Extended summary and notes for History of Psychology
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Course
History Of Psychology
Institution
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RuG)
In this document you may find extended notes on each school of psychology and its most influential authors and their contributions. For better understanding of connections and relations between, the table is coloured, thus influences among authors aro also easier to interpret.
SCHOOL OF MOST KNOWN DEFINITION CONTRIBUTIONS CRITICISM and LIMITATIONS
PSYCHOLOGY
HUMANISTIC C. Rogers Perspective and social movement A. Maslow: Hierarchy of Highly individualistic – result in self-obsession
PSYCHOLOGY A. Maslow Object of study: the human being as a person needs and narcissism
C. Buhler Phenomenological*and holistic (the whole C. Rogers: Person/Client- concepts are too vague subjective ideas (such
person is the focus) approach centered therapy as authentic and real experiences) are
Individual freedom – we are responsible for Unconditional positive difficult to objectify
our own mistakes regard value-oriented conclusions drawn from subjective
Important concept: free-will approach inherently driven experiences are almost impossible to verify
Human qualities: creativity, affectivity, to reach our goal unreliable.
dignity, responsibility Free will involves too much common sense and not
Goal: self-realization Self-concept enough objectivity
Humanistic stance: Humanism is Self-actualization no empirical evidence
a philosophical stance that emphasizes the C. Buhler: Self-fulfilment
value and agency of human beings, Fully-functioning person
individually and collectively. Generally,
humanism refers to a perspective that affirms
some notion of human freedom and
progress. It views humans as solely
responsible for the promotion and
development of individuals and emphasizes a
concern for humans in relation to the world.
*PHENOMENOLOGY: is the study structures of somebody’s experience or consciousness – focus on subjective personal experience
Phenomena: appearances of things
Is subjective with certain intention (I wish, I search, I plan…)
Important: sensory qualities, awareness and perception of things processed by introspection
Experiences can be: perception, thought, imagination, memory, desire, social activity…
Phenomenology is the study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view. The central structure of an experience is its
intentionality, its being directed toward something, as it is an experience of or about some object. An experience is directed toward an object by virtue of its
content or meaning together with appropriate enabling conditions.
, 1. What are the roots of humanistic psychology?
2. About what did C. Bühler wrote?
Charlot Buhler focused on determinants of goal setting that is emotional impact of adequate or inadequate maternal love and care affecting child’s goal setting with
leading concepts of the lifespan: self-fulfilment and self-determination.
3. Maslow’s pyramide. What does it mean?
Maslow’s pyramid hierarchally represents a theory of human motivation, for which certain needs need to be fulfilled and accomplished in ordered to proceed the
next level. Highest level that each can reach is self-fulfilment with self-actualization.
4. What was going on in the 1960s and how are the trends related to humanistic psychology of the time?
In the 1960’s there was a lot of protest and hippie movements with events encouraging people to follow humanistic psychology as people felt alienated, especially
the youth. They were protesting against behaviourism and psychoanalysis, due to their approach of mechanistic determinism, positivism, atomistic analysis and
orthodox psychoanalysis.
5. When did humanistic psychology become a movement and a speciality?
Humanistic psychology became a movement after publication of peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes papers in the field of Psychology called The Journal
of Humanistic Psychology. An interdisciplinary forum for contributions, controversies and diverse statements pertaining to humanistic psychology. It addresses
personal growth, interpersonal encounters, social problems and philosophical issues. Journal was edited and founded by A. Maslow and A. Sutich.
6. Which psychological approaches did humanistic psychologists criticize and why?
Firstly, they criticized the mechanistic determinism which assumes that every event has an unbroken chain of prior occurrences (accepting only natural causes).
Secondly, behaviourism was in favour of positivism, arguing that any system that confines itself to the data of experience and excludes a priori speculations. They
were also criticizing atomistic analysis with the tendency for society to be made up of a collection of self-interested and largely self-sufficient individuals, operating
as separate atoms. Moreover, lastly they were against orthodox psychoanalysis with critique of Freudian psychoanalysis of patients becoming alienated (therapist is
the dominant and has full power over them while in hypnosis), there are limited aims of insight, and is promoting negative view of human being: it is our own fault
to be in certain condition.
7. Which are the defining, common traits of humanistic psychology?
Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively. Generally, humanism refers to a
perspective that affirms some notion of human freedom and progress. It views humans as solely responsible for the promotion and development of individuals and
emphasizes a concern for humans in relation to the world. It promotes free-will (important concept), human qualities of creativity, affectivity, dignity, responsibility,
and the goal: self-realization
8. What is meant by phenomenology?
PHENOMENOLOGY is the study structures of somebody’s experience or consciousness thereby focuses on subjective personal experience. Phenomenological
approach is subjective with certain intention (I wish, I search, I plan…) where the sensory qualities, awareness and perception of things is very important and it is
processed by introspection. According to this approach experiences can be: perception, thought, imagination, memory, desire, social activity…
9. How does C. Roger’s therapy work?
,Main idea of his therapy is to listen to the patient. In his therapy therapist follow the schema of experience-awareness-communication. Important aspects are
counselling, client centered topics and the creation of the environment (action of healing process). In the talk client is dominant (he is leading the conversation) and
the therapist is passive figure. Therapist has to find an internal coincident state offering unconditional and positive regard making client confident by creating
trustworthy relationship. Again empathic understanding, honesty and integrity are important for successful therapy. Goal of this therapy is self-actualization, self-
realization (client finds solution on his/her own) of the client.
10. What are the steps and the capacity the therapist needs to develop? Which are the three levels and the aims?
Aim of this therapy is to get to know oneself, to express feelings, to dare to communicate one’s experience/feelings with others, to feel spontaneous, alive, real and
finally to accept myself as I am.
11. How can the humanistic stance be summarized?
Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively. Generally, humanism refers to a
perspective that affirms some notion of human freedom and progress. It views humans as solely responsible for the promotion and development of individuals and
emphasizes a concern for humans in relation to the world. It promotes free-will (important concept), human qualities of creativity, affectivity, dignity, responsibility,
and the goal: self-realization
12. Which critical aspects were raised against?
Criticism was suggesting that it is highly individualistic and may result in self-obsession and narcissism. The concepts are too vague subjective ideas (such as
authentic and real experiences) which are difficult to objectify. Moreover, conclusions drawn from subjective experiences are almost impossible to verify therefore
are unreliable. It also involves too much common sense and not enough objectivity, without empirical evidence.
1. Why does Bugental talk about a ‘breakthrough’?
At the time behaviorism and psychoanalysis dominated the field of psychology. In the 1960s however, humanistic psychology was fully acknowledged as an
institutionalised branch of the science of psychology.
2. What does he mean with ‘third force’?
Humanistic psychology was an addition to the previously established branches of psychology, behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Humanistic psychologists do not see
themselves as exclusive to other approaches. They argue to build onto other fields and supplement them, rather than replacing them. During the 1950s and 1960s,
when looking at academia one would primarily find behaviorism, while psychoanalysis dominated clinical psychology. Humanistic psychology had a conciliating
attitude between them. However, it is important to acknowledge that it is not possible to be a behaviorist and fully embrace humanistic psychology at the same
time.
3. Why do humanistic psychologists call themselves this way?
Because they are focused on humans, they are unique and whole.
4. What does he want to show by contrasting the citations of Hull (1943) and Chesterton (1909) and Cantril & Bumstead)
These citations are used to illustrate the difference, and the breakthrough. The citation of Hull gives insight in ‘pre-breakthrough psychology’, and the quote by
Cantil and Bumstead is in itself evidence of the change process Bugental is trying to describe, according to Bugental himself. Furthermore, he wants to show the
contrast between the mechanistic view of humans and the humanistic view.
Mechanistic view refers to the assumption that psychological processes and behaviours can be understood in the same way as mechanical or physiological
, processes. Its explanations of human behavior are based on the model or metaphor of a machine and invoke mechanical causality, reducing complex psychological
phenomena to simpler physical phenomena. Humanistic approach, on the contrary, views the individual as a unique whole, too complex to be reduced to a
machine consisting of separate and distinguishable parts.
5. What does he mean by ‘survival response to … nuclear destruction’? What approach does he adopt?
Society was in crisis with the cold war and the threat of nuclear destruction looming. Humanistic psychology was therefore a good response to the environment at
the time. Bugental even goes so far to say that humanistic psychology restored hope in humanity and might save humanity from total destruction as a society.
Therefore, according to Bugental, society needs humanistic psychology.
6. What does he mean when he describes the human being as being complex, multiple and paradoxical?
The human being is too complex to be reduced in a way behaviorism does (mechanistic view). Humans have multiple talents, feelings and thoughts, some of them
being contradicting, (paradoxical) which is acknowledged by humanistic psychology.
7. What implications does his statement about relativism have?
Humanistic psychologists are trying to be tolerant as they argue there being no finite truth. Psychologists and scientist are not capable of deducting which
interpretation of or approach to psychology is the correct one that fits.
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