Introduction
Using different perspectives in psychology allows for a more comprehensive assessment of personality. Each direction focuses on specific factors that predetermine an individual’s behavior. One of these areas is humanistic and positive psychology. They share some features, but differ in their approaches to understanding personality and self-realization. Therefore, this paper will analyze these two approaches and their key concepts.
Theoretical Concepts
Humanistic Psychology
Holistic Nature
Humanistic psychology focuses on holistically studying people to meet their basic needs. However, unlike other areas of psychology, this perspective has several basic assumptions about human nature. First, a person is holistic, and individual aspects cannot be analyzed in isolation from the person’s overall context (DeRobertis & Bland, 2021). It implies the interconnection of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions in understanding human nature.
Moreover, each person has a unique experience and development path, so studying individual cases is no less critical than studying general cases. Individual subjective experiences are among the key factors that shape their perspectives and feelings (DeRobertis & Bland, 2021). Therefore, understanding a person’s personal experience is a critical component of humanistic psychology, helping us better understand people’s behavior.
Self-Realization
Secondly, one of the central concepts of humanistic psychology is self-realization. Maslow (1943) suggested that every person has an innate desire to realize their full potential to develop continually. In addition, all individuals are considered to have sufficient innate potential for development.
In this regard, the desire for self-realization is justified due to the presence of potential. It is through the constant desire for improvement that humanistic psychology believes that a person is focused on the present and the future (Maslow, 1943). Even though personal experience dramatically influences the formation of personality and values, it often does not lend itself to profound study and analysis.
Responsibility
Finally, the humanistic perspective often assumes people are responsible for their decisions and actions. This approach views the individual as a holistic and unique system (Friedman & Robbins, 2012). It implies that individuals are active agents rather than mere reflections of the social or cultural contexts in which they are embedded.
Moreover, this approach assumes that the individual lacks an unconscious that could guide them. Instead, each person is free to decide what to do. At the same time, by choosing a particular behavior model, an individual seeks to gain social approval and acceptance (DeRobertis & Bland, 2021). The positive relationship between people is one of the main factors for further development and self-realization.
Authenticity
Self and personal authenticity are essential concepts within humanistic psychology. They are the basis of personality and help to distinguish one individual from others (Maslow, 1943). It includes thoughts and feelings and their constant development and transformation based on experience. One basic assumption is that personality is not static and changes at different stages of a person’s life (Cartwright et al., 1991). At the same time, personal authenticity helps coordinate a person’s thoughts and actions. Due to this balance, the individual does not experience internal conflicts, emotional pressure, and stress.
Moreover, the self is inextricably linked to the formation of an individual’s self-esteem and self-identification. For example, when people adopt unfamiliar behaviors and attitudes from their environment, they may experience significant difficulty understanding their personality (Friedman & Robbins, 2012). It can be exacerbated when society imposes expectations on individuals that they feel they must meet. In this case, people do not realize their potential or unique abilities and instead copy others’ behavior, which creates barriers to personal growth and self-realization.
Positive Psychology
Positive Experiences
Although positive psychology has several similarities with humanistic psychology, it is a separate approach to understanding human personality. It focuses on exploring the positive aspects of individuals and using them to realize potential (Christopher et al., 2008). This approach enhances a person’s strengths, such as positive experiences, emotions, and virtues. Studying positive emotions, such as joy or love, contributes to a deeper, more complex understanding of personality, going beyond negative emotions and mental disorders. Moreover, emphasizing a person’s strengths and virtues provides additional motivation for self-realization.
Resilience and Meaning of Life
Another essential aspect of positive psychology is individuals’ resilience in the face of problems. Psychologists suggest that this ensures a person’s psychological flexibility and ability to adapt to different situations (Friedman & Robbins, 2012). Moreover, one of the most essential elements of human well-being is having a purpose and understanding the meaning of life.
Moreover, this understanding often goes beyond meeting one’s basic needs, such as having a means of subsistence, food, and shelter. The meaning of life within this approach is expanded to all areas of activity, including existential and spiritual perspectives (Maslow, 1943). It allows one to consider a person’s experience more holistically and analyze different aspects of their personality.
Optimism
Additionally, positive psychology studies optimism and positive outlook as factors contributing to mental health and overall life satisfaction. Studying positive attitudes allows us to assess the influence of cognitive processes on the formation of personality and worldview (Christopher et al., 2008). Moreover, social interaction plays a significant role in establishing personal beliefs and attitudes. While from a humanistic perspective, a person has an innate potential for self-actualization and is not dependent on the environment, positive psychology promotes a different approach (Friedman & Robbins, 2012). According to this, positive social interactions and support are essential for individual flourishing and well-being.
Application of Theoretical Perspectives to Depression and Anxiety
Humanistic Theory
From a humanistic perspective, depression and anxiety are explained through the concepts of self and self-actualization. One of the most common causes of depression is the discrepancy between the authentic and ideal self. It implies that a person’s perception is inconsistent with their desires regarding their own identity (Cartwright et al., 1991).
Anxiety and depression arise against the background of internal conflict and dissatisfaction with oneself. Another cause of these disorders may be excessive internalization of other people’s standards and opinions, as well as attempts to change one’s personality (Cartwright et al., 1991). The need to meet society’s expectations creates additional emotional pressure. Moreover, social standards may not align with a person’s personal beliefs, creating a gap between one’s own beliefs and those imposed by society.
Another reason for the development of anxiety and depression may be the impossibility of self-realization. According to Maslow’s hierarchy, a person has needs that must be satisfied to maintain well-being (Maslow, 1943). People who cannot self-actualize due to external obstacles or problems may experience frustration and dissatisfaction, which can lead to stress. In addition to self-realization, each individual’s other needs must be satisfied.
For example, people need self-esteem, love, and a sense of belonging (Maslow, 1943). Dissatisfaction with these aspects often leads to impaired psychological well-being, anxiety, and depression. Finally, these conditions can occur when people are disconnected from their inner experiences and emotions. They may suppress or deny their experiences, which leads to internal inadequacy and confusion. Thus, according to humanistic psychology, depression and anxiety arise in individuals in the presence of internal conflict or disagreement.
Positive Psychology
Positive psychology theorists approach understanding anxiety and depression from the perspective of promoting well-being and positive aspects of human experience. For example, when people do not experience positive emotions such as joy, gratitude, or love, they become more vulnerable to negativity (Christopher et al., 2008). The accumulation of negative emotions and experiences leads to the development of depression and anxiety.
In addition, another factor influencing the occurrence of these experiences is the focus on difficulties and personal weaknesses rather than the possibilities of overcoming them. Not recognizing one’s strengths can make one vulnerable and less emotionally stable (Friedman & Robbins, 2012). In addition, such thinking often prevents people from focusing on positive factors and optimism, which is why people are in a depressed emotional state.
Another key aspect of positive psychology is finding meaning and purpose in life. When people are unable to understand their purpose or set goals, they often experience existential depression (Berra, 2021). It often occurs due to a loss of motivation or incentive for self-actualization and leads to a feeling of uncertainty, from which anxiety and depression develop.
Providing social connections and support is necessary to overcome these conditions and restore a person’s well-being. It will promote positive experiences and emotions and provide a sense of belonging (Berra, 2021). Since, in positive psychology, the environment has a significant impact on the personality, emotions, and feelings of the individual, it can lead to both the appearance of anxiety and depression and their elimination.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both approaches play an important role in understanding different aspects of personality and human behavior. Considering a person as an integral system with an innate potential for self-realization, humanistic psychology emphasizes the importance of the individual’s aspirations. At the same time, positive psychology focuses on positive feelings and experiences and a person’s strengths, which are necessary for self-actualization. Even though both approaches share similar concepts, they offer two different views of the human self and its manifestation and functioning.
References
Berra, L. (2021). Existential depression: A non-pathological and philosophical-existential approach. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 61(5), 757-765.
Cartwright, D., DeBruin, J., & Berg, S. (1991). Some scales for assessing personality based on Carl Rogers’ theory: Further evidence of validity. Personality and Individual Differences, 12(2), 151-156.
Christopher, J. C., Richardson, F. C., & Slife, B. D. (2008). Thinking through positive psychology. Theory & Psychology, 18(5), 555-561.
DeRobertis, E. M., & Bland, A. M. (2021). Humanistic and positive psychologies: The continuing narrative after two decades. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 1, 1-33.
Friedman, H. L., & Robbins, B. D. (2012). The negative shadow cast by positive psychology: Contrasting views and implications of humanistic and positive psychology on resiliency. The Humanistic Psychologist, 40(1), 87-102.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A dynamic theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370-396.