Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences

Living Edition
| Editors: Virgil Zeigler-Hill, Todd K. Shackelford

Humanistic Perspective

Living reference work entry
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1484-1
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Synonyms

Constructivist; Existential; Holistic; Humanistic psychology; Person-centered; Phenomenological; Self-actualization; Third Force; Transpersonal

Introduction

The humanistic perspective on personality emphasizes the individualized qualities of optimal well-being and the use of creative potential to benefit others, as well as the relational conditions that promote those qualities as the outcomes of healthy development. The humanistic perspective serves as an alternative to mechanistic and/or reductionistic explanations of personality based on isolated, static elements of observable behavior (e.g., traits) or self-concept. Humanistic psychologists contend that personality formation is an ongoing process motivated by the need for relative integration, guided by intentionality, choice, the hierarchical ordering of values, and an ever-expanding conscious awareness. Humanistic psychologists employ an intersubjective, empathic approach in their therapeutic and research practices to...

Keywords

Healthy Personality Humanistic Psychology Humanistic Approach Humanistic Perspective Narrative Therapy 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Millersville UniversityMillersvilleUSA
  2. 2.Brookdale CollegeLincroftUSA
  3. 3.Rutgers UniversityNewarkUSA