carl Rogers that suggests an attitude of total acceptance towards another person regardless of what they say or do.

Existentialism: A philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. It is closely related to the humanistic approach as it also believes in individual autonomy over behavior.