Humanistic Psychology

Humanistic Psychology arose as an alternative to behaviourist and psychoanalytic approaches in the 1960's, in relation to the human potential movement of the counterculture. It developed in conjunction with the existential, phenomenological and transpersonal traditions. Key features are: a valuing of subjective experience and personally derived meaning; the valuing of authenticity as a defining theme in the therapeutic relationship and as a goal of therapy; an appreciation of the body as a necessary focus in considering the whole person; a focus on the conscious capacity to develop goals and purpose through intentionality; a focus on potential rather than just limitations and pathology; an appreciation of the individual as a whole life and of the irreducible interdependence of all life, including nature; the capacity for self transcendence in the exercise of freedom of choice; the necessity for moral, democratic social institutions; an appreciation of the arts, philosophy and spirituality, as well as science, as means for developing human knowledge. Humanistic research values qualitative (as well as quantitative) models and the phenomenological method, where enquiry is conducted in relationship with the subject of enquiry rather than through objectification. Recent developments include critical psychology, derived from critical theory and post modernism. Jim McNamara