Humanistic Psychology

Definition

Humanistic psychology is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the inherent goodness of people and their natural tendency toward self-actualization. It focuses on individual experiences and personal growth, often highlighting the importance of free will, creativity, and human potential. This perspective contrasts with more deterministic theories and aligns closely with the needs and motivations of characters, making it essential for creating authentic psychological profiles in storytelling.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Humanistic psychology emerged in the 1950s as a response to behaviorism and psychoanalysis, emphasizing subjective experiences and personal meaning.
2. Key figures in humanistic psychology include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, who developed influential theories on personality and motivation.
3. The approach prioritizes understanding individuals holistically, considering emotions, thoughts, and social context when analyzing behavior.
4. In character development, humanistic psychology helps writers create multi-dimensional characters who experience growth and change based on their values and experiences.
5. Humanistic psychologists believe that every person has the potential for personal growth and fulfillment, which can be mirrored in character arcs.

Review Questions

• How does humanistic psychology inform the psychological profiling of characters?
  • Humanistic psychology helps in character profiling by focusing on individual experiences, motivations, and the potential for personal growth. It encourages writers to create characters that are not just defined by their struggles or background but also by their aspirations and inherent goodness. This approach allows for richer character development, as it reflects how individuals can overcome challenges to achieve self-actualization.
• In what ways can Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs be applied to develop characters' motivations in storytelling?
  • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs provides a framework for understanding character motivations based on their unmet needs. Writers can use this hierarchy to show how characters strive to fulfill basic needs such as safety or belonging before seeking higher-level goals like self-actualization. By mapping out a character's journey through these levels, writers can create compelling arcs that resonate with audiences on an emotional level.
• Evaluate the impact of empathy within humanistic psychology on character interactions in film narratives.
  • Empathy plays a crucial role in humanistic psychology by fostering understanding and connection between individuals. In film narratives, when characters exhibit empathy towards one another, it enriches their interactions and enhances emotional depth. This can lead to transformative experiences where characters support each other's growth, ultimately reflecting the core principles of humanistic psychology that emphasize shared human experience and the potential for positive change.

Related terms

Self-Actualization: The process of realizing one's full potential and becoming the best version of oneself, often seen as the ultimate goal of humanistic psychology.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: A theory that categorizes human needs into a hierarchy, suggesting that higher-level needs like self-actualization can only be pursued after basic needs are met.

Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, which is fundamental in humanistic psychology for building meaningful relationships.