Introduction
Philosophical theories play a significant role in trying to define human nature. Although human nature cannot be entirely described due to its complexity, there are several constant traits common to most people. I believe human nature is rational in decision-making; people try to make sense of the world through their actions and activities.
In every action, humans try to use reason and logic to complete the activity. In contrast to other living creatures, human beings tend to evaluate and analyze an activity before getting involved in the actual action. Human beings can decide between what is right and wrong. This is guided by human morality, which helps people make their moral judgments.
Human Nature and the Importance of Counseling
Human beings are social beings with the ability to interact with other creatures in society. People need a community and interaction with other people to thrive. The social development theory urges human socialization to facilitate the human learning process (Taber, 2020).
Human nature also tends to be motivated by pleasure and tries at all costs to avoid pain. Pleasure brings about intrinsic motivation that pushes people to complete their activities. Human beings are prone to error and are required to remain vigilant against their weaknesses and biases that may hinder them from achieving their goals.
Philosophy helps us understand the different aspects of human nature. Human beliefs and attitudes determine behavior. Various common beliefs about human nature are required to facilitate change. Most people believe that human behavior is not rigid and can be changed through experience and learning.
The environmental factors surrounding an individual can affect an individual’s behavior. Learning occurs throughout the entire life of an individual. To gain knowledge, one must be consistently integrated with information. In life, experiences act as learning resources and can change or enhance human behavior.
Individual differences affect individual learning. Human beings have different abilities, such as intelligence, learning styles, and personality, that affect how different people perceive information relayed to them. Culture also plays a significant role in determining individual exposure to various experiences and practices that play a critical role in learning and behavior change (Hamedani & Markus, 2019).
Society’s values and beliefs influence individual decisions and, thus, are an essential element to consider when rolling out a counseling program for a client. Through learning and practice, human beings become professionals and make behavior change possible. Understanding human nature and the factors causing behavior change is crucial in counseling.
Counseling plays a great role in helping individuals experiencing psychological, behavioral, and emotional difficulties. It helps to promote individual awareness and acceptance. Counselors help individuals gain insight into their thoughts and feelings, facilitating greater individual acceptance.
Through increased acceptance, individuals can experience growth and development, which is a major goal in counseling. Counseling also helps reduce emotional distress and improve an individual’s relationship with others. Counselors also educate their clients on various problem-solving skills and provide support to the clients in times of difficulty.
Conclusion
As a counselor, one should be knowledgeable about human nature, behavior, and the causes of behavior change. A counselor should help the client confront the present fundamental challenges by guiding them in developing personal values and identity to facilitate decision-making. Counselors should help the clients to identify and modify their thinking patterns and behavior to reflect their unique perspectives. Counselors should teach their clients skills and strategies to cope with anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues that necessitate a change in human behavior.
References
Hamedani, M. Y. G., & Markus, H. R. (2019). Understanding culture clashes and catalyzing change: A culture cycle approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. Web.
Taber, K. S. (2020). Mediated learning leading development—The social development theory of Lev Vygotsky. Springer Texts in Education, 277-291. Web.