HUMANISTIC APPROACH

     On the Humanistic Approach,it is stated that you must understand the person in order to understand his behavior. This is the phenomenological viewpoint in the humanistic approach. All of our actions are based on our choices. Our actions are also fueled with determinism. There are reasons for our behavior. A person has "free will", he can choose how he will act. Knowing the meaning of a word is an essential factor in choosing our actions. 

     Carl Rogers is a very popular humanistic theorist who developed ideas about personality and therapy. In client-centered therapy, it is the client who can help himself. The therapist is the one who facilitates or helps the client in this therapy. Organism and actualizing tendency must be co-existing because there is no sense in existing without growth and development.  For example, a human may be born as an infant but he will eventually grow and develop into an adult. 

     Phenomenological field is how we perceive the world. People may say that the world is only a big playground and for others it can be a jungle. Our experiences can alter our perception of the world. We intend to idolize someone who we think is the ideal self. Some Particular commercials on television shows congruence, they use celebrities to endorse their products. In contrast, we feel incongruence when we fail to match ourselves with the ideal self.

     Example of would-should dilemma: A young woman choosing between marrying and studying to help her family. She wants to get married but feels that she should first serve her family before doing so.

     Example of unconditional positive regard: the father's love for the prodigal son.