The humanistic perspective on personality deals exclusively with human behavior. Humanistic psychologists believe that human nature includes a natural drive towards personal growth, that humans have the freedom to choose what they do regardless of environmental factors, and humans are mostly conscious beings and are not controlled by unconscious needs and conflicts. They also believe that a person’s subjective view of the world is more important than objective reality. Two of the humanistic theorists that have made an impact of humanism are Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. When thinking about my personality in regard to different personality theories, I felt that I could most relate to the humanistic theory.
Carl Rogers described self-concept as a collection of beliefs about one’s own nature, unique qualities and typical behavior. My self-concept is that I’m an easy-going, nice guy. If something happens that upsets me, I am pretty laid back about it and deal with it gradually. I like the fact that I’m easy going, and I don’t want to suddenly start showing a temper or overreacting about things that I know I can get past calmly. Rogers also stressed the fact that our self-concept may not always be accurate. I like to think that I’m an intelligent human, but when others see my transcript, for example, they may think otherwise.
But, on the other hand, when I am in a situation that I know a lot about, like hunting, another might think I am very intelligent. Others’ views are not always consistent when it comes to my personality, but I feel that my self-concept of myself is important, not another’s. I was fortunate to have parents that Rogers would say showed me unconditional love. Because of this, I feel that I can get past obstacles and rough times because I know that I am worthy of love, regardless. I also I agree that experiences that threaten people’s views of themselves cause anxiety. If I feel that I am doing good in a class and feel like I’ve been working hard and using my brain’s potential and then I get a failing grade on a test or assignment, I feel anxious.
I thought that I was doing good, and now I don’t know what to think. My self-concept is threatened. A natural defense is to blame the teacher, or the test, or make excuses for myself because I don’t like to have my self-concept threatened. Abraham Maslow described the hierarchy of needs as a systematic arrangement of needs, according to priority, in which basic needs must be met before less basic needs are aroused.
The most basic needs are physiological needs that one must have in order to survive. Then you need safety and security. If these needs are not met, you don’t go on to belongingness and love needs. And without belongingness and love, you won’t have a very high self-esteem, which is the next level. This hierarchy goes up until you reach the need for self-actualization.
This is the need to fulfill your potential. Maslow described this as “What a man can be, he must be. ” I think that this applies to myself. If I get my final grades and they are lower than what I expected, I am frustrated. I am frustrated because I know that I could have done better but I didn’t. I believe that I have a healthy personality according to Maslow.
I think I am a self-actualizing person because I like to continue to grow personally. Some of the characteristics of my personality that I think make me a self-actualizing person are that I have a pretty realistic perception of myself. I know that I am intelligent, yet I also know that I don’t always apply myself like I can. I know that I am easy going, and I know that sometimes situations call for a little more assertiveness than I would like to show. I am a simple person that is spontaneous at times. I have interests that I like to pursue when I get the chance.
There are times when I like to be around my friends, and there are times when I like to be alone, so I’m well-balanced. I have a few strong friendships, but not too many to deal with. I think that I am a mentally well-balanced healthy person, and that Maslow would describe me as a self-actualizing person. Words/ Pages : 771 / 24
