Abstract
The category of therapies designated as ‘existential-humanistic’ refers to a number of loosely related approaches that have some elements in common. Humanistic psychology arose in the 1950s largely as a reaction to the prevailing traditions of behaviourism and psychoanalysis. It aimed to evolve a psychology which dealt adequately with people as human beings, not as objects or machines. It emphasizes that people are capable of self-awareness, that they have the power to choose and to direct their own actions, that they are guided by purpose and meaning, and they are capable of responsibility and concern for others.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Further reading
Ornstein, R. E. (1977). Psychology of Consciousness. (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich)
Spiegelberg, H. (1972). Phenomenology in Psychology and Psychiatry. (Evanston, Ill: Northwestern University Press)
Shaffer, J. (1978). Humanistic Psychology. (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 R. B. Burns
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Burns, R.B. (1983). Humanistic-Existential Therapies — An Overview. In: Counselling and Therapy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7721-4_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7721-4_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-011-7723-8
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7721-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive