Humanistic and Existential Perspectives

Humanistic and Existential Perspectives

Humanistic vs. Existential Perspectives on Personality

The Humanistic and Existential perspectives both emphasize personal growth, freedom, and the inherent dignity of individuals, but they differ in their approach to personality and the philosophical assumptions underlying their views.

Humanistic Perspective
The Humanistic perspective, largely shaped by theorists like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, focuses on the inherent goodness of people and their natural drive toward self-actualization—the fulfillment of one’s potential. Humanistic psychology suggests that personality develops through the pursuit of personal growth and self-improvement. Rogers emphasized that people have an innate drive toward becoming their best selves, provided they are in an environment that offers unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence.

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For Rogers, the self-concept is central to personality development. He argued that individuals experience incongruence when there is a mismatch between their real self (who they are) and their ideal self (who they want to be). This incongruence can hinder personal growth, but with acceptance and the right conditions, people can overcome these challenges and develop a more integrated and authentic personality.

Humanistic and Existential Perspectives

Existential Perspective
In contrast, the Existential perspective places more emphasis on the individual’s confrontation with life’s inherent uncertainties and the search for meaning in a world that lacks inherent purpose. Influenced by philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Viktor Frankl, existential psychology asserts that personality is shaped by how people deal with existential questions, such as death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness.

Existentialists argue that individuals are free to make choices, but this freedom can create anxiety because it places the responsibility for those choices entirely on the individual. According to this view, personality is a reflection of how individuals face existential challenges and make authentic choices that align with their true selves. Frankl, in particular, emphasized that finding meaning in life—despite suffering or adversity—is crucial for psychological well-being and the development of a resilient personality.

Rogers’ Philosophical Assumptions

Rogers’ humanistic approach was built on several key philosophical assumptions:

1. Innate Goodness and Positive Growth: Rogers believed that individuals are inherently good and driven to grow and improve. Unlike the existentialists, who focus on the burden of freedom, Rogers viewed human freedom as a positive force for personal development.

Humanistic and Existential Perspectives

2. The Actualizing Tendency: Central to Rogers’ theory is the idea of an actualizing tendency—an innate drive within every person to realize their full potential. This concept assumes that given the right conditions, individuals will naturally move toward psychological growth, autonomy, and fulfillment.

3. Importance of the Self-Concept: Rogers emphasized that how individuals perceive themselves (self-concept) is vital to their overall personality development. A healthy personality is one in which there is congruence between the self-concept and lived experiences.

4. Unconditional Positive Regard: Rogers argued that people need to feel unconditionally accepted by others to achieve congruence and personal growth. This acceptance helps reduce feelings of worthlessness or anxiety, allowing individuals to explore their true selves.

Times of Change and Crisis in the Existential Framework

From an existential perspective, times of change and crisis—such as the death of a loved one, a major life transition, or personal failure—often force individuals to confront the fundamental uncertainties of existence. These moments of crisis strip away distractions and bring into focus the reality of human limitations, mortality, and freedom. Existential theorists argue that such experiences are pivotal because they prompt people to reconsider their values, life choices, and what truly gives their lives meaning.

During crises, individuals may question their previous goals or values, realizing that they no longer align with their authentic selves. For example, a person who has spent years chasing material success may, during a crisis, recognize that these pursuits are ultimately unfulfilling and decide to focus on relationships or personal growth instead. This process of re-evaluation leads to an existential awakening, where individuals may either find new meaning or fall into existential despair if they struggle to redefine their values.

Humanistic and Existential Perspectives

Existentialists, like Sartre, would argue that during such times, people must take responsibility for their freedom to make choices and redefine their values in alignment with what they truly find meaningful. Although this can be anxiety-provoking, it also opens the opportunity for individuals to live more authentically and create a sense of purpose in the face of life’s inherent uncertainties.

Conclusion

While both the Humanistic and Existential perspectives emphasize personal growth and freedom, they approach personality development from different angles. Rogers’ humanistic approach is rooted in the belief that individuals have an inherent tendency toward self-actualization, and his assumptions about human nature are positive and growth-oriented. In contrast, existentialists focus on the individual’s confrontation with life’s fundamental challenges and the need to create meaning in a world without inherent purpose. Times of crisis and change, from the existential viewpoint, are crucial moments that push individuals to reevaluate their values and choose an authentic path forward.